Subsequently, it was decreed that an offering be made on her behalf, consisting of barley flour, not enriched with Lebanon or saturated with oil; for this signifies a sacrifice of jealousy, which serves as a reminder of transgression. Thus, it is clear that each person's life ascends to God as a sort of foul odor; for those who have indulged in carelessness, their numerous wrongdoings are laid bare, while those striving for righteousness present a testament to their virtue. Therefore, it is rightly stated that the offerings of the innocent are composed of wheat flour, enhanced with Lebanon and accompanied by oil; for any life deemed worthy—of which wheat flour is a fitting symbol—will be viewed by the loving God as pleasant and joyful. On the other hand, barley flour serves as a clear indication of a disordered life, more suited for beasts than for humans; it reflects a lack of restraint in lust and an unchecked yearning for sinful pleasures. Therefore, the wife, charged with immoral conduct, offered barley flour unto God, devoid of Lebanon and oil, which signifies the absence of joy and fragrance; this is a sacrificial act that underscores sin. And where sin is brought to remembrance, joy cannot exist, for the one being judged exists not in the hope of receiving crowns, but rather in the dread of condemnation and fire.
THEOSIS