Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Fifth Day 9781463241186

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Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Fifth Day

Texts from Christian Late Antiquity

55

TeCLA (Texts from Christian Late Antiquity) is a series presenting ancient Christian texts both in their original languages and with accompanying contemporary English translations.

Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Fifth Day

Edited and Translated by

Edward G Mathews Jr

gp 2019

Gorgias Press LLC, 954 River Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA www.gorgiaspress.com Copyright © 2019 by Gorgias Press LLC

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise without the prior written permission of Gorgias Press LLC. ‫ܝ‬

1

2019

ISBN 978-1-4632-4117-9

ISSN 1935-6846

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A Cataloging-in-Publication Record is available from the Library of Congress. Printed in the United States of America

TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents .................................................................................... v Abbreviations.......................................................................................... vii Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 Outline .............................................................................................. 1 Summary........................................................................................... 6 Text and Translation ............................................................................... 9 I. Moses, the author of the wondrous days of creation..... 10 II. God creates various sorts of fish in the waters ............... 16 III. All creatures made to breathe in their proper environment .......................................................................... 24 IV. The waters teemed with life on the third day of their existence ................................................................................ 28 V. God created birds with fully-formed wings to fly immediately ........................................................................... 34 VI. Each species of bird began to sing with its own unique sound ........................................................................ 38 VII. The skies were filled with these new birds flying around .................................................................................... 42 VIII.All birds found nourishment from the vegetation of the third day .......................................................................... 44 IX. All creation luxuriated in one another and dwelt in perfect harmony ................................................................... 46 Bibliography of Works Cited ............................................................... 53 Primary Texts................................................................................. 53 Secondary Works .......................................................................... 55 Index ........................................................................................................ 57 Names and Themes ...................................................................... 57 Biblical References ........................................................................ 60 v

ABBREVIATIONS Bedjan BETL CBOTS CSCO

P. Bedjan, Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis (see BIBLIOGRAPHY) Bibliotheca Ephemeridum Theologicarum Lovaniensium

Coniectanea Biblica. Old Testament Series

Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium

FOTC

Fathers of the Church

OCA

Gorgias Eastern Christian Studies

GECS OCP

Orientalia Christiana Analecta

OS

Orientalia Christiana Periodica

PdO

Oudtestamentische Studien

OtSt

L’Orient Syrien

PO

Parole de l’Orient

Patrologia Orientalis

SC

Sobornost

S

TFCLA

Sources Chrétiennes

Texts from Christian Late Antiquity

vii

INTRODUCTION INFORMATION ON THIS HOMILY Homily Title: Homily on the Fashioning of Creation, The Fifth Day Source of Text: Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis, edited by Paul Bedjan (Paris-Leipzig: Harrassowitz, 1907, 2nd ed. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2006), vol. 3, pp. 79–97. [Homily 71e] Lines: 354 [1567–1920]

OUTLINE

The text translated here in this fascicle constitutes the fifth, and penultimate, installment of our English translation of the Hexaemeron, which comprises most – but not all – of the long Mêmrâ on the Fashioning of Creation, composed in the late fifth-early sixth century by the bishop and prolific poet and theologian Mār Jacob of Sarug (c.451–521). This long mêmrâ is a poetic, meditative commentary on the seven days of creation as found recorded in the first chapter of the canonical book of Genesis. 1 The entire text was first published in P. Bedjan, Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis, III.1–151. The text of Jacob’s meditations on the first four days were reprinted, with a Serto font, in separate fascicles together with English translations, in E. G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The First Day, idem., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Second Day, idem., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Third Day, and idem., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Fourth Day. As already noted in a previous fascicle, this mêmrâ is actually a Heptaemeron, as Jacob also meditates on the seventh 1

1

2

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

The section translated here in this fascicle, which comprises lines 1567–1920 of the original mêmrâ, provides the reader with Jacob’s poetic meditation on the fifth day of creation as recorded in Genesis 1:20–23. On this day God created, from those waters that had just been separated from the dry land into oceans, seas, lakes, etc., the various species of fish, reptiles, crustaceans and marine animals, as well as the assorted types and sizes of birds and other winged creatures such as insects, flying mammals, etc. 2 In this section on the fifth day of creation, Jacob again bases himself primarily on the biblical text itself and, insofar as discernible, the Commentary on Genesis, composed by his predecessor and theological mentor, Ephrem the Syrian (c.306–373).3 While some parallels were previously noted, it does also appear in this portion of the mêmrâ that Jacob was likely familiar with a written version of the famous Homilies on the Hexaemeron composed by Basil of Caesarea, and one of the earliest works that were translated from Greek into Syriac (see notes to translation). Taeke Jansma, in a long article devoted to this work of Jacob, catalogues a number of previous and contemporary writers on these initial chapters of Genesis, but he is situating Jacob in his context rather than positing any of them as direct sources. 4 Some day, the day of the Sabbath rest in the final sections of this mêmrâ; cf. E. G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Second Day, 2, n. 4. The Syriac text of the portion on the seventh day, found in P. Bedjan, Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis, III.129–151, will soon be translated in this series. An English translation of this entire mêmrâ, based on a collation of manuscripts not utilized by Bedjan, appeared since the publication of our translation of the Homily on the Fourth Day in T. Muraoka, Jacob of Serugh’s Hexaemeron. I have made some use of this volume in the preparation of this translation. 2 See summary in T. Jansma, “L’Hexaméron de Jacques de Sarug,” 27–30. 3 R. Tonneau, ed. Sancti Ephraem Syri in Genesim et in Exodum commentarii. English translation by E. G. Mathews, Jr., in St. Ephrem the Syrian: Selected Prose Works, 67–213. 4 T. Jansma, “L’Hexaméron de Jacques de Sarug,” 129–162; he also treats some of Jacob’s contemporary Syrian writers, including Narsai, on

INTRODUCTION

3

of the works Jansma cites in this article are actually posterior to this mêmrâ of Jacob, so clearly cannot be considered sources. And there is no clear evidence that Jacob was in fact aware of any of the earlier works that Jansma cites, apart from those two already mentioned above. In the cases of any parallels it is, of course, just as likely that Jacob is passing on certain teachings from the School of Edessa, where they are likely to have been au courant in the classes at the time Jacob was a student there, particularly as some of these ideas are found in the works of his contemporary and rival, Narsai. 5 In his Commentary on Genesis, Ephrem makes relatively little comment on these four verses of Genesis.6 In the course of his own meditation on this fifth day, Jacob does not diverge from the few comments that Ephrem makes. But, as he has consistently done prior to this point in this mêmrâ, he brings his own powers of observation and meditation to expand upon, and even to show further development to the thought of his main inspiration. Jacob clearly has his own very fertile mind and this is made manifest throughout this long homily. Jacob continues to exhort his hearers/readers 7 that the primary teaching of this Genesis account is that it is God – and God alone – who made everything, and it is He – and He alone – who continues to guide and to oversee all things according to the patterns He set down in those first six days. Jacob emphasizes throughout this mêmrâ just how God went about preparing everything during these initial days of creation for the benefit of all those creatures that are to dwell in this world – He created everything in wisdom and in love. 8 He prepares their nourishment, He provides whatever is necessary for their clothing, and He instills in their parpp. 253–278. His footnotes are very useful, however, for parallels to other writers, some later than Jacob, who are not included in the notes to our translation, below. 5 See, for example, lines 1601–1602, 1872, below. 6 Cf. Ephrem, Commentary on Genesis, I.26; Eng. tr. in E. G. Mathews, Jr., St. Ephrem the Syrian: Selected Prose Works, 92–93. 7 We moderns tend to presume that these long poems were read, but see S. A. Harvey, “To Whom did Jacob Preach?” 8 See, inter alia, lines 1757–1758, 1899.

4

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

ticular natures everything that they will need for their particular happiness and peaceful living. He foresees what each creature needs and provides for it right from the start. And He continuously watches over them all to ensure that they are taken care of and have all they need. God is Lord over all. In this section on the fifth day of creation, Jacob makes use of the epithets “Lord of the seas” and “Lord of the rivers”, 9 to highlight the fact that all the creatures that were created on the fifth day were generated from the waters. As Jacob also notes, there was no water anywhere that did not generate some sort of creature that was fitting for the size and location of the particular body of water: the oceans produced the great sea monsters, seas and lakes the larger and smaller fish, etc., and even puddles produced small insects. Following that which Basil taught in his Homilies on the Hexaemeron, Jacob asserts that “Where there was even a scent of water or moisture, the command brought forth gnats in that place.” 10 Jacob also utilizes the double-entendre implicit in the Syriac word māry (equivalent here to Grk., kurios): “Lord and husband”. Following Basil (or perhaps here the teaching of the School of Edessa; see notes 11–12, below) – he presents the image of God as the husband and the various waters as wombs. It is only here in this context that Jacob uses these epithets “Lord [or, husband] of the seas” and “Lord [or, husband] of the rivers”. Together, God and the various waters are the propagators of all these new creatures, both those that swim in the waters and those that “swim”, that is, fly, through the air. 11 Jacob also emphasizes here, more so than on any of the previous days, how God endows His creatures with certain natural characteristics right at the beginning of creation. Birds do not require any training to learn how to fly or to sing, nor do fish require training to learn how to swim. Nor does either need instruction to maintain their dwelling in the air or water, respectively. God has placed this knowledge directly into their nature. To buttress his See lines 1608 and 1614, below. See lines 1619–1620; see also, lines 1625–1626, and notes ad loc. 11 See lines 1601–1632, 1912. 9

10

INTRODUCTION

5

argument, Jacob also points out that other creatures – such as we human creatures – cannot acquire the ability to fly or to make our dwelling in the water by any sort of learning or instruction, either; flying and dwelling in water are abilities that have been placed solely in those creatures that require them for that particular type of life that God has ordained for them. 12 The entire first section of this part of Jacob’s Mêmrâ on the Fashioning of Creation that is translated here in this fascicle, is a reiteration, or resume, of the previous four days of creation. 13 He again praises “the great Moses” (l. 1567), “that wondrous prophet” (l. 1569), for the brilliance of his record of the creation; it is his account of the acts of creation that has opened up to Jacob the great riches that he now feels compelled to hand on to his flock and thus to transmit to posterity the “wealth and riches and precious pearls that [he] saw therein”. 14 Jacob is here, I think, rehearsing these first four days for two reasons. Firstly, as he himself states, these first four days constituted the creation of the “places” that were about to be filled up with creatures on the remaining days. He reminds his hearers/readers that God had already begun this pattern when He created the earth on the first day and then the vegetation and plants on the third day; He had also created the firmament on the second day and then He set the great lights in that firmament to “give light upon the earth”. So, now, on the fifth day of creation, from the waters that had receded into seas, lakes and rivers, God creates living things to inhabit that dry land that had been revealed by the receding waters on the third day. But Jacob does not stop here at merely noting this pattern; he highlights the fact that this pattern of “the third day”, culminating to this point in the creation of all these living creatures on the fifth day to inhabit the dry land that appeared on the third day, is a symbol of the Resurrection of Christ, who rose on the third day after His crucifixion. 15 For the creation of the fish took place on the See lines 1769–1820 See lines 1567–1596. 14 Cf. lines 1576–1577, below. 15 See lines 1713–1762. 12 13

6

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

third day since the creation of the seas on the third day. Just so the firmament, that had been created on the second day, was completed or ‘resurrected’ by the creation of the great lights on the fourth day; so too the earth, that had been created on the first day, was completed, or ‘resurrected’ by the appearance of the dry land on the third day. In this same way that single mass of water that had receded into bodies of water of various sizes and shapes were now “resurrected” by the creation of the fish on the fifth day, and the dry land that appeared on the third day was now also “resurrected” by the creation of those birds that had also been generated from the waters. “They were generated, were ‘resurrected’, and were at peace, for the symbol of the Son is great peace for all creatures.”16 Another element of this fifth day that causes Jacob to pause and marvel is the matter of air, or breath. Jacob notes the necessity of air for all creatures, and then describes just how God took care of this for the various different types of creatures, particularly, fish, birds and mankind, and angels. 17 Fish cannot breathe the air that mankind breathes without perishing, so God “put air in the water” for them to breath there, just as he puts it in His own Essence, or in the burning coals, for those who inhabit the angelic realm. Each of these three categories of creatures requires its own particular own type of air or breath and, since fish live in water, “[God] placed [air] there in the waters and that nourishes them [even] in the midst of raging seas.” 18

SUMMARY I.

Moses, the author of the wondrous days of creation (1567– 1596) God creates various sorts of fish in the waters (1597–1656) All creatures made to breathe in their proper environment (1657–1712)

II. III.

16

these.

17 18

See below, lines 1743–1744; see also lines 1733–1736, just prior to

See lines 1657–1712. See below, lines 1711–1712.

INTRODUCTION IV.

7

The waters teemed with life on the third day of their existence (1713–1762) V. God created birds with fully-formed wings to fly immediately (1763–1804) VI. Each species of bird began to sing with its own unique sound (1805–1838) VII. The skies were filled with these new birds flying around (1839–1856) VIII. All birds found nourishment from the vegetation of the third day (1857–1878) IX. All creation luxuriated in one another and dwelt in perfect harmony (1879–1920)

TEXT AND TRANSLATION

9

10

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

HOMILY 71E: ON THE FASHIONING OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY I.

MOSES, THE AUTHOR OF THE WONDROUS DAYS OF CREATION

1567 The great Moses provided me with abundant profit when I read him; through him the word of life is acquired by those who would listen. That wondrous prophet 1 unveiled to me the mysteries of creation; 1570 I was overwhelmed and astonished; let me reveal them to whoever will listen to me. That writer who proclaims the creation has filled me with amazement, and a homily to proclaim the marvelous act of creation now stirs within me.2 That great writer gave me his book that I may study it intently. I opened it and I read within it; I marveled and wandered among its lessons. Jacob has already several times in this mêmrâ invoked Moses as the mediator of God’s mysteries to humanity. In addition to what follows here see, especially, lines 57–58, where he is called “the scribe of truth” (and note ad loc.), 142–144, 173–174, in Mathews, Jacob of Sarug, Homily on the Six Days of Creation: The First Day, 12, 24, 26; 849–854, in idem., Jacob of Sarug, Homily on the Six Days of Creation: The Third Day, 8–10. See also lines 1922–1926, in Bedjan, Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis, III.97. Compare too the opening lines of Ephrem, Hymns on Paradise, I.1–3, V.2 and, by inference, X.1. 2 Other mêmrê have also “stirred within (Syr., dāl)” Jacob; cf., for example, Kollamparampil, Jacob of Sarug’s Homily on the Transfiguration of Our Lord, 6–7. See also ll. 53, 60, earlier in this mêmrâ, in Mathews, Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The First Day, 12–13, though here the verb is slightly different (Syr., zāʿ, which Jacob seems to use more often). See also discussion in introduction, above, p. 5, on how Jacob is here reflecting themes and language from the beginning of this long homily. 1

‫‪11‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܕܥܰܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܒ�ܝܳ ܳܬܐ‪ :‬ܝܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪.‬ܗ‬ ‫‪1567‬‬

‫‪1570‬‬

‫ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܰܪܒܐ ܡܠܽܘܐܐ ܝܰ ̱ܗܒ ܺܠܝ ܶܡܢ ܶܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܢܶܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܬܬ ܰܓܪ ܶܒܗ ܶܡܠܰܬ ܰܚ ̈ܝܐ ܶܨܝܕ ܳܫ ܽܡ ̈ܘܥܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܢܒܝܐ ܕܬܗܪܐ ܓ� ܺܠܝ ܐ̱ ܳܪܙܐ ܥܰܠ ܶܒ�ܝܳܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܓ� ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܰܡܥ ܺܠܝ܀‬ ‫ܘܙܥ ݂ܬ ܬܗܪ ݂ܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܠܳܢܝ ܽܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܪܐ ܳܣܦܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܪܙ ܥܰܠ ܶܒ�ܝܳܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܪܙ ܬܶܗܪܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܘܕܠ ܺܒܝ ܺܡܐܡܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܒ ܽܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܝܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܟܬ ܶܒܗ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܗ ܶܓܐ ܶܒܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܣܦܪܐ ܰܪܒܐ ܝܰ ̱ܗܒ ܺܠܝ‬ ‫ܩܪܝܬ ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܗܪ ݂ܬ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܒܝܬ ܶܩ ܳ‬ ‫�� ܰܢܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܦܗ ݂‬ ‫ܬܚ ݂ܬ ܰܘ ܺ ݂‬

‫‪B 79‬‬

‫‪80‬‬

12

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1575 I learned from it that the world came to be from nothing, 3 and I was struck with amazement at the work of creation. I read in the Torah, that treasury of books, 4 and I saw therein wealth and riches and precious pearls. My mind entered and stood within that treasure-house of prophecy, 1580 it gathered up great wealth, took it, went and bore it away. My mind sought to distribute its wealth among many, lest the silver of merchants be deprived of its profit. 5 I entered in and I saw there those six days of Moses, the various created things arranged in orderly fashion according to their natures:

Although creatio ex nihilo is not explicit in the biblical text, it was unanimous Christian teaching from at least the second century; see, for example, G. May, Creatio ex Nihilo. It is, however, something that Jacob goes out of his way to emphasize throughout this long mêmrâ, as well as elsewhere in his homilies; see T. Bou Mansour, La théologie de Jacques de Saroug, I, 11–17, 28–33, and especially, 33–45, and the introductions to each of the previous volumes of this homily. 4 Jacob is, perhaps, here borrowing the phrase from Ephrem, Hymns on Paradise, VI.1, where the “Book of creation” is “the treasure house of the ark, the crown of the law. 5 As Sebastian Brock has already suggested, there may be an allusion here to the parable of talents in Matthew 25:14–30; see T. Muraoka, Jacob of Serugh’s Hexaemeron, 127, n.1. 3

‫‪13‬‬ ‫‪1575‬‬

‫‪1580‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܝܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܦ ݂ܬ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܥܳܠܡܐ ܶܡܢ � ܶܡ ܶܕܡ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܡܪܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܕܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܒ ܽܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܝܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܗܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܬ ܶܣ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪܝܬ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܝܬܐ ܺܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܦ� ܐ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܬ ܳܡܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܓ ̈ܶܙ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ� ܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܓ ܳܢܝܬܐ ܝܰ ܺܩ ܳܝ�ܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܥ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܩܡ ܗܘܢܐ ܒܗܘ ܒܝܬ ܓܙܐ ܕܢܒܝܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܰܘܛܥܶܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘܣܦܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܽܥܘܬܪܐ ܰܪܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܢܦܠܶܓ ܽܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘܒܥܐ ܰܗܘܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬܪܗ ܥܰܠ ܰܣ ܺܓ ̈ܝܐܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܣܦ ܰܬ ܳܓ ܶ� ܐ ܶܡܢ ܽܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܛܠ ܶܒܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ� ܢܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܕ� ܢ‬ ‫ܳܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ�ܫܬܬ ܰܝܘ ܶܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܥܠ ݂ܬ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܬܡܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܟ� ܰ ̈ܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܬ ܳܕ�ܢ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܒ�ܝܢ ܒ�ܝܢ ܟܕ ܡ‬

14

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1585 the heavens and the earth which that hidden signal 6 established Gen 1:1 from nothing but which then became a thing that is full of wonder: that light that came to be through a word from the mouth of the Gen 1:3 Maker; 7 it rose as day, friend of the dawn, and beautiful things began to increase; the firmament that came to be between the waters on the second Gen 1:7 day, 8 1590 just like a vault beneath whose shadow creation lies; the enclosed seas and the land that was formed on the third day; Gen 1:9 all the trees and the seeds that sprouted throughout all its borders; Gen 1:11 the sun, the moon and the hosts that are on the firmament, Gen 1:16 the lamps of light that [God] fashioned on the fourth day.

As often noted in previous fascicles in this series, this signal is an essential element in the early Syrian understanding of how God created the earth, especially for Jacob; see, for example, Mathews, Jacob, Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Second Day, 14–15, and n. 10. See also the study in K. Alwan, “Le ‘remzo’ selon la pensée de Jacques de Saroug.” The hidden aspects of God, including His power, are those beyond the capacity of human understanding and which have not yet been revealed, see T. Kollamparampil, Salvation in Christ according to Jacob of Serugh, 73–75. This particular phrase, “hidden power”, is also part of an underlying antiArian polemic that Jacob sometimes conducts, see T. Bou Mansour, La théologie de Jacques de Saroug, I, 17–22, where he also notes that in many cases ḥaylâ/power and remzâ/sign are practically interchangeable; see further, below, n. 52. 7 Syr., ‘ābôdûtâ. This term is literally an abstract, so “act, or process, of making; operation”, etc. The translation, “Maker” however, not only helps the English line flow more easily, it also does nothing to detract from the logical subject, God. See Jacob, Homily on the Six Days of Creation: The Third Day, introduction, 5, for initial discussion of this term. 8 Syr., kephtâ. For this and other terms Jacob uses for the firmament see Mathews, Jacob, Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Second Day, 2–3. 6

‫‪15‬‬ ‫‪1585‬‬

‫‪1590‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡܝܐ ܰܘܐܪܥܐ ܰܕ ܺܐܩܝܡ ܐܢܶܝܢ ܶܪܡܙܐ ܰܟܣܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ̈ܰ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ � ܡܕܡ ܘܗܘܝ ܡܕܡ ܕܡ� ܬܗܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܡܠܰܬ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܢܘܗܪܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̇ܗ ܕܥܳ ܽܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܕܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܣ ܺܓܝ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܡ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܡܐ ܰܚ ܺܒܝܒ ܶܕܢܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ� ܐ܀‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܺܪܩܝܥܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܡܨܥܰܬ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܕܫܪܝܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܪܝܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡܘܬ ܰܟܦܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚܝܬ ܛܠ ܳ ܳ� ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܠܝܬܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܚܒ ̈ܝ ܶܫܐ ܰܘܐܪܥܐ ܕܬܩܢ ݂ܬ ܒ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܺܐܝ ̈ ܳ�ܢܶܐ ܰܘܙ �ܥܶܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܘܚܘ ܥܰܠ ܽܟܠ ܰܣ ̈ܘ ܺܦܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܚ ̈ܝ ܰ� ܳܘܬܐ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܶܫܡܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܗܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܩܝܥܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܰܓܝ ܽܢܘܗܪܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܬܩܢ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܒܝܥܳܝܐ܀‬

‫‪81‬‬

16

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1595 On each of these [four] days these various created things were made, that each thing made would provide a place for its companion when it came to be.

II.

GOD CREATES VARIOUS SORTS OF FISH IN THE

On the fifth day, the Lord commanded: “Let the waters swarm” Gen 1:20 [with] “living creatures”: fish and reptiles, as well as “birds”. And the waters “swarmed” 9 according to the command of the Maker, 10 1600 and the seas and the rivers filled with living, swarming creatures. 11 The power of God became the consort of the barren waters, they gave birth and various species multiplied in their wombs. 12 By His signal the Maker 13 forged 14 the fish, and provided them a path on which to travel through the seas. WATERS

By this and what follows, Jacob clearly disagrees with Eusebius of Emesa who maintains that God created these various creatures “two by two” just as He did Adam and Eve; cf. Eusèbe d’Émèse, Commentaire de la Genèse, 42–43. 10 Syr., ‘ābôdûtâ; cf. note 7, above. 11 Jacob elaborates further in the following lines, but it seems he is following the suggestion of Ephrem here that all the waters of the earth produced some sort of creature; see Ephrem, Commentary on Genesis, I.26. 12 Compare Basil, On the Hexaemeron, VII.1: “As if from a womb of total moisture living creatures of all kinds sprang forth of all kinds; and the sea travailed to give birth to all kinds in all forms.” Narsai also explicitly refers to the water as a womb; see, for example, his Homilies on Creation, I.107; see also lines 106, 109 for marriage and conception imagery: “[God]’s mighty signal joined [a term used of marriage] them and they brought forth swarming creatures. … He commanded the earth and it conceived and gave birth to [all] species and classes.” This interpretation remained in the tradition; see, for example, J.-M. Vosté, and C. van den Eynde, Commentaire d’Išoʻdad de Merv sur l’ancien testament I. Genèse, 40, where the earth and water are not only “like a pregnant mother”, but also provide the “milk” for their new-born child. 13 Syr., ‘ābôdûtâ; cf. note 7, above. 14 Jacob has perhaps chosen this verb here to highlight the “metallic” fins of fish. 9

‫‪17‬‬ ‫‪1595‬‬

‫‪1600‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ ܶܒ�ܝܳܢ ܶܒ�ܝܳܢ ܶܡܬܥܰ ̈ܒ ܳܕܢ ̱ܗ ̈ܘܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܠ ܐܬܪܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܕܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪܗ ܰܟܕ ܳܗ ܶܘܐ ̱ܗܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܢ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ̱ܗܘܐ ܡܪܝܐ ܕܢܪܚܫܘܢ ܡܝܐ ܒܚܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽ̈ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܐܦ ܳܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܰܢܦܫܐ ܰܚܝܬܐ �ܘܢܐ ܘ�‬ ‫ܘܩܕܢܐ ܕܥܳ ܽܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܪܚܫܘ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܘܡܠܰܘ ܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܰܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܗ� ܳܘܬܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܰܚܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܩ� ܐ ܐܫܬܘܬܦ ̱ܗܘܐ ܺܚܝܠ ܐ ܳܠܗܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܠܡܝܐ ܥ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫�ܒܢ ܶܡܢ ܽ� ̈ܘ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫�ܒܢ ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܓܝܘ ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܠܕܘ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫�� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܬ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܥܳ ܽܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܪܡܙܐ ܶܚܫܠ ܰ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܘܕܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܬ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܝ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܝ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܒ ݂ ݀‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܐܘܪܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܳܠ ܽܟܘ܀‬

18

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1605 They swarmed in springs and multiplied in pools and in ponds, for the command was that wherever there was water it should “be Gen 1:22 fruitful”. 15 That command went out over the waters and it required them to produce swarming creatures just as the Lord of the seas had commanded. That command required small creatures for small [bodies of] water, 1610 and for larger [bodies of water] the big fish and the larger sea reptiles; whereas for the abyss that is boundless and bottomless, it was necessary that the sea monsters 16 be as immense as it is. And so all the waters produced [creatures] according to their measure, just as the Lord – the Lord of the rivers 17 – had commanded. 1615 In the waters of the seas there were various powerful living creatures, while all the sea monsters of renown were in the abyss. And in very shallow places of water and in tiny creeks, are those creatures even more insignificant than small locust. Where there was even a scent of water or moisture,

Basil again appears to be a source here for Jacob, as he makes the same point in quite similar language: “Not the hollows, nor the pools, nor the moisture of mud were immune from that command to swarm with living creatures for the establishment of the world.” Cf. The Syriac Version of the Hexaemeron by Basil of Caesarea, VII.1; a similar comment can be found in Theodoret, Questions on Genesis, XVII. 16 Cf. Genesis 1:21. This includes at least Leviathan, which Jacob mentions below. 17 This is the first and only time in this mêmrâ that Jacob uses this epithet for God; it is likely employed here to complement the use of “Lord of the seas” just used above in line 1608, and to highlight the fact that God is Lord of all waters. 15

‫‪19‬‬ ‫‪1605‬‬

‫‪1610‬‬

‫‪1615‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܦܬܘ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܓ ܶܡܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܓܝܘ ܶܒ ̈‬ ‫ܡ� ̈�ܢܶܐ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈� ܳܢܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܢܐ ܗܘܐ ܽܕܟܠ ܰܐܝܟܐ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܪܘܢ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܒܥ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܥܰܠ ܡܝܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܟܢ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܠܘܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ܳܡ ܶܪ ܐ ܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܙܥܘܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܬܒܥ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܠܡܝܐ ܙܥ‬ ‫ܘ�ܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܣ ܺܓ ̈ܶܝܐܐ ܽ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܥܰܓܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܰܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܗܘܡܐ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܕܕ� ܽ‬ ‫ܡܫܘܚܬܐ ܰܘܕ� ܶܓ ܰܫܐ ̱ܗܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰܺ ̈ܶ ܶ ܽ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܬܒܥ ܬ��ܢܐ ܕܢܗܘܘܢ ܪܘ�ܒܐ ܬܘܒ ܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܰܟܢ ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܦܪܝܘ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ ܐܝܟ ܡܫܘܚܬܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܟܢ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ܳܡܪܝܐ ܳܡ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܕܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܗ�ܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܡ ̈ܝܐ ܘܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܰܚ ̈� ܳܘܢ ܰܚ ̈� ܳܘܢ ܥܰ ܺܫ ̈� ܳܢܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܗܘܡܐ ܶܕܝܢ ܽܟܠ ܬ ܺ� ̈�ܢܶܐ ܰܕ ̈ܫ ܳܡ ܳܗܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܐܦ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܨ ܶܝ� ܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܩ ܶܩܐ ܺ‬ ‫�� ܺܨܝܢܶܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܺܫܝܛܐ ܳܕܐܦ ܶܡܢ ܰܩܡܨܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܙܥܘܪܐ ܺܫܝܛ ܽ ̱ܗܘ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܡ ̈ܝܐ ܘܬ ܺܠܝܠܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܦ ܐܝܟܐ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܺܪܝܚܐ‬

‫‪82‬‬

20

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1620 that command brought forth gnats in that place. Lo, there in that abyss that is without measure is Leviathan, 18 who is as great as the sea, which is also without measure. 19 Along the shore of the seas where the water is not deep, are the fish that are of proper size for hooks and nets. 1625 Even from the dampness and the moisture of water came gnats, for not even there could the force of that command fail. Whether the water is minimal or vast it brought forth in this manner, in proportion to its wombs is its offspring within their boundaries. The fish that the waters produced hastened along the paths of the seas, 1630 and the abyss was at peace with both swarming creatures and living things. The womb of water was like a house for those who dwell in the water, and they would dwell therein as if in a palace that is full of light. The Maker 20 placed some air in the water in order to keep them alive, and within those waters He bound the lives of those water creatures.

Cf. Psalm 104:25–26. Leviathan is mentioned five other times in the Old Testament. Ephrem, Commentary on Genesis, I.26, places Leviathan in the sea, while its counterpart, Behemoth, he puts on the dry land. According to Psalm 74:14, Leviathan had multiple heads –seven, according to Ugaritic texts–, leading modern New Testament scholars to identify Leviathan with the seven-headed dragon (Satan) in Revelation 12:3, and the seven-headed beast (Rome) in Revelation 13:1, 17:3; see J. Day, “Leviathan.” 19 Vg. lines 1611–1612, above. 20 Syr., ‘ābôdâ; this is the actual word for ‘Maker’, to be distinguished from Syr., ‘ābôdûtâ, employed by Jacob heretofore. In what follows, only the abstract will be noted. 18

‫‪21‬‬ ‫‪1620‬‬

‫‪1625‬‬

‫‪1630‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܳܒ ̈ܶܩܐ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠܕ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܰܗܘ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܐ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܫܘܚܬܐ ̱ܗܘ ܐܝܬ ܶܠܘܝܳܬܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬܗܘܡܐ ܰܕܕ�‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܕܪܒ ܰܐܝܟ ܝܰܡܐ ܰܘܕ� ܽ‬ ‫ܡܫܘܚܬܐ ܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܐܦ ܽܗܘ܀‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ � ܥܰ ܺܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܦܪ ܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܰܐܝܟܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܩܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܫܚܝܢ �ܨܶ ܳܢ�ܝܳܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܽ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܨ ̈ܝ ܳܕܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܡ ̈ܝܐ ܳܒ ̈ܩܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܬܘܒ ܶܡܢ ܶܪܛܒܐ ܘܬ ܺܠܝܠܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܰܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܛܠ ܰܚܝܠܶܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܗܘ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܳܕܐܦ� ܬܡܢ ܢ‬ ‫ܙܥ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪܒܝܢ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪܝܢ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܪ ܺ‬ ‫ܦܪܝܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܬܚ ̈ܘ ܰܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܦܘܬ ܽ� ̈ܘ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܳܐܦ ܝܰ ̈� ܰܕ ܽܝܗܘܢ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܪܗܛܘ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܫܒ ̈� ܶ� ܕܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܽ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܪܚܫܘ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܗܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬܝܰܢ ̱ܗܘܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܒ� ܳ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܚ ̈� ܳܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ̈ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ̈ܝܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܥܘܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܐܝܟ ܰܒܝܬܐ �ܥܡ�ܝ ܡܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܪܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܒܗ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܒܝܪܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡܠܝܐ ܽܢܘܗܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܣܡ ܥܳ ܽܒܘܕܐ ܰܣܘܩܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܡ ܶܚܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܐ̱ ܰܣܪ ܰܚ ܰ ̈ܝ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܰܕ ̈ܒ ܰܢܝ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ܀‬

‫‪83‬‬

22

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1635 Light and life and enjoyment He fashioned there, to enrich in the sea the ranks of every swarming creature. The fish breathe the waters and live there gladly, but if they were ever to jump out of them they would die cruelly. 21 A fish has no air on dry land by which it might live, 1640 so its life is placed in the waters by the Maker. So long as it is submersed in water it is alive and happy, but if the [waters] cast it up onto dry land it would die by suffocation. On dry land it has no breath from the water to make it grow, for [the breath] was placed there for it to breathe in life. 1645 The sun is its enemy and the light of the world its oppressor, the dry land above is its hell if it were to go up onto it. If they were to bring it into a king’s palace that would be its grave, for only in the darkness of the water is its life possible. For there [in the water] its breath is its harvest, its fill and its nourishment, 1650 and its habitat is its friend in which it delights and draws its life. In this way then, that Maker fashioned breath in the waters, to give life to the fish and then He permitted those fish to “be Gen 1:22 fruitful”. The fish came to be along with the breath of water to which they were bound on the path of the seas, in the place that would drown one who came down into it.

Similar comment in Basil, On the Hexaemeron, VII.1: “These words show you the natural affinity of animals which swim in the water; thus, fish, when drawn out of the water, quickly die, because they have no respiration such as could attract our air and water is their element, as air is that of terrestrial animals. The reason for it is clear. With us the lung, that porous and spongy portion of the inward parts which receives air by the dilatation of the chest, disperses and cools interior warmth; in fish the motion of the gills, which open and shut by turns to take in and to eject the water, takes the place of respiration.” 21

‫‪23‬‬ ‫‪1635‬‬

‫‪1640‬‬

‫‪1645‬‬

‫‪1650‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܺܣ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܢܘܗܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܩܢ ܬ ܳܡܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܡܘܬܐ ܐ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܝܰܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܬܓܡܐ ܰܕ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܽܟܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܛܡܗ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ ܺ ܽ ̈ ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܐܝܢ ܰܗ ܺ� ܳܝܐܝܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܝܐ ܣܝܩܝܢ �ܘܢܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ ܺ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܺ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܐܢܕܝܢ ܣ�ܩܝܢ ܡܢܗܘܢ ܡܝܬܝܢ ܡܪܝܪܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܰܠܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܽ‬ ‫�ܢܘܢܐ ܰܣܘܩܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝܒܫܐ ܺܕܢ ܶܚܐ ܶܡܢܶܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܺܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ ܰܚ ܰ ̈ܝܘܗܝ ܶܡܢ ܥܳ ܽܒܘܕܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܓܐܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܕܒܡܝܐ ܥܡܕ ܚܝܐ ܟܕ ܡ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰܰ‬ ‫ܶܘܐܢ ܰܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܩܝܢ ܶܠܗ ܰ‬ ‫�ܝܒܫܐ ܡܐܬ ܟܕ ܡܬܛܪܦ܀‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝܒܫܐ ܽܪܘܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܠܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܒ� ܺܢܝܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܺ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܗܝ ܕܐܬܬܣܝܡ ݂ܬ ܕܢ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳܣܐܩ ܰܚ ̈ܝܐ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶܫܡܫܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܩܘܒܠܶܗ ܽܘܢܘܗܪܗ ܕܥܳܠܡܐ ܳܚ ܽܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܩܗ ܽ ̱ܗܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܝܘܠ ܺܕܝܠܶܗ ܝܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܫܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܐܢ ܳܣܐܩ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܠܗ ܰܩ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟܠ ܰܡܠܟܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܰܡܥܠܺܝܢ ܶܠܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪܗ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܚܘܕ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܽܫܘܟܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ ܰܚ ܰ ̈ܝܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܰܣ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣܒܥܶܗ ܳܐܦ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܗ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܐ̱ ܳܣܢܶܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܣ ܶܝܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܚ ܺܒܝܒ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܓܐܶܐ ܶܒܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܝܐ ܶܡܢܶܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܡ ̈ܝܐ ܰܣܘܩܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬܩܢ ܰܗܘ ܥܳ ܽܒܘܕܐ‬ ‫�� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫�� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟܢ ܰܐ ܶܦܣ ̱ܗܘܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܶܚܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܦܪܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܐܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܣܘܩܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ܽ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܪܝܢ ܶܒܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܒܝܠ ܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܰܒܐܬܪܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚܢܶܩ ܰܠ ܳܕܢ ܶܚܬ ܶܠܗ܀‬

‫‪84‬‬

24

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1655 In the water that drowns, life is reserved for those who inhabit the water, while the land of the living is for them a prison full of death.

III. ALL CREATURES MADE TO BREATHE IN THEIR

In this way that Creator 22 arranged to place there some air by which every rank [of water creature] might live. Our air is with us, where we reside, in our environs, 1660 but if we were to go down into the sea the waters would drown us. He placed us living things upon the land where He created us, but fish have their life in the waters where they were made. The one who goes down to the environs of the fish finds death, just as if a fish were to jump up onto dry land it would then die. 1665 The Maker set life for fish in the womb of the waters, but for mankind [He set it] beneath the sun, in an open place. In this way all ranks [of creatures], each one of them, live, wherever its [particular] breath is placed for them to live by. The watchers on high breathe life from the Divine Essence, 23 1670 and from Him they continuously suckle life in spiritual fashion. They graze on fire as if in a meadow covered with dew, they drink in spirit and breathe in life from the Divine Essence. 24 Just as [the fish] live in the heart of the seas with delight, so do the watchers [live] quite gladly by the flame. PROPER ENVIRONMENT

Syr., bārôyâ is the term Jacob uses for ‘Creator’ throughout this mêmrâ, not the abstract form as he sometimes does with ‘ābôdûtâ; see note 7, above. 23 Syr., ’îthûthâ; literally, “Being”, from the root for existence: ’îth. It is a common early Syriac term for God, and a particular favorite of Jacob. 24 Syr., ’îthûthâ; as above. 22

‫‪25‬‬ ‫‪1655‬‬

‫‪1660‬‬

‫‪1665‬‬

‫‪1670‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܩܝܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡ�ܝ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܪܝܢ ܰܚ ̈ܝܐ �ܥ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܶܒܝܬ ܐ ܺܣ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘܐܪܥܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ� ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰܕܡ� ܰܡܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܰܦܪܢܶܣ ܰܗܘ ܳܒ ܽܪܘܝܐ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܟܠ ܬܓܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܰܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܬܪܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܣܝܡ ܶܠܗ ܰܣܘܩܐ ܺܕܢ ܶܚܐ ܶܡܢܶܗ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܰܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒ ܽܒܘܬܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܣܘܩܐ ܕܝܠܢ ܥܡܢ ܒܐܬܪܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܢܢ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܠܘ ܶ‬ ‫�ܝܡܐ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ ܰܚ ܽܢܩܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܥܶܠ ܶܡܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܳܣܡ ܰܠܢ ܰܚ ̈ܝܐ ܰܟܕ ܳܒ ܶܪ ܐ ܰܠܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܽ‬ ‫�� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰܟܪ ܶܡܬܥܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܕܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܰܘܐܝܢܐ ܳܕܢ ܶܚܬ ܰ�ܬܪܐ ܽܕ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰܡܘܬܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟ ܶܕܐܢ ܳܣܠܶܩ ܽܢܘܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܝܒܫܐ ܳܡܐܬ ܐܦ ܽܗܘ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܽܕܢܘܢܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܡ ̈ܝܐ ܳܣܡ ܥܳ ܽܒܘܕܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܥܘܒܐ‬ ‫ܬܚܝܬ ܶܫܡܫܐ ܰܒܐܬܪܐ ܰܓܠܝܐ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܚܕ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܳܚܐܝܢ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܬ ̈ܓ ܶܡܐ ܽܟ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܣܝܡ ܶܠܗ ܬ ܳܡܢ ܰܣܘܩܐ ܺܕܢ ܶܚܐ ܶܡܢܶܗ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܥܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ�ܝ ܰܪܘܡܐ ܳܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܩܝܢ ܰܚ ̈ܝܐ ܶܡܢ ܐܝܬܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܰ ̈ܶ ܽ ܽ ܽ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ̇ܗ ܝܢܩܝܢ ܚܝܐ ܟ�ܝܘܡ ܪ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܒܢܘܪܐ ܳܪܥܶܝܢ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܡܪܓܐ ܕܡ� ܛ�‪:‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܝܢ ܽܪܘܚܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ‬ ‫ܝܩܝܢ ܰܚ ̈ܝܐ ܶܡܢ ܐܝܬܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ̈ ܶ ܳܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܕܒܠܒܐ ܕܝܡܡܐ ܚܐܝܢ ܒܣܝܡܐܝܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܥܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܝ� ܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗ ܺܒܝܬܐ ܰܗ ܺ� ܳܝܐܝܬ܀‬

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26

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1675 There breath is bound up in the fire25 in order to give them life, just as for fish their breath is in the water – with great wonder! Within the waters these [fish] dwell as if in palaces, while those [watchers], by breathing those fiery coals 26, live forever. For mankind the light of the sun is made a minister, 27 1680 between the firmament and the earth their lives are situated. This breath of life that is in us is fixed here, in this air in which there is a ministering spirit. 28 Angels take suck from the brightness and they drink in glory; they breathe life from the Self-existent One29 in His high place. 1685 Fish are in the seas, in the womb of the waters that He made fruitful, there they live by the dispensation of the Godhead. 30 Each rank [of creature] is there where the Lord created it, He gave each life and bound the air for each rank in its place. The Creator created the watchers on high and there they live, 1690 while [He created] men in this world and they live therein. In the waters are fish and reptiles; if they were not there, there would have been no life for what dwells in the water in their days. There is a bridal chamber in the waters and it is like a banquet for the fish; they rejoice in it and they continually exult along their paths. The imagery here stems from Ezekiel 1:26–28. Cf. Ezekiel 1:10, although the Syriac vocabulary differs. 27 Jacob is here playing on the word for ‘sun’ and the word for ‘minister’ which both have the same root, šmš. 28 Or, “wind”. Jacob seems to presume that his audience is already familiar with these ‘ministering winds/spirits’; see line 620, earlier in this mêmrâ, in Jacob, Homily on the Six Days of Creation: The Second Day, 18. For his likely source, see Ephrem, Commentary on Genesis, I.7, and Hymns on Paradise, 9.7–13. 29 Syr., ’îthyâ; from the same root ’îth as ’îthûthâ; see n. 23, above. Both these words have been rendered in various different ways by translators of early Syriac texts; see, for example, Beck, Die Theologie, 11–13. 30 Syr., ’alāhûthâ, ‘Godhead’ or ‘Divinity’, is a common word for God in this long homily, as well as in other homilies of Jacob. 25 26

‫‪27‬‬ ‫‪1675‬‬

‫‪1680‬‬

‫‪1685‬‬

‫‪1690‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܒܢܘܪܐ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܣܝܪ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܰܣܘܩܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܡ ܶܚܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܡ ̈ܝܐ ܰܣܘܩܐ ܽܕ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܒܬܗܪܐ ܰܪܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܕ‬ ‫ܡܪܝܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܐܝܟ ܳܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܥܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܦ ̈ܕ ܢܐ‪ܶ:‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܳܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܩܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܓ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܙܠܬܐ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܝܘܡ܀‬ ‫ܒ� ̈� ܳܢܫܐ ܽܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܫܡܫܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒܝܕ ܰܫ ܳܡܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳܝܢܬ ܳܗܢܐ ܺܪܩܝܥܐ ܰ�ܪܥܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܠܝܢ ܰܚ ܰ ̈ܝ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܕ ܐ ܰܢܫܡܬܐ‬ ‫ܕܚ ̈ܝܐ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܰܒܢ ܳܗܪܟܐ ܬܠܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܗܢܐ ܳܐ ܰܐܪ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܶܒܗ ܽܪܘܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܺܢܝܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܰ� ̈ܶܟܐ ܶܕܝܢ ܝܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܝܢ ܶܗܕܪܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܢܩܝܢ ܺܙܝܘܐ‬ ‫ܝܩܝܢ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܺܕܐܝܬܝܐ ܰܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬܪܗ ܳܪܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܝ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܽܘ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܥܘܒܐ ܕܡܝܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܐܦܪܝ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܪܢ ܳܣ ̇ܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܳܚܐܶܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܠ ܽܗܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܚܕ ܰܚܕ ܬܶܓܡܐ ܰܐܝܟܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܝܗܝ ܳܡܪܝܐ ܬ ܳܡܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܩܗ ܕܬܶܓܡܐ ܰܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܣܪ ܰܣ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܣܡ ܶܠܗ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܪܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܥܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܪܘܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܐ ܳܒ ܽܪܘܝܐ ܘܬ ܳܡܢ ܳܚܐܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܳܚܐܝܢ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܒ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܒܥܳܠܡܐ ܳܗܢܐ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܽ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܶܘܐ� ܬ ܳܡܢ‪:‬‬ ‫� ܺܐܝܬ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ �ܥܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܡ�ܝ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܰܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬܘܬܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܬ ܳܡܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܡ ̈ܝܐ ܰܘܐܝܟ ܡ‬ ‫ܓܢܘܢܐ‬ ‫ܫܒ ̈ܝܠ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫�ܝܘܡ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܚܝܢ ܶܒܗ ܳܘܕ ܺܝܨܝܢ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܦܨ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬

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THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1695 But if some wayward fish or some arbiter were to let it rise out of the waters, it would die. The Creator set down death for fish above the water, for their lives are in the place that drowns any one who goes down into it. The womb of the seas is a castle for the rank of fish, 1700 and a comely place that is full of light and pleasantness. There they live and there they feed on every delightful thing, there they exult, but if they were to jump out of there they would perish. Just as a bride loves her bridal chamber and she exults in it, so too does a fish find joy in its abundant waters. 1705 If it were suddenly to go up from them it would find a grave in the place of light that is full of life for mankind. The Wisdom on High has in this manner apportioned and given life to all classes in their places and in their havens. The Maker commanded the waters to “bring forth” and they Gen 1:20 brought forth, 1710 and in the water He placed life for every species. It is breath that gives life to fish, so the Lord placed it there in the waters and that nourishes them [even] in the midst of raging seas.

IV. THE WATERS TEEMED WITH LIFE ON THE THIRD

On the fifth day the waters brought forth and the fish multiplied, the seas became rich with the voices of reptiles and sea animals. DAY OF THEIR EXISTENCE

‫‪29‬‬ ‫‪1695‬‬

‫‪1700‬‬

‫‪1705‬‬

‫‪1710‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܶܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܠܘ ܺܐܝܬ ̱ܗܘܐ ܽܢܘܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟܠ ܺܘܐܝܬ ܰܕ ܝܳܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܰܓܘ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ ܕܢܶ ܰܣܩ ܽܢܡܘܬ ܳܫ ܶܪ ܐ ̱ܗܘܐ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡܘܬܐ ܽܕ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ �ܥܶܠ ܶܡܢ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ ܳܣܡ ܳܒ ܽܪܘܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܚ ܰ ̈ܝ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܒܐܬܪܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚܢܶܩ ܰܠ ܳܕܢ ܶܚܬ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܘܬܐ ̱ܗܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܥܘܒܐ ܕܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܠܬܓܡܐ ܽܕ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܶܒܝܬ ܡ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܺܢܝܐܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܰܘܐܬܪܐ ܰܦܐܝܐ ܰܕܡ� ܽܢܘܗܪܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܳܡܢ ܳܚܐܝܢ ܬ ܳܡܢ ܳܪܥܶܝܢ ܽܟܠ ܽܒ ̈ܘ ܳܣ ܺܡܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܩܝܢ ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܳܕ ܺܝܨܝܢ ܶܘܐܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܳܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܦܝܘ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܚܝܡ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܟܠܬܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܓܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܢ ̇ܗ ܳܘܕܝܨܐ ܬ ܳܡܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܣ ܺܓܝܐܝܢ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܳܚ ܶܕ ܐ ܽܢܘܢܐ ܒܡܝܐ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܰܩܒܪܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܶܢܕܝܢ ܳܣܠܶܩ ܶܡܚܕܐ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܒܐܬܪܐ ܽܕܢܘܗܪܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈� ܳܢܫܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܚ ̈ܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܚܟܡܬ ܪܡܐ ܗܟܢ ܦܠܓ ݂ܬ ܝܗܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܰܳ ܽ ܰ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܠܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܬܓܡܐ ܒܐܬ�ܘܬܗܘܢ ܘܠܡܐܢܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܦܪܝܘ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ܥܳ ܽܒܘܕܐ ܕܢܦܪܘܢ ܡܝܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܳܣܡ ܶܠܗ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓܢܣܐ ܽܟܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܶܚܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܰܗܘ ܰܣܘܩܐ ܰ‬ ‫�� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܬ ܳܡܢ ܳܣ ܶܡܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܣܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܡܪܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܶܒܝܬ ܡܡܘ�܀‬ ‫ܘܗܘ‬ ‫ܕܚܡܫܐ ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܪܝܘ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܣܓܝܘ ܽ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܨܘܬܐ ܰܕ� ܳ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܬܪܘ ܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܚ ̈� ܳܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܘ‬

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30

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1715 The sea was quiet, still and lonely, then the command stirred, 31 and filled it with reptiles and all sorts of fish, and there was great harmony. It was like a resurrection for the sea on its third day, for the fifth day was the third day since the seas had come to be. The waters had been gathered together on that third day, 1720 and became seas, so this fifth day is for them the third day. Just so, the firmament had been constructed on the second day, but was finished by its lights on the fourth day. For the firmament then the fourth day was its third day, and on [that day] it was ‘resurrected’ and acquired the beauties of all the lights. 1725 So too, for the seas that were gathered together on the third day, the fifth day was the third day after they had been gathered. And on that day there was a ‘resurrection’ for the waters to “bring forth”, and the waters brought forth, though they had been calm on the third day. Even that earth that had come to be on the first day 1730 had been prepared and revealed its surface on the third day. And it was called ‘earth’ by the name that its Lord set down for it, Gen 1:10 and its soil was ‘resurrected’ and came forth on the third day. It is a great symbol of that resurrection of the Only-Begotten, handed down through those creatures that He had fashioned.

Syr., dāl, the same word that Jacob used to describe a mêmrâ that “was stirring” within himself; see l. 1572, above, and note ad loc. 31

‫‪31‬‬ ‫‪1715‬‬

‫‪1720‬‬

‫‪1725‬‬

‫‪1730‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܶ‬ ‫ܫ� ̱ܗܘܐ ܝܰܡܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܗܐ ܰܘܨ ܶܕ ܐ ܳܘܕܠ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܘܡܠܳܝܗܝ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓ ̈ܢ ܶܣܐ ܽܕ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܝܢܐ ܰܪܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܠܝܬܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܠܗ �ܝܡܐ ܒ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܚܡܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ�ܰܐ ̱ܗܘ ܶܓܝܪ ܝܰܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ܀‬ ‫ܬܠ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܟܢܫܘ ̱ܗܘܘ ܡܝܐ ܒܝܘܡܐ ܗܘ ܕܬܠܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܠܬܐ ̱ܗܘ܀‬ ‫ܕܚܡܫܐ �ܗܘܢ ܕ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܺܪܩܝܥܐ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܰܟܒ ̱ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰܺ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬܡܠܺܝ ̱ܗܘܐ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܒܝܥܳܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܢܗܝ� ܐ ܐ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܝܰܘܡܐ ܰܕܐܪܒܥܐ ܠܗ ܠܪܩܝܥܐ ܰܕܬܠܬܐ ̱ܗܘܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬ� ܰܚܡ ܰܘܩܢܐ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ� ܐ ܽܕܟܠ ܰܢ ܺܗ ܶܝ� ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܰܟܢ ܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܠܝܬܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܬܟ ܰܢܫܘ ̱ܗܘܘ ܒ‬ ‫ܕܚܡܫܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܠܬܐ ̱ܗܘܐ ܶܡܢ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܰܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܟ ܰܢܫܘ܀‬ ‫ܠܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܕܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܗܘ ܝܰܘܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܪܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܠܝܬܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܦܪܝܘ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ ܶܘܐܫܬܝܰܢܘ ̱ܗܘܘ ܒ‬ ‫ܗܘ ݂ܬ݀ ̱ܗ ݂ܘܬ ݀ ܰܗܘ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܐܦ ܺܗܝ ܰܐܪܥܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܳ ݀ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܐ ̈ܦ ̇‬ ‫ܘܒ‬ ‫ܝܗ܀‬ ‫ܬܠܝܬܝܐ ܝܰܘܡܐ ܬܩܢ ݂ܬ ܘܓܠ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘ ݂ܬ݀ ܐܪܥܐ ܰܒܫܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬܩܪܝܰ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܕܣܡ � ̇ܗ ܳܡܪ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̇ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܠܝܬܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܬ� ܰܚܡ ̱ܗܘܐ ܥܦܪܗ ܘܐܘܥܝ ܒ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܡܗ ܺܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܐ̱ ܳܪܙܐ ܰܪܒܐ ܰܕܗܘ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܩܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡܬܝܰ ܰܒܠ ̱ܗܘܐ ܥܰܠ ܶܒ�ܝܳܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ܀‬

‫‪88‬‬

32

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1735 In this way all things that were fashioned gradually came into existence by the symbol of the resurrection by which all creation is made new. 32 For the earth came to be on the first day without any order, then that third day came and on it [the earth] was put into order. The firmament came to be on the second day without any lights, 1740 then on the fourth day it was completed for that was its third day. So too the seas that had been gathered together on the third day came to be on the fifth day for it was the third day for them; on it they generated, were ‘resurrected’, and were at peace, for the symbol of the Son is great peace for all creatures. 1745 The reptiles suddenly came alive in a lifeless sea on the fifth day according to the command of the Godhead. On the fifth day He endowed the entire world, with five senses, 33 even if these [creatures] lacked a soul. 34 The body of the world was established in five days, 1750 then on the sixth day Adam filled the place of the soul. [God] commanded the waters and they brought forth fish on the fifth day, and there was great harmony in those seas that had been barren. The sea was at peace with the fish and the sea creatures, just as the firmament was with the sun, the moon and the lights.

On the creation and the Resurrection of Christ, see Jacob’s remarks in Kollamparampil, Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Resurrection, I.9–14, and Kollamparampil’s own comments in nn. 2–3. 33 While some objects of these senses: trees, flowers, lights, etc., had already been created, it is only with the creation of the various animals that any creature is capable of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or touching. Jacob now begins to emphasize the brilliance of colors and sounds of the birds, the abundance of nourishment for all the animals created so far, etc., to highlight this fact. 34 There is nowhere that I can discover among Jacob’s works where he discusses the question of whether non-human creatures have a soul or not. 32

‫‪33‬‬ ‫‪1735‬‬

‫‪1740‬‬

‫‪1745‬‬

‫‪1750‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܰܟܢ ܺܒܐܝܕܐ ܺܒܐܝܕܐ ܳܩܡܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܽܟܠ ܬ ̈ܘ ܳܩ ܺܢܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܡܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܒ ̱ܐ ܳܪܙ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܒܗ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰܕܬ ܽܟܠ ܶܒ�ܝܳܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘ ݂ܬ ݀ ܶܓܝܪ ܰܐܪܥܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܰܩܕܡܐ � ܡܬ ܰܩܢܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶܘܐܬܐ ܝܰܘܡܐ ܰܗܘ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܠܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܢ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘ ݂ܬ݀܀‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܺܪܩܝܥܐ ܕ� ܰܢ ܺܗ ܶܝ� ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܠܬܐ ̱ܗܘ܀‬ ‫ܒܗܘ ܰܕܐܪܒܥܐ ܐܫܬܡܠܝ ̱ܗܘܐ ܕܠܗ ܕ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܰܟܢ ܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܠܝܬܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܬܟ ܰܢܫܘ ̱ܗܘܘ ܒ‬ ‫ܝ�ܗܘܢ ܰܗܘ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܺܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܚܡܫܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܠܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܪܚܫܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܒܗ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ� ܰܚܡܘ ܶܒܗ ܐܫܬܝܰܢܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܐ ܳܪ ܙܶܗ ܰܕܒܪܐ ܰܫ ܰܝܢܐ ܗܘ ܰܪܒܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܟܠ ܶܒ�ܝܳܬܐ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܒܝܡܐ ܺܡܝܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܰܚܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܡܢ ܶܫܠܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܳܢ ̇ܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܕܚܡܫܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܠ ܽܗܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܕܚܡܫܐ ܐ ܺܩ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܗ ̱ܗܘܐ �ܥܳܠܡܐ ܽܟܠܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܚܡܫܐ ܶ� ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܓܫܝܢ ܶܘܐ� ܰܢܦܫܐ � ܰܚ ܺܣܝܪ ̱ܗܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܡܗ ܕܥܳܠܡܐ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܓ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܩ ܰܝܡ ̱ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܚܡܫܐ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܗܘ ܶܕܝܢ ܶܕܫܬܐ ܽܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܬ ܰܢܦܫܐ ܰܡܠܝ ܐ ܳܕܡ܀‬ ‫ܐܪܚܫܘ ܽ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ܺܟܝܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܚ ܺܪ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܫܝܢܐ ܰܪܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܒܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬܝܰܢ ̱ܗܘܐ ܝܰܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܚ ̈� ܳܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܕܪܩܝܥܐ ܒܫܡܫܐ ܘܣܗܪܐ ܘܒܢܗܝ� ܐ܀‬

‫‪89‬‬

34

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1755 “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living things,” commanded Gen 1:20 the Creator, and at that command the act of its being accomplished 35 hastened forth. The waters began to produce and they produced living reptiles, just as The One who had formed the worlds 36 had commanded in His wisdom. 37 The womb of the waters gave birth to both fish and birds, 1760 various orders and various species in their forms. The fish took the path into the deep as soon as they came to be, while the birds mounted the heights to rise up higher.

V.

GOD CREATED BIRDS WITH FULLY-FORMED WINGS

It takes an alert and attentive mind to examine the account, both of the speaker and of those who listen with great wonder. 1765 Rise up now and gaze, like Moses, with a great mind; it is not for you to utter the prophecy, only to confirm the prophecy. The prophet Moses has revealed to you the mysteries that the Lord commanded, and the waters brought forth swarms of reptiles, fish and birds as well. On the fifth day the command rose like a claimant 1770 above the waters and sought from them great fertility. And they began to be fertile according to the command of the Godhead: 38 the fish in the depths and the birds in the upper air. Now You, rise up in your faith that is full of wonder, gaze upon the womb of the waters that gave birth as it was commanded. TO FLY IMMEDIATELY

Syr., ‘ābôdûtâ; cf. n. 7, above. For a brief resume of Jacob’s use of “world” and “worlds”, see Jacob, Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Third Day, 8, n.3. 37 Cf. Psalm 104:24, and Psalm 136:5, Peshitta, which reads “wisdom”, although both the Hebrew and LXX read “understanding”. 38 Syr., ’alāhûthâ; see note 30, above. 35 36

‫‪35‬‬ ‫‪1755‬‬

‫‪1760‬‬

‫‪1765‬‬

‫‪1770‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܪܚܫܘܢ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܢܦܫܐ ܰܚܝܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ܳܒ ܽܪܘܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܪܗܛ ܽܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܥܪܢܐ ܕܥܳ ܽܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥܰܡ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܪܝܘ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܘܠܕܘ ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܦܪܝܘ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܰܚܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܳ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܟܢ ܕܦܩܕ ܡܬܩܢ ܥ�ܡܐ ܒܚܟܝܡܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠܕ ܽܥܘܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܽ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܳܐܦ ܳܦ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܒܢ ܶܓ ̈ܢ ܺܣܝܢ ܶܓ ̈ܢ ܺܣܝܢ ܶܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܣܟ ܰ ̈ܡ ܽ‬ ‫�ܒܢ ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܠܒܟܘ ܽ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܽܐܘܪܚܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܥܘܡܩܐ ܶܡܚܕܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܳܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ ܶܕܝܢ ܶܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܒ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܠܡܬܥܰ ܳ� ܽܝܘ܀‬ ‫ܳܗܪܟܐ ܰܗܘܢܐ ܰܚ ܺܪܝܦ ܰܕܘܩܐ ܳܒܥܶܐ ܰܫܪܒܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ�ܳ ܽܡܘܪܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܫ ܽܡ ̈ܘܥܶܐ ܒܬܗܪܐ ܰܪܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܩܘܡ ܳܠܟ ܳܗܫܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚܘܪ ܰܐܝܟ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܗܘܢܐ ܰܪܒܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܬ ܰܫܪ ܰܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܽܝܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܠܘ ܕܬܬ�ܒܐ ܐ�‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܒܝܐ ܓ� ܠܟ ܐ̱� ܙ ܐ ܕܦܩܕ ܡܪܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܪܚܫܘ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܽܘ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܐܦ ܳܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܢܐ ܐܝܟ ܬ ܽܒܘܥܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܚܡܫܐ ܩܡ ܦ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܒܥ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܶܦܪܝܐ ܰܪܒܐ܀‬ ‫�ܥܶܠ ܡܢ ܡܝܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܳܢ ̇ܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܪܝܘ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܦܪܝܢ ܰܐܝܟ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܠ ܽܗܘܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܥܘܡܩܐ ܐܦ ܳܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܪܘܡܐ ܕܐܐܪ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡ ܽܢܘܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܩܘܡ ܰܐܢ̱ܬ ܳܗܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡܠܝܐ ܬܗܪܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܠܕ ܰܐܝܟ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܽܚܘܪ ܶܒܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܥܘܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܦ ܰܩܕ܀‬

‫‪90‬‬

36

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1775 All sorts of birds and of fowl rose up and soared in great flocks from out of the waters into the heights above. Their wings were new, yet they flew up immediately with no training, with delightful sounds that they sang splendidly without teachers: the partridge that cries out,39 the dove that coos, 40 the eagle that screeches, 41 1780 and the swallow that immediately begins to twitter; 42 the peacock with its wings flaunted in order to display its beauty, the hawk that is fearless and the sparrow that is afraid and flees from it; the raptor that carries off [its prey] and does not mingle with [other] birds, for their species cling to their own habits and to their own manners. 1785 [God] constituted these species just as they are, when He creates them they act just as they were constituted. Into their nature He imbeds learning when He creates them, and by [this learning] they are roused to the wisdom 43 found in them. He gave them knowledge that required no teachers, 1790 in their nature is found what is necessary and needful. For who taught the fish to swim among the raging seas? Or the bird to fly around in the airy heights? Who [of us] is able to fly in the air by learning? O who can dwell in the waters by instruction?

Jeremiah 17:11, Pesh. Cf. Isaiah 59:11. 41 Cf. Revelation 8:13. 42 Cf. Isaiah 38:14. 43 Literally, “wise things”. 39 40

‫‪37‬‬ ‫‪1775‬‬

‫‪1780‬‬

‫‪1785‬‬

‫‪1790‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫�ܩܝܢ ܶܓ ̈ܢ ܶܣܐ ܕܥܰܘܦܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܠܝܢ ܳܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ� ܺܦܝܢ ܰ� ܺܦܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܓܘ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܪܘܡܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ܀‬ ‫ܶܓ ̈ܶܦܐ ܰܚ ̈ܕܬܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܚܝܢ ܶܡܚܕܐ ܕ� ܽܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܠܦܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܫܘܝܢ ܳܙ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܶ‬ ‫�ܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ̈ܩ ܶ� ܺ‬ ‫ܡܪܝܢ ܕ� ܰ� ܳܒܢܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܰܚܓ� ܳܕܩ ܶܪ ܐ ܝܰܘܢܐ ܳܕܢ ܶܗܡ ܢܶܫܪܐ ܳܕܨ ܰܘܚ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܢܝܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡܚܕܐ ܰܫܪܝܰ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܡ� ܳܨ ܽܪܘ܀‬ ‫ܢܚ ܶܘܐ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܛܘܣܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܓ ܰ ̈ܦܘܗܝ ܰܟܕ ܶܡ ܰܙܕ ܰܠܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦܪܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܚ ܺܨܝܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܶܨܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܨܦܪܐ ܳܕܕܚ� ܘܥܳܪܩܐ ܶܡܢܶܗ܀‬ ‫ܰܕܝܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚܛܦܐ ܘ� ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚܠܛܐ ܥܰܡ ܳܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܥ� ܰ ̈ܕ ܽܝܗܘܢ ܶܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܣܟ ܰ ̈ܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܒܟܘ ܶܓ ̈ܢ ܶܣܐ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܽܝܗܘܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܶܓ ̈ܢ ܶܣܐ ܐ ܺܟܝܢ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܗ ܰܟܢ ܳܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܪܝܢ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܟܕ ܳܒ ܶܪ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܟܢܶܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܛܡܪ ܽܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܝܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܒܗ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܦܢܐ ܰܟܕ ܳܒ ܶܪ ܐ ܶܠܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܢܶܗ ܶܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܡܫܬ ̈ܟ ܳܚܢ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܬܬܙܝܥ ܥܰܠ ܶܚ ̈ܟ ܳܡܬܐ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܰ ̱ܗܒ ܺܝ ܰܕܥܬܐ ܕ� ܶܡܣܬܢܩܐ ܥܰܠ ܰ� ܳܒܢܶܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܟܝܢܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܫܚܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟܝܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܒܥܝܐ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ܶܓܝܪ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܦܗ ܽ‬ ‫�ܢܘܢܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܚܐ ܶܒܝܬ ܳܡ ܽܡ ̈ܘ�‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘ ݂ܬ݀ ܳܛܝܣܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܘܡܐ ܳܕܐܐܪ܀‬ ‫ܫܟܚ ܳܦ ܰܪܚ ܳܒ ܰܐܐܪ ܶܡܢ ܽܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐܘ ܰܡܢ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠܦܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐܘ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܡܨܶ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܡܪ ܶܡܢ ܳܕ ܽ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ܀‬

‫‪91‬‬

38

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1795 Nature is much wiser than books and teachers, in it is hidden all knowledge for these species that came to be. That Maker fashioned wings and feathers, that when they flap them they might travel through the upper air. No bird chooses to fly or not to fly, 1800 rather, it was created to fly right away when it was created. Those wings the Maker so fashioned and placed [on birds], for them to tread through the upper air as if on a solid [path]. He created them from the waters and though water is quite heavy, they are light by the wings that He gives them when He creates them.

VI. EACH SPECIES OF BIRD BEGAN TO SING WITH ITS

1805 As for the sounds and the calls of all these birds, they did not receive them nor did they learn to sing them by hearing them. Nature moved them to produce their sounds as a natural thing, without even knowing whether it was a beautiful thing or not. As if it were innate, they chirp and exult and fly through the air; 1810 in this way all species delight in their sounds. As soon as they flew out from the waters [God] made them sing, each species takes delight in the sound that He gave them. Give heed now, as long as you yourself still exist, and hear the sounds from the symphony of their songs: OWN UNIQUE SOUND

‫‪39‬‬ ‫‪1795‬‬

‫‪1800‬‬

‫‪1805‬‬

‫‪1810‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܟܝܢܐ ܰܚ ܺܟܝܡ ܳܛܒ ܶܡܢ ܳܣ ܶ‬ ‫ܦ� ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܰ� ܳܒܢܶܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܠܓ ̈ܢ ܶܣܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܡ ܳܝ�ܢ ܽܟܠ ܰܝ ̈ܕܥܳܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܰ ܶ ܶ ̈ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘ ܥܒܘܕܐ ܐܬܩܢ ܓܦܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܓ� ܳܦ ̈ܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܕܟܕ ܶܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܬܙܝܥܺܝܢ ܢܶ ܽܪܕܘܢ ܽܒܐܘܪܚܐ �ܥܠ ܡܢ ܐܐܪ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܦܪܚ ܰܐܘ � ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠܘ ܳܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ ܳܒܥܝܐ ܕܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܪܚ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶܐ� ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܰܒܪܝܐ ܕܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܪܚ ܰܟܕ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܒܪܝܰ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ܀‬ ‫ܘܗ ܽܢܘܢ ܶܓ ̈ܶܦܐ ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬܩܢ ܳܣܡ ܥܳ ܽܒܘܕܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ܳܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܝܢ �ܥܶܠ ܶܡܢ ܐܐܪ ܐܝܟ ܕܥܰܠ ܽܓܘܫܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܳܗܐ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܳܛܒ ܝܰ ܺܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪ ̇ܗ ܶܡܢ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܩܠܺܝ� ̱ܗܝ ܶܓܝܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܓ ̈ܦܐ ܕܝܰ ̱ܗܒ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܰܟܕ ܳܒ ܶܪ ܐ ܳ� ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܳ ̈ܩ ܶ� ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܶ� ̈� ܶܙ ܐ ܽܕܟܠ ܳܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܰ ܽܶ‬ ‫ܰܠܘ ܶܡܢ ܶܫܡܥܐ ܩܒܠ ݂ܬ ܝ�ܦ ݂ܬ ܕܬܙܡܪ ܐܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܡܙܝܥ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܕܬܶܬܶܠ ܳ ̈ܩ ܶ� ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܝܢܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܟܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܟܕ � ܝܳܕܥܐ ܐܘ ܐܢ ܰܫ ܺܦܝܪ ܐܘ � ܰܫ ܺܦܝܪ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܢܨܪܐ ܳܘܕܝܨܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܟܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦܪܚܐ ܳܒܐܐܪ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܶܓ ̈ܢ ܳܣܐ ܳܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܰܟܢ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܡܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܳܩܠ ܰ ̈ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܡܚܕܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܪܚܘ ܶܡܢ ܰܓܘ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ ܐ ܰܙܡܪ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܚܕ ܰܚܕ ܶܓܢܣܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܩ� ܕܝܰ ̱ܗܒ ܶܠܗ ܗܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܒ ܰܣܡ܀‬ ‫ܳܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܨܘܬ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܗܫܐ ܐܟܡܐ ܕܬܡܢ ܗܐ ܩܐܡ ܐܢ̱ܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܳܩ� ܽܕܨ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ ̈ܘ ܳܢܝܬܐ ܰܕ ܳܙܡ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ܀‬

‫‪92‬‬

40

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1815 the sounds of partridges and of beautiful swallows, of turtle-doves and of the nightingale 44 that sings like a lyre; the swan that flies and raises up to its companions sweet sounds, and they all sing like harps above the seas. Flocks multiply and mingle the sounds of this one and that one, 1820 and who does not marvel at the sweet sound of their songs? at those colors that they wear on their wings? or at the beauty they don when they soar above the waters? One has golden wings while his companion’s are dyed in scarlet, or on another spectacular color, magnificent as a sapphire. 1825 Such violets, such whites and such blacks! With wings of various hues the Maker furnished them. He clothed them, He painted them and He adorned them, with a variety of wondrous colors He sent them off to fly. Like blossoms and like lilies in their apparel, 1830 even in the midst of the waters the birds put on their colors. The Maker 45 framed their wings, adorned them and painted each species of fowl with every beautiful ornamentation. One is clothed in the color of a rose or of a blossom, while another in the color of precious stones.

Syr., qûlbâ. The precise identification of this bird is far from clear (T. Muraoka, Jacob of Serugh’s Hexaemeron, 143, n.4, does not even venture a guess, translating it “song bird”). This rare word does not occur in the Bible. Payne-Smith, Thesaurus Syriacus, 3624, citing only a single passage from Moshê bar Kêphâ’s Hexaemeron (134v), follows the older lexica and simply states that qûlbâ “is the name of a bird”; Sokoloff, A Syriac Lexicon, 1328–1329, defines it as “a singing bird”, citing only this verse. My choice of ‘nightingale’ here has, therefore, no scientific basis (NB, however: Payne-Smith, Thesaurus Syriacus, lists no other entry for nightingale), but rather a choice based simply on the fact that the nightingale was almost legendary in antiquity and the middle ages for the beauty of its song. 45 Syr., ‘ābôdûtâ; cf. note 7, above. 44

‫‪41‬‬ ‫‪1815‬‬

‫‪1820‬‬

‫‪1825‬‬

‫‪1830‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܕܚ ̈ܓ ܶ� ܰܘܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ̈ܩ ܶ� ܰ‬ ‫ܣ� ̈ܘ ܳܢܝܬܐ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܳܝ�ܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ� ̈�ܢܶܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩܘܠܒܐ ܳܕܙ ܰܡܪ ܐܝܟ ܺܩܝܬܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܢܣ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܺܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܪܚ ܰܘܐܪܡܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܚ� ̈ܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒ�ܘܗܝ ܩ�‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܐܝܟ ܶܟ ܳ� ܶ� ܐ �ܥܶܠ ܶܡܢ ܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܙܡܪܘ ܟ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܓܝܘ �ܦܐ ܘܚܠܛܘ ܩ� ܕܗܢܐ ܘܕܗܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ � ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܗܪ ܒܠܥܙܐ ܰܚܠܝܐ ܰܕ ܳܙܡ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܒܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܓ ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰܕܡܥܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܦܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܥܰܠ ܶܓ ܰ ̈ܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ� ܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܠܒܫܘ ܰܘܣܠܩܘ ܶܡܢ ܰܓܘ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܨܒܝܥ ܰܒ ܽܙܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܪܗ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܓܦܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܗܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܝܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܓܘܢܐ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܪܢܐ ܕܝܰ ܺܩܝܪ ܰܘܦܐܐ ܐܝܟ ܰܣ ܺܦܝ�܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܓܘܢܶܐ ܰܘܐܝܟ ܶܚ ܳܘ� ܐ ܰܘܐܝܟ ܐ ̈ܘ ܳܟ ܶܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܒܓ ̈ܦܝܢ ܶܓ ̈ܦܝܢ ܰܓ ̈ܘ ܺܢܝܢ ܰܓ ̈ܘ ܺܢܝܢ ܳܣܡ ܥܳ ܽܒܘܕܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܒܫ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܨ ܝܰܪ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܨ ܶܒܬ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒܫܘܚ�ܦܐ ܕܓܘܢܐ ܬܗܝ� ܐ ܐܦܪܚ ܐܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫�ܒ ̈ܘ ܰܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟ ܰܗ ܳܒ ̈ܶܒܐ ܰܘܐܝܟ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܰܫܢܶܐ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܫ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܶܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܓ ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܐܦ ܳܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܓܘ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܥܳ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܨܒܥܰ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܘܕܘܬܐ ܶܚܫܠ ܰ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ܶܓ ̈ܶܦܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ܳܨ ܰܪ ݂ܬ݀‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܠܓܢܣܐ ܕܥܰܘܦܐ ܽܟܠ ܽܨ ܳܘ�ܬܐ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܳܝ�ܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܺܐܝܬ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܠܒܝܫ ܰܓܘܢܐ ܰܕܘܪܕܐ ܰܘ ܰܕܗ ܳܒܒܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܺ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܺܘܐܝܬ ܽܗܘ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܦܐ ܝܰ ܺܩ ܳܝ�ܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܚܪܢܐ ܰܓܘܢܐ ܕܟ‬ ‫̱ ̱‬

‫‪93‬‬

42

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1835 With every technique, every color and every ornamentation, He made them fly out from the waters into the heights above. And this place below the sun was then peacefully inhabited, for it had been desolate with nothing46 dwelling in it.

VII. THE SKIES WERE FILLED WITH THESE NEW BIRDS

Flocks of fowl soared and rose up from out of the waters, 1840 they circled over the earth and were in harmony with the solitude of the air. And into that lonely place above the earth and beneath the sun, there came forth hordes and they were peaceful in their flight. Flocks upon flocks and species upon species interacted there, partridges with doves, and swallows with sparrows in that place. 1845 They flew through the air and filled with peace what had been empty, this vacant place now had inhabitants encircling it. Every species flew into the heights from out of the waters, and each one of them would soar as high as it was able. Since the Maker placed in them the power to fly with their wings, 1850 they rose up, soared, reached their limit, turned around and came back down. The eagle took flight and soared even higher into the upper air, and flew beyond every other bird as it kept ascending. Every bird, since its wings were light, rose up, turned about and came back down; flocks settled down and adorned the earth. FLYING AROUND

I prefer here the variant medem for ’athrâ, from Bedjan’s apparatus, but his text also makes sense: “with no place to make a dwelling in it”. T. Muraoka, Jacob of Serugh’s Hexaemeron, 144, makes no mention of this variant. 46

‫‪43‬‬ ‫‪1835‬‬

‫‪1840‬‬

‫‪1845‬‬

‫‪1850‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܺ‬ ‫ܒܟܠ ܽܨ ܳܘ�ܢ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܟܠ ܶܚ ̈ܫܠܳܢ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܟܠ ܶܨ ̈ܒܬܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܦܪܚ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܓܘ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܪܘܡܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬܝܰܢ ̱ܗܘܐ ܳܗܢܐ ܰܐܬܪܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܚܝܬ ܶܫܡܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܨ ܕ ܐ ̱ܗܘܐ ܓܝܪ ܘܠܝܬ ̱ܗܘܐ ܐܬܪܐ ܕܡܕ ܝܪ ܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܓܕܠܘ ܰܘܣܠܩܘ ܰ� ܶܦܐ ܕܥܰܘܦܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܓܘ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܛܣܘ ܥܰܠ ܰܐܪܥܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܫܝܢܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܚܘܪܒܐ ܳܕܐܐܪ܀‬ ‫ܰܘܐܬܪܐ ܰܕܨ ܶܕ ܐ �ܥܶܠ ܶܡܢ ܰܐܪܥܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܚܝܬ ܶܫܡܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶ̈ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬܝܰܢ ܗܘܐ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܦ� ܰܚ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ܒܗ ܟܢܫܐ ܘ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܟܕ ܳܦܓܥܺܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ �ܦܐ ܒ�ܦܐ ܶܓ ̈ܢ ܶܣܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܓ ̈ܢ ܶܣܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܚ ̈ܓ ܶ� ܰ‬ ‫ܦ� ܐ ܬ ܳܡܢ܀‬ ‫ܣ� ̈ܘ ܳܢܝܬܐ ܒܨ‬ ‫ܳܰ ܰܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܰܫܝܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܪܚܘ ܥܰܠ ܐܐܪ ܡ� ̇‬ ‫ܕܚ ܺܪܝܒܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘ ݂ܬ݀‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘܐܬܪܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܟ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܟܝܢ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܣܦܝܩܐ ܩܢܐ ܥܡ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܪܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܶܓ ̈ܢ ܶܣܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܦܪܚܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܡܢ ܰܓܘ ܰܡ ̈ܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܫܟܚ ܐܬܥܰܠܝ ̱ܗܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܚܕ ܚܕ ܡܢܗܘܢ ܐܝܟܢ ܕ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܕܥܳ ܽܒܘܕܐ ܳܣܡ ܶܒܗ ܚܝ� ܒܓܦܐ ܢܦܪܚ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܠܶܩ ܶܘܐܬܥܰܠܺܝ ܰܘܡܛܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ܰܘܦܢܐ ܢܶ ܽܚܘܬ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܦܪܚ ̱ܗܘܐ ܢܶܫܪܐ ܰܘܣܠܶܩ ܰܣ ܺܓܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܪܘܡܐ ܳܕܐܐܪ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ ܟ� ̇ܗ ܥܒܪ ̇ܗ ܟܕ ܡܬ��܀‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܳܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ ܟܡܐ ܰܕܩܠܺܝܠ ̱ܗܘܐ ܶܓ ܳܦ ̇ܗ ܶܣ ܰ‬ ‫�ܩ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܶ ܰܶ ܰ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܦܟ ݂ܬ ܢܚܬ ݂ܬ ܘܫܟܢܘ �ܦܐ ܘܨܒܬ ̇‬ ‫ܘܗ �ܪܥܐ܀‬

‫‪94‬‬

44

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1855 They would find grains on the ground as well as other sustenance, that had been prepared for them even before they came into existence.

VIII.

ALL BIRDS FOUND NOURISHMENT FROM THE

The Lord had commanded the earth to bring forth on the third day, then He commanded the waters to be fruitful on the fifth day. Like a table in the mountains He fashioned, arranged and filled it 1860 with every grain, every plant and every herb. He summoned the birds to a feast when He made them, and they went down and delighted in that banquet prepared for them. Flocks and every species of bird perched on the mountains, and with no anxiety they found grains that had been prepared. 1865 And from then on every bird continually ate with no care from the sustenance that had been prepared for them. They perched, they gleaned, they ate, they were satisfied, they exulted, they flew; in their delightful chirping and twittering every region took delight. For the Creator had thus made provision for all His creatures, 1870 with the nourishment and the sustenance that was appropriate for them. 47 As soon as He formed a chick in the womb of its mother, He formed 48 milk in her breast for it to take when she gave it birth. As soon as the young [chick] grew up and began to seek solid food, He would increase the spikes of its grain in the field, as one who took care of all. VEGETATION OF THE THIRD DAY

Compare here Matthew 6:26–29. Syr., śār; literally, “painted”, “depicted” (already used above), a favorite term of both Jacob and his mentor Ephrem. Compare also Narsai, Homilies on Creation, II.221–226. 47 48

‫‪45‬‬ ‫‪1855‬‬

‫‪1860‬‬

‫‪1865‬‬

‫‪1870‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟܚܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ܶܠܩܛܐ ܰܒܐܪܥܐ ܐܦ ܳܡ ܽܙܘܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܗܘܢ ܥܰܕ� ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܰܝܒ ̱ܗܘܐ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܕ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ̱ܗܘܐ ܡܪܝܐ �ܪܥܐ ܕܬܦܩ ܒܬܠܝܬܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܠܡ ܳ ̈ܝܐ ܰܕܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟܢ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܪܘܢ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ̱ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ� ܐ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܩܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܕܪ ܰܘܡܠܳܝ ̱ܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܳܦܬܘܪܐ ܒܛ‬ ‫ܽܟܠ ܰܙ ܽ‬ ‫�ܥ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܢܝܢ ܽܟܠ ܥ ܶ ܳܩ ܺ�ܝܢ ܽܟܠ ܽ� ̈ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܦ� ܺܢܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ ܩܪܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܫ ܽܪܘܬܐ ܰܟܕ ܥܳ ܶܒܕ ܳ� ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ܶܡܢ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬ ݂ܬ ݀ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܡ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܘܩܢܐ ܰܕܡܛ ܶܝܒ ܳ� ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܢ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܓ ̈ܢ ܶܣܐ ܕܟܠ ܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟܢܘ ܥܰܠ ܛܘ� ܐ �ܦܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܚܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰܰ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܟܚܘ ܶܠܩܛܐ ܰܕܕ� ܶܨܦܬܐ ܐܬܛܝܒ ̱ܗܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܰܟܕ � ܝܳܨܦܐ ܳܐܟ� ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܗܐ ܳܗ ܶ‬ ‫�ܝܘܡ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽܟܠ ܳܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ ܶܡܢ ܳܡ ܽܙܘܢܐ ܶܕܐܬܛ ܰܝܒ ܳ� ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܛ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ܶܐܟܠ ܰ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܪܚ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ܶܣܒܥܰ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ܳܕ ܰܨ ݂ܬ ݀ ܶܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟܢ ݂ܬ ܠ‬ ‫ܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܨ�ܬܐ ܘ��ܙ ܐ �ܚܝܡܐ ܪܘܙ ܦ�ܝܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܒ ܽܪܘܝܐ ܶܓܝܪ ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܳܙ ܐܢ ܽܟܠ ܶܒ�ܝܳܬܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܰܫܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܣܝܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܽܙܘܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܥܘ� ܰ‬ ‫ܒܟܪܣܐ ܶܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡܚܕܐ ܳܕܨ ܐܪ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܡܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܺ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܨܪ ܶܠܗ ܰܚܠܒܐ ܰܒܬܕܐ ܰܢܩܒܠܗ ܡܐ ܕܝܠ ݂ܕܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܚܕܐ ܳܕܪ ܶܒܐ ܰܛܠܝܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܘܐ ܕܢܶܒܥܶܐ ܰܠܚܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܢܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܠ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܶܒܐ ܐܝܟ ܳ�ܨܶܦ ܽܟܠ܀‬ ‫ܒܚܩ�‬

‫‪95‬‬

46

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1875 For it was right that unless He nourish them He should not create them, but because He did create them He took care of feeding His creation at all times: food for the fish, and grain for the winged birds, while for mankind there were various and diverse tasty things.

IX. ALL CREATION LUXURIATED IN ONE ANOTHER AND

How beautiful and full of wonder was that fifth day, 1880 the flocks feeding on the mountains and on the high places, gleaning, scattering, twittering, exulting in every corner, the air rich with their songs and their calls, with their wings and their beautiful ornamentations, with their twittering, and their chirping that was so dear, 1885 the colors of the flocks mingling with the blossoms of Nisan, 49 and the beauty of their wings with the gorgeous lilies? [God] adorned that month of rejoicing with every flower, and the lovely flock with their colorful wings that He arrayed them in. The peacock was emulated for the beauty of its wings 1890 as was the lily whose colors were superior to those of others. The rose flaunted its color and the partridge its wings, this one was beautiful, that one was comely, and who could tire of seeing their beauties, hearing their calls, counting the flocks, or marvel at them gleaning from the buds or at their scents and colors? DWELT IN PERFECT HARMONY

The notion that the creation took place during the month of Nisan, probably inherited from Jewish thought, was common in early Syriac literature. See, for example, Ephrem, Commentary on Genesis, I.8, and lines 1075, 1078, earlier in this mêmrâ, in Jacob, Homily on the Six Days of Creation: The Third Day, 34–35, and the comments in T. Jansma, “L’Hexaméron de Jacques de Sarug,” 22. 49

‫‪47‬‬ ‫‪1875‬‬

‫‪1880‬‬

‫‪1885‬‬

‫‪1890‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܣܐ ܳܐܦ� ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܺܟ ܽܐܢܘܬܐ ̱ܗܝ ܶܓܝܪ ܶܕܐ�‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܝܘܡ܀‬ ‫ܘܡܛܠ ܰܕܒܪܐ ܒܛܝܠ ܶܠܗ ܢܬܪܣܐ ܒܪ‬ ‫�� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܽܐܘܟ� ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܓܦܐ ܶܠܩܛܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܛ� ̈ܘ ܶܡܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܶܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܣܟ ܰܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܦ� ܶ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܐ ܰܫ ܺܦܝܪ ̱ܗܘܐ ܝܰܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܚܡܫܐ ܰܘܡ� ܬܗܪܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ� ܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܒ� ܳܡܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܰܟܕ ܳܪܥܶܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰ� ܶܦܐ ܒܛ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܩܛܝܢ ܳܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܪܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܢ ܺܨܪܝܢ ܳܕ ܺܝܨܝܢ ܥܰܠ ܽܟܠ ܰܣ ̈ܘ ܺܦܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܠ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ̈‬ ‫ܘܥܬܝܪ ܐܐܪ ܒܙܡ�ܝܗܘܢ ܘܒܩܠܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܒܨ ܳܘ� ܽ‬ ‫ܒܓ ܰ ̈ܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗܘܢ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܳܝ�ܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܗܘܢ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܨ� ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈� ܰܙ ܽܝܗܘܢ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܛܝܢ ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܓ ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܕܥܰܘܦܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܦ ̈ܩ ܰܚܝ ܺܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܚܠ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܫܘܦܪܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܓܦܐ ܥܡ ܽܫܘ ܰܫܢܶܐ ܰܫܦܝ�ܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܦܨܝܚܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܨ ܰܒܬ ̱ܗܘܐ ܝܰܪܚܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܟܠ ܰܗ ܳܒ ̈ܒܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܰܘܦܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܚܝܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܓ ̈ܦܐ ܰܕܡܥܰܛܦ ̱ܗܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܒܓܘܢܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܪ ܐ ̱ܗܘܐ ܰܛܘܣܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܓ� ܳܦ ̈ܢܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܫܘܦܪܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܝܗ ܶܡܢ ܰܕܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܰܡ ܽܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܢܬܐ ܳܕܪ ܺܡܝܢ ܰܓ ̈ܘܢܶ ̇‬ ‫ܚ� ܢܶܐ܀‬ ‫̱ܶ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܶܘܐ ̱ܗܘܐ ܰܘܪܕܐ ܰܓܘܢܶܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܓ� ܶܓ ̈ܦ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܦܝܪ ܳܗܢܐ ܰܘܦܐܶܐ ܳܗܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܳܣ ܰܒܥ ̱ܗܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ� ܐ ܘܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ̈ܩ� ܘܢܶܡܢܶܐ ܰ� ܶܦܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܩܘܛ ܰܦ ̈ܩ ܶܚܐ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܓ ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ܳ‬ ‫ܝܚܢܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܗܪ܀‬

‫‪96‬‬

48

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1895 Both dry land and the air were absolutely delighted with the birds, and the sea was rich with all sorts of fish and sea creatures. The fish rejoiced in the depth of the sea where it had been sent, and the eagle exulted in the airy heights to which it ascended. Love was bound in each great place and took delight in it; 1900 it was alive and joyful, but if it were to be removed it would die. See how the bird is free and peaceful in the air, with its pinions extended and it ‘stands’ 50 without being on anything. It is not heavy for that nothing upon which it was placed, but its wing alights and rests as if upon something. 1905 Its claws and its wings are free and it ‘stands’ there, and like the ground [the air] is a place sufficient for it to rest upon. Although there is neither support nor perch, it hangs in the air, and depicts the form of the ground for it hangs upon nothing. The hidden power of the Godhead 51 is that something 1910 upon which creatures depend and they are all dependent on it. It gave life to the race of fish on the path of the seas, and It gave wings to the birds that they might ‘swim’ through the air. All these things look to [this power 52] as it is written, 53 for it is [that power] which provides all nourishment for every class:

Syr., qâymâ, from the root qwm, the same as that for “resurrection”. Syr., ’alāhûthâ; see note 30, above. 52 This is the logical referent here but, of course, Jacob could here be intending God, the source of that power, as well. 53 Psalm 104:27: “These all look to you to give them their food in due season”. 50 51

‫‪49‬‬ ‫‪1895‬‬

‫‪1900‬‬

‫‪1905‬‬

‫‪1910‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܦܨܝܚ ܝܰܒܫܐ ܳܘܐܐܪ ܽܟܠܗ ܶܡܢ ܳܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܓܢܣܐ ܽܕ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܝܪ ܝܰܡܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܚ ̈� ܳܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܥ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܕ ܐ ܢܘܢܐ ܒܥܘܡܩܐ ܕܝܡܐ ܕܐܫܬܕܪ ܠܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳܘܕܐܨ ܢܶܫܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪܘܡܐ ܳܕܐܐܪ ܶܕܐܬܥܰܠܝ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܓܐܐ ܶܒܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܣܝܪ ܽܚܘܒܐ ܰܒܐܬ ܶܪܗ ܰܪܒܐ ܘܡ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܦܨܝܚ ܶܘܐܢ ܰܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܝܐ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܦܩܝܢ ܶܠܗ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܳܡܐܬ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ ܡܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܦܫܝܛܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܠܝܐ ܳܒܐܐܪ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܣܝܢ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܶܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܒ� ̇ܝܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܪ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܩܝܡܐ ܕ� ܥܰܠ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ܀‬ ‫ܘ� ܝܰ ܺܩܝܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘ � ܶܡ ܶܕܡ ܰܕܥܠܰܘܗܝ ܺܣܝܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐ� ܰܫ ܺܟܝܢ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܢܚ ܶܓ ܳܦ ̇ܗ ܐܝܟ ܕܥܰܠ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓ ̈ܦ ̇‬ ‫�ܢ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܶ�ܓܠ ܶ ̇‬ ‫ܘܩܝܡܐ ܬ ܳܡܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܗ‬ ‫ܘܦܫܝ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘܐܝܟ ܐܪܥܐ ̱ܗܘ � ̇ܗ ܐܬܪܐ ܣܦܝܩܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܬ�ܝܚܐ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ � ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܣܡܝܟܐ ܘ� ܰܫ ܺܟܝܢܐ ܳܒܐܐܪ ܬܠܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܨܝܪܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡܘܬܐ ܰܕܐܪܥܐ ܕܬܠܝܐ ܥܰܠ � ܶܡ ܶܕܡ܀‬ ‫ܰܚܝ� ܰܟܣܝܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܠ ܽܗܘܬܐ ܽܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܝܘ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒܗ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܬ ̈� ܳܝܢ ܽܟܠ ܶܒ�ܝܳܬܐ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܚ ̈� ܳܕܢ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܠܓܢܣܐ ܽܕ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܽܗܘ ܝܰ ̱ܗܒ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܒܝܠ ܝܰ ̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܚܐ ܳܒܐܐܪ܀‬ ‫ܠܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ ܝܰ ̱ܗܒ ܳ� ̇ܗ ܶܓܦܐ ܕܬ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܶܠܗ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܣ ܶܟܝܢ ܐܟܡܐ ܰܕܟܬܝܒ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܝܘ ܝܳ ܶܗܒ ܽܟܠ ܶܡ ̈‬ ‫ܐܟܠܳܬܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܽܕܗ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܬ ̈ܓ ܶܡܐ܀‬

50

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

1915 in the midst of the sea It provides nourishment for the fish, and with no anxiety [on their part] It sustains both birds and fowl. With one command and from one womb of water Its signal made fruitful the species and in them It made their place peaceful: the sea with fish and all the air with birds – 1920 “and there was evening and there was morning [on] the fifth day.” Gen 1:23

‫‪51‬‬ ‫‪1915‬‬

‫‪1920‬‬

‫ܘܩ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܒ ̈ܪ ܳܝ ܳܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ‪ .‬ܗ‪.‬‬

‫�� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܳܙ ܶܐܢ ܳܡ ܽܙ ̈ܘ ܰܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܝܰܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܣܐ �ܥܰܘܦܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܰܘܕ� ܶܨܦܬܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܚܕ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ̈ܝܐ ܶܓ ̈ܢ ܶܣܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܩܕܢܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܚܕ ܽܥܘܒܐ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܗܘܢ ܰܫ ܶܝܢ � ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܙܗ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܦܪܝ ܶܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ� ܳܘܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܳܰ ܶ‬ ‫�ܝܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈ܘܢܶܐ ܘ�ܐܪ ܽܟܠܗ ܶܡܢ ܳܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܨܦܪܐ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܪܡܫܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܝܐ܀‬

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WORKS CITED PRIMARY TEXTS

EUSEBIUS OF EMESA Petit, Françoise, Lucas Van Rompay and Jos. J.S. Weitenberg, trs. Eusèbe d’Émèse, Commentaire de la Genèse. Traditio Exegetica Graeca, 15; Louvain: Peeters, 2011. BASIL Giet, Stanislas, ed. Saint Basile, Homélies sur l’Hexaméron. Sources Chrétiennes, 26bis; Paris: Editions du Cerf, 1968. English translation in Blomfield Jackson, tr., The Hexaemeron of Saint Basil. A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. Second Series. Grand Rapids, 1976. Vol. 8, pp. 52–107. Thomson, Robert W., ed. and tr. The Syriac Version of the Hexaemeron by Basil of Caesarea. CSCO 550–551; Louvain: Peeters, 1995. EPHREM Tonneau, Raymond M., ed. Sancti Ephraem Syri in Genesim et in Exodum commentarii. CSCO 152–53. Louvain: Peeters, 1955. English translation by Edward G. Mathews, Jr. in Edward G. Mathews, Jr. and Joseph P. Amar, St. Ephrem the Syrian: Selected Prose Works. Fathers of the Church, 91; Washington: Catholic University of America Press, 1994. Pp. 67–213. THEODORET OF CYRUS Hill, Robert C., ed. and tr. Theodoret of Cyrus, The Questions on the Octateuch. Volume 1: On Genesis and Exodus. Library of Early Christianity, 1; Washington: Catholic University Press, 2007. 53

54

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

JACOB OF SARUG Bedjan, Paulus, ed. (with additional material by Sebastian P. Brock). Homilies of Mar Jacob of Sarug. 6 vols.; Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2006 [original publication Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis, 5 vols. Paris and Leipzig: Harrassowitz, 1905–1910]. Kollamparampil, Thomas. Jacob of Sarug’s Homily on the Transfiguration of our Lord. Texts from Christian Late Antiquity, 13; The Metrical Homilies of Mar Jacob of Sarug, 8. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2008. Mathews, Jr., Edward G. Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The First Day. Texts from Christian Late Antiquity, 27; Metrical Homilies of Mar Jacob of Sarug, 29. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2009. Mathews, Jr., Edward G. Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Second Day. Texts from Christian Late Antiquity, 40. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2016. Mathews, Jr., Edward G. Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Third Day. Texts from Christian Late Antiquity, 47. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2016. Mathews, Jr., Edward G. Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Fourth Day. Texts from Christian Late Antiquity, 52. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2018. Muraoka, Takamitsu. Jacob of Serugh’s Hexaemeron. Ancient Near Eastern Studies Supplement, 52. Leuven: Peeters, 2018. NARSAI Gignoux, Philippe, ed. and tr. Homélies de Narsaï sur la création. Patrologia Orientalis, 34.3–4 [161–162]. Turnhout: Brepols, 1968. ISHÔDAD OF MERW Vosté, J.-M. and Ceslas van den Eynde, eds. Commentaire d’Išoʻdad de Merv sur l’ancien testament I. Genèse. CSCO 126. Louvain: Imprimerie Orientaliste, 1950 [Syriac text]. van den Eynde, Ceslas, tr. Commentaire d’Išoʻdad de Merv sur l’ancien testament I. Genèse. CSCO 156. Louvain: Imprimerie Orientaliste, 1955.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

SECONDARY WORKS

55

Alwan, Khalil. “Le ‘remzo’ selon la pensée de Jacques de Saroug.” Parole de l’Orient 15 (1988–1989), 91–106. Barsoum, Ignatius Aphram I. The Scattered Pearls: A History of Syriac Literature and Sciences. Second Revised Edition. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2003. Beck, Edmund. Die Theologie des Hl. Ephräm in seinem Hymnen über den Glauben. Studia Anselmiana, 21. Rome: Pontificium Institutum S. Anselmi, 1949. Bou Mansour, Tanios. La théologie de Jacques de Saroug. Tome I: Création, Anthropologie, Ecclésiologie et Sacraments. Bibliothèque de l’Université Saint-Esprit, 36; Kaslik: l’Université Saint-Esprit, 1993. Day, John. “Leviathan.” The Anchor Bible Dictionary. Ed. David Noel Freedman. New York: Doubleday, 1992. Vol. IV. 295–296. Ginzberg, Louis. The Legends of the Jews. Volumes I, V. New York: Jewish Publication Society, 1909, 1913. Harvey, Susan Ashbrook. “To Whom did Jacob Preach?” in Jacob of Serugh and His Times: Studies in Sixth-Century Syriac Christianity. Edited by George Anton Kiraz. GECS 8. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2010. Pp. 115–131. Jansma, Taeke. “L’Hexaméron de Jacques de Sarug.” L’Orient Syrien 4 (1959), 3–42, 129–162, 253–284. Sokoloff, Michael. A Syriac Lexicon. A Translation from the Latin, Correction, Expansion, and Update of C. Brockelmann’s Lexicon Syriacum. Piscataway: Gorgias Press/Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2009. ten Napel, Erik. “Some Remarks on the Hexaemeral Literature in Syriac.” In Hans J.W. Drijvers, Rene Lavenant, Collie Molenberg and Gerrart J. Reinink, eds. IV Symposium Syriacum: Literary Genres in Syriac Literature. Orientalia Christiana Analecta, 229. Rome: Pontificium Institutum Studiorum Orientalium, 1987. Pp. 57–69.

INDEX NAMES AND THEMES

references are to line numbers abyss 1611, 1616, 1621, 1630 Adam 1750 air 1633, 1639, 1657, 1659, 1682, 1688, 1772, 1798, 1802, 1809, 1840, 1845, 1851, 1882, 1895, 1901, 1906, 1907, 1912, 1919 angel 1683 anxiety 1864, 1916

coal 1678 color 1821, 1824, 1828, 1830, 1833, 1834, 1835, 1885, 1888, 1890, 1891, 1894 command 1597, 1599, 1606, 1607, 1608, 1609, 1614, 1620, 1626, 1709, 1715, 1746, 1751, 1755, 1756, 1758, 1767, 1769, 1771, 1774, 1857, 1858, 1917 create 1584, 1595, 1661, 1687, 1690, 1786, 1787, 1800, 1803, 1804, 1875, 1876 creation 1569, 1571, 1572, 1576, 1590, 1736, 1876 Creator 1657, 1689, 1697, 1755, 1869 creature 1598, 1600, 1608, 1609, 1613, 1615, 1618, 1630, 1634, 1658, 1667, 1687, 1734, 1744, 1748, 1753, 1868, 1896, 1910

banquet 1693, 1862 beauty 1588, 1781, 1822, 1879, 1886, 1889, 1892, 1893 bird 1598, 1759, 1762, 1768, 1772, 1775, 1783, 1792, 1799, 1801, 1805, 1830, 1852, 1853, 1861, 1863, 1865, 1877, 1895, 1901, 1912, 1916, 1919 book 1573, 1577, 1795 border 1592 boundary 1628 breath 1644, 1649, 1651, 1653, 1668, 1675, 1676, 1681, 1711 bridal chamber 1693, 1703 castle

1699

day

57

1583, 1588, 1595 first day 1729, 1737 second day 1589, 1721, 1739

58

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

third day 1591, 1717, 1718, 1719, 1720, 1723, 1725, 1726, 1728, 1729, 1732, 1738, 1740, 1741, 1742, 1857 fourth day 1594, 1722, 1723, 1724, 1740 fifth day 1597, 1713, 1718, 1720, 1726, 1727, 1742, 1746, 1747, 1751, 1769, 1858, 1879, 1920 sixth day 1750 dew 1671 Divine Essence 1669, 1672 dry land 1639, 1642, 1643, 1646, 1664, 1895 earth

1585, 1680, 1729, 1731, 1736, 1738, 1840, 1841, 1854, 1857

faith 1773, firmament 1589, 1593, 1680, 1721, 1723, 1739, 1754 fire 1671, 1675 fish 1598, 1603, 1610, 1624, 1629, 1637, 1639, 1652, 1653, 1662, 1663, 1664, 1665, 1673, 1676, 1677, 1685, 1691, 1693, 1695, 1697, 1699, 1704, 1711, 1713, 1716, 1751, 1753, 1759, 1761, 1768, 1772, 1791, 1877, 1896, 1897, 1911, 1915, 1919 flock 1776, 1839, 1843, 1854, 1863, 1880, 1885, 1887, 1893 fowl 1775, 1832, 1839, 1916 free 1901, 1905

glory 1683 [God] [1594], 1601, [1751], [1785], [1811], [1887],

Godhead 1686, 1746, 1771, 1909 harmony 1752, 1840 heaven 1585 host 1593 instruction knowledge

1794

1789, 1796

land 1591, 1656, 1661 learning 1787, 1788, 1793 Leviathan 1621 life 1568, 1634, 1635, 1640, 1644, 1648, 1650, 1652, 1655, 1662, 1665, 1666, 1669, 1670, 1672, 1675, 1680, 1681, 1684, 1688, 1692, 1698, 1706, 1707, 1710, 1711, 1911 light 1587, 1594, 1632, 1635, 1645, 1679, 1700, 1706, 1722, 1724, 1739, 1754 living 1600, 1615, 1630, 1656, 1661, 1755, 1757 Lord 1597, 1608, 1614, 1687, 1731, 1767, 1857 love 1899 Maker 1587, 1599, 1603, 1633, 1640, 1651, 1665, 1709, 1797, 1801, 1826, 1831, 1849 measure 1613, 1621, 1622 mind 1579, 1581, 1763, 1765 minister 1679, 1682 moisture 1619, 1625 monster 1612, 1616 moon 1593, 1754 Moses 1567, 1583, 1765, 1767 mystery 1569, 1767

INDEX nature 1584, 1787, 1790, 1795, 1807 Nisan 1885 nothing 1575, 1586, 1839, 1903, 1908

Only-Begotten 1733 order 1584, 1760

palace 1632, 1647, 1677 path 1604, 1629, 1654, 1694, 1761, 1802, 1911 peace 1630, 1743, 1744, 1753, 1845 pond 1605 pool 1605 power 1601, 1849, 1909, 1913, 1914 profit 1567, 1582 prophecy 1579, 1766 prophet 1569

reptile 1598, 1610, 1691, 1714, 1716, 1745, 1757, 1768 resurrect 1724, 1732, 1743 resurrection 1717, 1727, 1733, 1736 river 1600, 1614 sea

1591, 1600, 1604, 1608, 1615, 1616, 1622, 1623, 1629, 1636, 1654, 1660, 1673, 1685, 1699, 1712, 1714, 1715, 1717, 1718, 1720, 1725, 1741, 1745, 1752, 1753, 1818, 1896, 1897, 1911, 1915, 1919 Self-existent 1684 shadow 1590 signal 1505, 1603, 1917 Son 1744 song 1814, 1820, 1882 soul 1748, 1750

59 sound 1778, 1805, 1807, 1810, 1812, 1814, 1815, 1817, 1819, 1820 species 1602, 1710, 1760, 1784, 1785, 1796, 1810, 1812, 1832, 1843, 1847, 1863, 1918 spirit 1672, 1682 spring 1605 sun 1593, 1645, 1679, 1754, 1837, 1841 swarm 1597, 1599, 1600, 1605, 1608, 1630, 1636, 1755, 1768 symbol 1733, 1736, 1744

teacher 1778, 1789, 1795 Torah 1577 training 1777 treasure 1577, 1579 vault 1590

watcher 1669, 1674, 1678, 1689 water 1589, 1597, 1599, 1601, 1606, 1607, 1609, 1610, 1613, 1615, 1617, 1619, 1623, 1625, 1627, 1629, 1631, 1633, 1634, 1637, 1640, 1641, 1642, 1648, 1649, 1651, 1653, 1655, 1658, 1660, 1662, 1665, 1676, 1677, 1685, 1691, 1692, 1693, 1696, 1697, 1704, 1710, 1712, 1713, 1719, 1727, 1728, 1751, 1755, 1757, 1759, 1768, 1770, 1774, 1776, 1794, 1803, 1811, 1822, 1830, 1836, 1839, 1847, 1858, 1917 wealth 1578, 1580, 1581 Wisdom 1707, 1758, 1788

60

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE FIFTH DAY

womb 1602, 1628, 1631, 1665, 1685, 1699, 1759, 1774, 1917 wonder 1586, 1676, 1764, 1773, 1879 word 1568, 1587

world 1575, 1645, 1690, 1747, 1749, 1758 writer 1573

BIBLICAL REFERENCES

References are to page number Genesis 1:1 1:3 1:7 1:9 1:10 1:11 1:16 1:20–23 1:20 1:21 1:22 1:23

Psalms 74:14 104:24 104:25–26 104:27 136:5, Pesh

14 14 14 14 30 14 14 2 16, 28, 34 18 18, 22 50 20 34 20 48 34

Isaiah 38:14 59:11

36 36

Ezekiel 1:10 1:26–28

26 26

Jeremiah 17:11, Pesh 36

Matthew 6:26–29 25:14–30 Revelation 8:13 12:3 13:1 17:3

44 12 36 20 20 20