THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Lo, I will raise myself from the place where you sold me, and I will bring your punishment upon your heads: I will deliver your sons and daughters into the hands of the children of Judah, who will take them into captivity to a distant land, says the Lord. It is clearly stated that the schemes and harsh intentions of the Tyrians against the Israelites will not remain unpunished; rather, misfortune will strike their perpetrators, leading them to face the same tragedies, for the retribution will fall upon those who have committed wrongdoing, in keeping with their guilt. Just as they seized the children of Judah and handed them over to slave traders to be taken far away, so will their children be sold by Judah.
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To ensure this prophecy's fulfillment, the Lord affirms, ‘as the Lord hath spoken;’ and what God declares will not go unfulfilled. Thus, Christ proclaimed: ‘my words do not pass by’ (Matt. 24:35). This reflects the historical interpretation of the passage discussed. However, for those who wish to explore the deeper spiritual meaning, consider that the children of the Greeks, filled with deceptive wisdom, and the heretics, who believe they can gain something for themselves through cunning falsehoods, lead some of the innocent away from the genuine and pure faith in God. They ensnare these individuals in a web of deceit, effectively making them captives and leading them far from the path of truth. Nevertheless, the Lord of Hosts renders their wickedness futile, rescuing those who have been misled, and bringing back the misguided into the fold of the Jews. This may refer to the divine disciples themselves and those who proclaim the mystery of Christ. By liberating them from the errors of others, they lead them into a beautiful and desired servitude—that is, servitude to Christ. They take them, as if captives, transferring them into a mindset and perspective that is profoundly different from that of the deceived. Indeed, there exists a significant contrast between the attitudes of the saints and those of the misled. It is also said of Christ that those turned from the Hellenic error to the understanding of the true God are taken as captives by Him; for David declared: ‘Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast taken captivity captive: thou hast received gifts in men’ (Ps. 67:19).