Hence, historians detailing Alexander’s exploits recognize this city as the principal city of Egypt. Additionally, the prophet Jeremiah speaks of “Amon” or “Noh” in a vision against Egypt, referencing, “yunica … adorned Egypt,” and stating, “from midnight shall come upon it” (Jeremiah 46:20). He further clarifies: “There is an Egyptian woman, delivered into the hands of the people of midnight, says the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel. ‘Behold, I will visit upon Ammon’ Menno, denoting the rebellious populace (tumultum) of Alexandria, because “Amon,” as previously noted, stands for “the nations.” The word “men” translates as “from,” and “But” indicates Alexandria. “And I will visit,” he continues, “upon Pharaoh, upon Egypt, upon its gods, and upon its kings, and upon Pharaoh again, and those who trust in him. I will hand them over to those who seek their lives, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and to his servants” (Jeremiah 46:24-26). Therefore, the inquiry is posed to Nineveh: “Are you more populous or powerful than Alexandria?” The description of Alexandria portrays it situated by the Nile and the sea, hemmed in on all sides by waterways. “The waters are surrounding her; the sea is her treasure; the waters serve as her fortifications,” with the river Nile on one side, Lake Mareoth on the other, and the sea on a third. Concerning Ethiopia, Egypt, Africa (which the Hebrew refers to as Phut), and the Libyans who augment her strength, these signify the respective geography of the nations and the city. The prophetic words, as I discuss, foreshadowed the capture by the king of Babylon, revealing that he would be both hers and their adversary. Josephus, the historian, also documented this. “Her infants will be shattered at the intersections” (or “in chains”); her nobles will be divided among the victors by lot, and her mighty princes will be taken captive. Alexandria will meet a similar destiny; likewise, you, Nineveh, will partake of the same cup, becoming intoxicated and sinking into slumber, left in disrepute, going so far as to seek assistance from the Babylonians or from your enemies against the Babylonians. All your fortifications, the elevated steppes, and the towering structures you deem invincible, your valiant men and warriors will resemble early figs which, when merely tapped, will fall into the jaws of the eater. What the Septuagint terms “adjust” or “tune,” dates back to Nineveh. It implies that what you possess that is chaotic and disharmonious must be harmonized, Nineveh, like musical strings, for your grandeur and significance, which you overly exalt, will not avail you if you do not attune to the harmony of song. Consider how meagerly the heritage of the children of Ammon, along with the honors they believed they possessed, could safeguard them from being taken captive or shield their infants from being slain on the roads. Did the rivers sustaining the city of Ammon, and the numerous wells and springs extending from the Dead Sea encompassing their land, provide any solace? What assistance did Ethiopia and Egypt, once their allies, grant? Therefore, just as they gained no aid from their allies, so too will your flight, Nineveh, prove endless, leaving you vulnerable to devastation on all fronts. What can be said of the Ephionites and Egyptians, who led the children of Ammon, along with the Libyans as their allies? Likewise, they too will be carried off as captives, and their infants, unable to walk, will be violently tossed and slain on the roads before their parents’ eyes. All her riches will be apportioned among the conquerors, and none of her princes will escape, for they will be bound in heavy iron chains. Thus, you, Nineveh, will succumb to intoxication, and while you were once affluent and cherished with many admirers, all will hold you in contempt, and pursued by your enemies, you will seek rest, but will find none. All your waves and your auxiliary forces shall fall prey to the enemy, taken effortlessly like ripe fruit from the fig tree, which, when shaken, lands straight into the mouth of the one who longs to eat, presenting no labor for those who gather. This signifies a paraphrase in context of the Septuagint translation, as we humbly commit to the commonly accepted version, so as not to provide any ground for accusations against Hydra and Sardanapalus. However, it seems to me that the destruction of Nineveh does not adequately parallel the fate of Lot’s sons, considered (Gen. 19) Amman (Amman). First, it is recorded as “Ammon,” not “Amman”; further, Amman, presently known as Philadelphia, is not located by rivers, nor does its wealth originate from the sea; it lies in a rugged land, lacking the protective waters as walls, and does not possess Ethiopia, Egypt, Africa, and the Libyans as allies. All these factors, pertaining to might, topography, and allied nations, pertain more fittingly to Alexandria than to the mighty city of Nineveh. The prophet would not pose the question, “Are you better?” to a city less fortifiable than Alexandria. The one to whom it is asked, “Are you more esteemed?” is meant to realize her inferiority compared to that which is juxtaposed, and thus should not resent her captivity when the more fortified and powerful, with the advantage of advantageous geography and valiant populace, fell to the same foe. Since Nineveh symbolizes this present world, it is therefore commanded to tune its strings, ready itself for lamentation; for a segment of the children of Ammon, far superior to Nineveh and residing by the rivers, faced punishment for their transgression, found in error. Moreover, it should be acknowledged that in its literal interpretation, “Ammon” refers to “nations,” while its allegorical sense expresses: consider the nations of the church that resides alongside the rivers of the prophets, surrounded by teachers from whose bellies rivers flow, reaching a mysterious city, whose strength is Ethiopia, as “Ethiopia shall present her hand unto God” (Psalm 67:32); Egypt, to which the Lord comes on a light cloud (Isaiah 19:1), and the Libyans, who previously dwelled in the sands, later became His helpers. Thus, if the Church does not watch over itself and diligently guard its heart, it will face captivity and mourn for its children. Likewise, her infants, still near the beginning of their paths, will meet tragic ends, and the cruelest enemies will hasten to divide among themselves all that she valued. The nobles will be taken captive, interpreted as officials and rulers, encumbered with heavy chains. Likewise, you as well, Nineveh, referring to men of disbelief and those totally devoted to the world, will face chastisement and fall into slumber from my cup, for those of my inheritance who faltered also partook of it. I will hold you in disdain: amid your vices and passions that distress you, you shall seek cessation, yet find none, and everything that constituted your desires—pleasures, worldly power, and doctrines you deemed unassailable—will be devoured by venom, of which Samson spoke in parable, “from him that eateth shall come forth sweetness” (Judges 14:14). At that time, anything robust that you possessed, which in the eyes of onlookers promised sweetness, will fall, at the slightest tremor of the tree, into the mouth of the devil, who has always held dominion over Nineveh. Further, the phrases we omitted, “and there shall be no end to thy flight,” addressed to Nineveh, but placed in the context of Ammon, may seem a bit out of order, must be metaphorically linked to Nineveh. The train of thought suggests: “and you shall become intoxicated, and there shall be no end to your flight, and you shall be reviled,” alongside other statements related to Nineveh. We can interpret this as the endless flight of Nineveh from God, for she continuously flees and refuses to cease, as previously expressed: “And these that flee shall not stand, neither shall they escape who look on” (Nahum 2:8). Furthermore, it should be noted that the Scriptures, especially the prophecies, which are imbued with mystery, are phrased in complex expressions so that profound thoughts are not easily accessible to those unworthy, akin to pearls before swine and holy matters before the uninitiated. Nonetheless, if we do wish to correlate Ammon with the sons of Lot, we should acknowledge that Lot had two sons, Moab and Ammon, born from two daughters, where the elder, Moab, means “of the father” or “father's water,” while the younger, “Ammon,” means either “the son of my kin” or “our people” (Gen. 19). In a parallel context, just as it is said concerning one born of Judah due to sin that he is identified with “the tribe of Canaan, and not of Judah” (Dan. 13:56), and regarding sinful Jerusalem, “thy root and thy origin are of the land of Canaan; thy father is an Amorite, and thy mother a Hittite” (Ezek. 16:3), those descended from the ancient nation, namely, the Jews, and from the younger nation, us, are allegorically called Moabites and Ammonites. Since they have strayed from their father—“Lot” signifies “evasion”—they shall receive discipline and endure all the consequences previously described. Yet, when God’s strictness is made manifest, starting with those once holy, and as that which existed by the rivers is purified through the fire of Gehenna; much less shall Nineveh, which lacked law and arrogantly rejected the yoke of divine commandments, ultimately succumb to the devourer’s grasp.
THEOSIS