THEOSISJerome of Stridon
Let us briefly review the events that took place in the last camp, the forty-second one. In this camp, the people received blessings from the soothsayer Balaam, who was enticed by Balak, the son of Zippor, to curse them; yet, by the command of God, the curse transformed into praise. The people heard God's voice through this non-Israelite, proclaiming, "A star shall shine from Jacob, and a man shall rise from Israel, and shall destroy the princes of Moab, and shall capture all the children of Seth, and his inheritance shall be Edom" (Num. 22:17, 18). Subsequently, immorality arose with the daughters of Midian, leading Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, to act zealously for the Lord by striking down both Zamzummite and the Midianite woman.
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For this act, he was rewarded with a portion of the sacrifice to be remembered eternally. A new census was taken among the people of God (Num. 26), following the punishment of the wicked, to account for the new generation. The five daughters of Zelophehad came forward and, as commanded by the Lord, were granted their share of the inheritance among their relatives (Num. 36:6), thus indicating that women are not excluded from God’s inheritance.
Jesus would ascend the mountain after Moses, gaining insight from the Law regarding His spiritual fulfillment within the Church. Firstly, He would learn about daily obligations, Sabbath observances, and the rituals for the Passover, Pentecost, and the first day of the month, as well as practices for the fast on the tenth of the seventh month and the Feast of Tabernacles, which occurs on the fifteenth day of that month. It is reiterated that the duties of wives and daughters lack efficacy without consent from their fathers and husbands. War is waged against the Midianites, Balaam meets his demise, and the spoils are distributed, with a portion dedicated to the tabernacle of God. Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh are the first to claim land in the wilderness across the Jordan; these tribes possessed extensive livestock but had not yet reached the point of settling at the temple. The Israelites are commanded to annihilate the idols in the promised land and ensure no remnants of its former inhabitants survive. The highly desired land is characterized, and the inheritance for half of the two tribes is established. The leaders of the tribes set to enter the promised land are listed (Num. 34); the Levites receive forty-two cities, each with suburbs measuring a thousand cubits. In addition, six cities designated for asylum-seekers are established — three on one side of the Jordan and three on the other, totaling forty-eight cities (Num. 35). Additionally, regulations are set regarding which asylum-seekers may enter, which should face death, and which are to be safeguarded until the passing of the high priest.
Following this, the book of Deuteronomy presents the second law — a guide towards the Gospel. From it, we learn that Moses addressed the people between Paran and Tophel, Laban and Aseroth, and at the golden locations, having set aside the unfortunate Judah, which was an eleven-day journey from Horeb to Cadiz-Varni via Mount Seir. Ultimately, a song is sung (Deut. 32) that unequivocally rejects the synagogue and gathers the Church unto the Lord: "They forsook God who made them, and scorned the Rock of their salvation" (Deuteronomy 32:15); and again, "They have provoked Me to jealousy with what is not God. They have moved Me to anger with their foolish idols; I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation; I will move them to anger by a foolish nation" (Deuteronomy 32:20, 21). The children of Israel are blessed once more, and Simeon finds the unfortunate Judah excluded. Moses ascends Mount Nebo, to the peak of Pisgah, opposite Jericho, where the Lord reveals to him all the territory of Gilead to Dan, Naphtali, Ephraim, Manasseh, and all of Judah up to the Mediterranean Sea, along with the landscape of Jericho, the city of palm trees, extending to Segor (Deut. 34). Who can fathom such profound mysteries? One who stands at the threshold of the Law and life, understanding that a continuous struggle is required, with complete victory promised if one remains steadfast; if in Abel, the city named for the weeping of thorns, one weeps for their past transgressions and the cares that have choked the Word of God (Luke 8). The Psalmist expresses: "I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears" (Psalm 31:4). Prepared, after the cessation of manna, they shall cross the Jordan led by Jesus (Num. 3); armed with the sword of the Gospel, they shall first partake of the heavenly bread before the divine commander reveals Himself, enabling them to celebrate the true Passover, not in Egypt but within the holy land. Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God; how unsearchable are His judgments, and how inscrutable are His ways! For the paths of the Lord are upright, and the righteous walk therein; but the wicked shall stumble in them (Rom. 11, Hos. 14).