Jacob of Sarug's Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Seventh Day 9781463243449, 1463243448

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

Texts from Christian Late Antiquity

65 Series Editor George Anton Kiraz

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 Seventh Day

Edited and Translated by

Edward G Mathews Jr

gp 2021

Gorgias Press LLC, 954 River Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA www.gorgiaspress.com Copyright © 2021 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. ‫ܕ‬

1

2021

ISBN 978-1-4632-4344-9

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........................................................................................... 9 Text and Translation ............................................................................. 11 Homily 71G: On the Fashioning of Creation: The Seventh Day .. 12 I. The World was Built on the Pillars of the First Seven Days ......................................................................... 12 II. The Seventh Day is a Symbol for the Eternal Rest ..... 16 III. Creation is Beautiful, Wondrous and full of Wisdom ............................................................................... 22 IV. The Grandeur of Creation should elicit Wonder and Praise ................................................................................... 26 V. Let the Wonder of Creation dispel all dispute about the Creator.......................................................................... 28 VI. The “Rest” of the Sabbath Day is a Symbol of the End of the World .............................................................. 32 VII. These Seven Days can only be understood Spiritually ............................................................................ 34 VIII. The Beauty of the Number One..................................... 36 IX. The Beauty of the Number Two .................................... 38 X. The Beauty of the Number Three .................................. 40 XI. The Beauty of the Number Four .................................... 44 XII. The Beauty of the Number Five ..................................... 48 XIII. The Beauty of the Number Six ....................................... 50 XIV. The Beauty of the Number Seven .................................. 56 XV. Let the entire Creation come forth to give Praise to the Creator.......................................................................... 58 v

vi

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

Bibliography of Works Cited ............................................................... 63 Primary Texts................................................................................. 63 Secondary Works .......................................................................... 67 Index ........................................................................................................ 71 Names and Themes ...................................................................... 71 Biblical References ........................................................................ 74

ABBREVIATIONS Bedjan BETL CBOTS CSCO

FOTC

OCA

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

Coniectanea Biblica. Old Testament Series

Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium Fathers of the Church

OCP

Orientalia Christiana Analecta

OS

Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church

PdO

Oudtestamentische Studien

ODCC

Orientalia Christiana Periodica

OtSt

L’Orient Syrien

PO

Parole de l’Orient

S

Patrologia Orientalis

SC

Sobornost

TFCLA

Texts from Christian Late Antiquity

Sources Chrétiennes

vii

INTRODUCTION INFORMATION ON THIS HOMILY Homily Title: Homily on the Fashioning of Creation, The Seventh 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. 129–151. [Homily 71g] Lines: 458 [2563–3020]

OUTLINE

This fascicule finally brings to a conclusion our translation of the long mêmrâ “On the Fashioning of Creation”, composed in the late fifth or early sixth century by Jacob of Sarug, bishop of Batnan. 1 As noted already in previous fascicules, this mêmrâ is actually, despite its traditional appellation, a Heptaemeron, treating all seven days of the Genesis account, and not merely the first six on which something new was created for the world. And one can now easily see that Jacob had indeed intended this work to be such. The manuscripts all bear witness that this mêmrâ originally treated all seven days; even those that have suffered damage over the course of time include at least portions of the mêmrâ for each of the seven days. 2 Jacob died in 521, so it is a very happy coincidence to have this final fascicule of our translation of this important mêmrâ published during this 1500th anniversary year of Jacob’s death. 2 I did not have access to the manuscripts, but this assertion is based on the descriptions found in the relevant manuscripts catalogues, along with those found in the, admittedly inadequate, introductions in P. Be1

1

2

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

In this final section of the complete mêmrâ, ll. 2563–3020 [Bedjan III.129–151], Jacob clearly focuses directly on exegeting the text of Genesis 2:1–3, wherein is described the seventh day of creation on which God rests from all His labors of creation carried out over the course of the first six days. And, finally, there are no internal characteristics that militate against this assertion; the style, the theme and the theology are all consistent with that of the prolific and profound Syrian bishop-poet, whose writings earned him the title, “Flute of the Holy Spirit”. In fact, it seems that Jacob is one of the earliest – if not the very first – commentators to furnish such a deliberate and sustained treatment of God’s rest on the seventh day. No previous Heptaemeron has survived, and nearly all of Jacob’s potential sources and contemporaries that were referenced in the fascicules on the first six days, including those who composed full commentaries on Genesis, barely mention these verses, or they simply skip right over them altogether. It is well known, of course, that Basil did not even cover day six 3 let alone day seven in his Hexaemeron and, whether it was he or his younger brother Gregory, as is now generally held, who wrote the two homilies On the Origin of Man, neither offers any significant discussion of the Genesis account that pertains to day seven beyond two brief citations of Genesis 2:2. 4 Theophilus of Antioch just skims over this part of the creation account. 5 Highly djan, Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis, III.vi–vii, x–xi, and T. Muraoka, Jacob of Serugh’s Hexaemeron, ix–xi, as well as the catalogue of manuscripts compiled in A. Vööbus, Handschriftliche Überlieferung der Mēmrē-Dichtung des Jaʿqōb von Serūg. It should also be noted that none of these introductions makes any claims to the contrary. At the very beginning of his introduction, Muraoka, p. ix, does note the inaccuracy of the title yet maintains, even on the cover of the volume, the traditional title of Hexaemeron. 3 That is, the portion of day six that treats of the creation of man and woman; Homily 9 of Basil’s Hexaemeron does include a long discussion concerning the creation of the fish and the birds. 4 Saint Basil, Sur l’origine de l’homme (Hom. X et XI de l’Hexaéméron). The two citations are found in Homily II.8, 11. 5 Theophilus of Antioch, Ad Autolycum, 56–57. Although the editor titles section §19 as “The Seventh Day”, Theophilus merely paraphrases

INTRODUCTION

3

surprising to me is that Theodoret of Cyrrhus, in his Questions on Genesis, leaps from his discussion of the meaning of “image and likeness” in Gen 1:26, right over to a discussion of the spring that rose from the earth in Gen 2:7, pausing only to provide a brief response on the question concerning the meaning of the blessing that God bestowed upon the seventh day. 6 Eusebius of Emesa only discusses the matter of whether God actually completed the works on the sixth day or on the seventh day. 7 And perhaps most surprising of all is that Narsai, Jacob’s contemporary and nemesis, also has nothing relevant to contribute, highlighting only the power of creation and recounting, with minimal comment, the hallowing of the seventh day. 8 In this last fascicule of 458 lines, which is divided into 15 sections, 9 we find that Jacob makes three fundamental points: a. the necessity of exactly seven days for the creation of the world; b. to explain God’s “rest” on the seventh day after He had completed creation; c. and that these seven days of creation are a symbol of the age to come. Although Jacob treats them in a slightly different order one does find that all three of these points, as is to be expected by now, had already been made by his mentor and predecessor Ephrem the Syrian in his Commentary on Genesis, the only clearly discernible source Genesis 2:2, “Thus God, after completing heaven and earth and everything in them on the sixth day, rested on the seventh day from all the works he had made,” and then proceeds to the second creation account in Genesis 2:4ff. 6 Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Questions on the Octateuch, 58–59. 7 Eusèbe d’Émèse, Commentaire de la Genèse, 68–69, and see below, p. 12, n. 3, for discussion of this question. 8 P. Gignoux, Homélies de Narsaï sur la creation, III.205–230. 9 These divisions are, of course, not found in any of the manuscripts; they were rather introduced by the editor, Paulus Bedjan. The corresponding headings to each of these divisions in the Gorgias translations of Jacob’s mêmrê were then added by the Gorgias translator.

4

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

for Jacob apart from the biblical text itself. And these three points comprise the entirety of Ephrem’s comments on this passage: From what toil did God rest? For the creatures that came to be on the first day came to be by implication (Syr., remzâ), except for the light that came to be through His word. And the rest of the works that came to be afterwards came to be through His word. What toil is there for us when we speak one word, that there should be toil for God due to the one word a day that He spoke? If Moses, who divided the sea by his word and his rod, did not tire and Joshua, son of Nun, who restrained the luminaries by his word, did not tire, then what toil could there have been for God when He created the sea and the luminaries by [His] word? It was not because He rested on [that day] that God, who does not weary, blessed and sanctified the seventh day, nor because He was to give it to that people, who did not understand that since they were freed from their servitude, they were to give rest to their servants and maidservants. He gave it to them so that, even if they had to be coerced, they would rest. For it was given to them in order to depict by a temporal rest, which He gave to a temporal people, the mystery of the true rest which will be given to the eternal people in the eternal world. Also because a full week was required, God exalted by His word that seventh day which His works had not exalted so that, because of the honor accorded that day, it might be united to its companions, and that the reckoning of the week, which is required for the service of the world, might be completed. 10

Cf. Ephrem, Commentary on Genesis, I.32–33; Eng. tr. in E. G. Mathews, Jr., St. Ephrem the Syrian: Selected Prose Works, 96–97. See also the similar description in E.G. Mathews, Jr., The Armenian Commentary on Genesis attributed to Ephrem the Syrian, 10–11 (text), 13–14 (trans); this text, though not composed by Ephrem, retains many Edessan traditions, some of which can be traced back to Ephrem. 10

INTRODUCTION

5

One might even see this last portion of Jacob’s long mêmrâ as a commentary on these comments of Ephrem, rather than a commentary directly on the biblical text. It does nonetheless seem fairly certain that they at least provided the skeleton, if not the foundation, for Jacob’s own exposition. Jacob opens this seventh and last section of his Mêmrâ On the Fashioning of Creation, by continuing his insistence on the necessity of the world’s being created in exactly seven days.11 Following the text of Genesis, Jacob writes that God looked over creation and beheld that everything He had created was good and nothing that He had created was evil. Here Jacob seems to interpret this to mean, since nothing that God does is meaningless, primarily that God has established a basic order of the seven days, or more properly here, that He has laid down the foundational pattern of six days of work and one of rest. Here Jacob utilizes the symbol of “pillar” that he has taken from the text of Proverbs 9:1: “Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven pillars”: (RSV), and Jacob then argues that God has set the world entirely upon the support of these seven pillars. Subsequently, these seven days, as the pillars, support the world and provide the pattern for all future time, and thus are generated all the weeks, months, years and all other time intervals that ensued. Jacob then turns from the order of those first days to the actual events of the seventh day itself, particularly that “God rested on the seventh day from His work”. Moses wrote “And God rested on the seventh day (Gen 2:2), and Jacob added “but it is obvious that no weariness came anywhere near the Lord!” 12 Surprisingly, See Jacob’s initial discussion in E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The First Day, 375–424; Jacob ends the sections on days two and three with brief “reminders” of the necessary progression of the days (cf. E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Second Day, 839–842, and E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Third Day, 1153– 1160), then picks up the argument again in the beginning of the section concerning day six, see E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Sixth Day, 1921–1948. 12 See lines 2601–2602, below. 11

6

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

while it has now become a rather time worn question, few of his predecessors or contemporaries actually addressed, much less dealt with, the problem of God’s resting from His labor. In addition to the silence of the sources already mentioned above, the subject does not come up in the Dialogue between Justin Martyr and his Jewish interlocutor Trypho, even in their discussion about the millennium which, for Jacob, was that to which the seventh day of creation pointed. 13 As he was much more concerned with current practices than he was in textual exegesis, the matter does not arise in John Chrysostom’s Homiles against Judaizing Christians, 14 nor is it a concern in the extant homilies of Severian of Gabala On Genesis. 15 In Jacob’s own native Syrian tradition, one does find that Aphrahat had earlier commented on the Sabbath rest, but in his Demonstration 13, “On the Sabbath”, however, he is far more interested in arguing the ineffectiveness of the Sabbath and in disparaging certain Sabbath practices. Only at the very end of this Demonstration does he allude to the seventh day of creation and hint at its symbolic importance. 16 Jacob sums up his own argument here with what has become the rather standard response; primarily, that God could not have tired. If He did tire then who was there to guide the world that day or to ensure that its growth and all its activity continued. He then concludes this simple argument by quoting Jesus who said, “My Father is working still and I am working,” (John 5:17) to demonstrate that by the testimony of the Son of God, God had never ceased His work and, therefore, had never tired. After reiterating some of his previous arguments Jacob goes on to find the spiritual fulfillment here in Christ, the image of God, when he notes how “the Son was wearied on the cross on the sixth day” and then “entered into His rest on the seventh day (ll. 2773–2774). Rest can only be attributed to what has a body, so one can say of the Son St. Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, 125–127. John Chrysostom, Homilies against Judaizing Christians. 15 Severian of Gabala, Homilies On Creation and Fall. 16 Aphrahat, Demonstration XIII.10–13. 13 14

INTRODUCTION

7

that He wearied, but not of the Father. This is the failing of the Jewish interpretation of Gen 2:2. 17 So then, just what does the text intend by saying that “God rested on the seventh day”? Jacob responds to this in a two-fold manner. Firstly, God had deliberately laid down the precise pattern of days; now, in order to further emphasize its importance, He sets an example Himself for His creatures: the seventh day is for rest, not for work! Secondly, and largely in contradistinction to Jewish interpretation, he maintains that Moses is only speaking symbolically when he uses this language of ‘rest’. 18 In fact, for Jacob, this symbol, or type, rather refers to the rest that will come at the end of the world. After six ages, which he defines on the basis of such texts as Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8 as being a thousand years each, the earth will come to an end and enter into a period of eternal rest. This tradition Jacob borrows from an early widespread tradition that may go back even to the Apostles; it is found already in the Epistle of Barnabas, Irenaeus and Hippolytus, all of whom also appeal to the same biblical texts. 19 Again, however, one finds in Aphrahat a description of the six days of creation as symbols of the six millennia before the time of rest at the end of the world; his

In addition to this mêmrâ here (ll. 2605–2618, below), Jacob deals with the same issue in Jacob’s Homily against the Jews, III.15–118, where he treats the same topic; see M. Albert, Jacques de Saroug, Homélies contre les juifs, 87–89. 18 Jacob here appeals to Moses’ having to veil himself for the people after he came down from the mountain of Sinai. Just so, one has to take off the veil from Moses’ words in order to understand their spiritual meaning; see S. Brock, Jacob of Sarug’s Homily on the Veil on Moses’ Face, and n. 000, below. 19 Epistle of Barnabas, 15 (while no scholar maintains that this work was actually written by Barnabas, scholarly consensus does maintain that it was written before the end of the second century, perhaps as early as the mid-second century; thus it may still have apostolic roots), Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses, V.28.3, Hippolytus, Commentary on Daniel, IV.24; for other sources, see M. Alexandre, Le commencement du livre Genèse I–V, 220–221. 17

8

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

description of the reward for the covenanters also contains such eschatological images that clearly refer to the same rest. 20 Jacob opens this part of his argument by stating that in order to understand this saying in a spiritual manner, one must remove the veil, or covering, from Moses’ words to see their glory, just as whenever Moses took off his veil in the desert, his glory was revealed. When this is done the reader/hearer can see that God “does not rest except to denote symbolic and typological meanings (l. 2624)”. In this case, this means that just as God set down six days of work and then one of rest, so too the world will “work” six days – here, six millennia since to God one day equals one thousand years – and then enter its rest, that is, come to its end on the seventh day, i.e., in the seventh millennium. This was all done by God’s wisdom. Jacob clearly describes a world that lasts for six millennia and then a seventh millennium of peace and rest, but still does not maintain any strict millenarian position. As he treats the subject primarily here it remains unclear just how far he was prepared to push such a position, particularly as the western church had already been long engaged in suppressing such millennial ideas. 21 In the final, and longest, section (§§VIII–XIV; ll. 2787–2992), Jacob treats, at great length, the beauty of each of the numbers one to seven. 22 Here, Jacob follows a rather strict pattern where he first finds significant instances of each of these numbers from the evidence of nature, such as the four quadrants or the six directions, or he takes his images from traditional theological principles, such as Aphrahat, Demonstration II.14 and VI.6, respectively. Saint Basil, Sur l’origine de l’homme (Hom. X et XI de l’Hexaéméron) also, in the midst of discussing many other things, states that the seventh ‘day’ at the end of the world is symbolized by the seventh day mentioned in Genesis 2:2; cf. Homily II.11.2. 21 For a general discussion of Jacob’s possible intentions here, see T. Bou Mansour, La théologie de Jacques de Saroug, II. 262–267. For a description of Millenarianism, see the entry “Millenarianism”, in ODCC, 1086– 1087. 22 Each of these numbers is accorded its own section, according to the divisions of the text introduced by Bedjan (cf. note 9, above). 20

INTRODUCTION

9

the ‘one’-ness of the Godhead, the ‘three’-personed Trinity, the ‘five’ covenants made between God and man, etc. He follows each of these seven recitations by then recounting the events that occurred on the particular day of the week of creation represented by that particular number thus, once again, providing each day its reason to marvel and give praise, and to instill that same impulse in his hearers/readers. In addition, it seems that following this pattern is also Jacob’s way of elaborating on the last line of the section of Ephrem’s Commentary on Genesis, cited above: Also because a full week was required, God exalted by His word that seventh day which His works had not exalted so that, because of the honor accorded that day, it might be united to its companions, and that the reckoning of the week, which is required for the service of the world, might be completed (emphasis added).

This final section, just as I have tried to highlight in each of the previous fascicles of this long mêmrâ of Jacob, also demonstrates that, despite numerous parallels and a few probable literary dependencies, it is primarily the Bible itself and the works of his predecessor and mentor Ephrem, particularly his Commentary on Genesis, that were most influential in Jacob’s Mêmrâ on the Fashioning of the World. That the entire mêmrâ is imbued with offering, and inciting the reader, after the example of the prophet Isaiah (§§ IV–V, ll. 2701–2746), to offer, praise and glory to that God who created this entire world out of His love for mankind only serves to highlight this fact.

SUMMARY I.

II.

III. IV. V.

The World was Built on the Pillars of the First Seven Days (2563–2602) The Seventh Day is a Symbol for the Eternal Rest (2603– 2660) Creation is Beautiful, Wondrous and full of Wisdom (2661–2700) The Grandeur of Creation should elicit Wonder and Praise (2701–2728) Let the Wonder of Creation dispel all dispute about the Creator (2729–2746)

10 VI.

VII.

VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV.

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY The ‘Rest’ of the Sabbath Day is a Symbol of the End of the World (2747–2766) These Seven Days can only be understood Spiritually (2767–2786) The Beauty of the Number One (2787–2798) The Beauty of the Number Two (2799–2822) The Beauty of the Number Three (2823–2858) The Beauty of the Number Four (2859–2890) The Beauty of the Number Five (2891–2920) The Beauty of the Number Six (2921–2966) The Beauty of the Number Seven (2967–2922) Let the entire Creation come forth to give Praise to the Creator (2923–3020)

12

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

HOMILY 71G: ON THE FASHIONING OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY I.

THE WORLD WAS BUILT ON THE PILLARS OF THE FIRST SEVEN DAYS

2563 “The Lord saw that all creation was very beautiful”; Gen 1:31 for the Lord had made nothing ugly during the course of His path. 2565 Six evenings and mornings had come forth, taken their turn and passed on, then came a Sabbath, [making] seven days, 1 which is full of mysteries, bearing rest, full of tranquility, and depicting types of that peaceful age that is to come at the end of the world. “On the seventh day, the Lord rested from what He had fashGen 2:2 ioned”, 2570 for He had run His course, completed His works, and so entered into His rest. 2 He united together this cycle of temporal units into seven days: six [days] of activity and one of rest, now yoked together. 3 [These] seven days, like pillars, uphold the world; it was set upon them and has been standing upon them since then.

Or, “thus came a Sabbath of seven days”, connoting the completion of an entire week. 2 For this last phrase, see Hebrews 4:1–11. 3 It should be highlighted here that Jacob’s Peshitta text has God finishing creation on the sixth day (Gen 2:2), following the LXX, against the Hebrew text which reads “seventh”; he thus avoids the ambiguity of the Hebrew and can maintain the clear division between six days of work and one of rest. 1

‫‪13‬‬

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

‫ܰ ܽ ܳܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫��ܬܐ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ�ܬܘܩܢܐ ܕܒ‬ ‫‪.‬ܙܙ‪.‬‬ ‫‪2563‬‬ ‫‪2565‬‬

‫‪2570‬‬

‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫��ܬܐ ܕܛܒ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܳܝ�ܢ܆‬ ‫�ܟܠ ܒ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܶܕܡ ܰܕܣܢܶܐ � ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪܗܛܐ ܽܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܨ ܶ‬ ‫ܦ�ܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬܐ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ̱ܘ ܰܫ ܺܢܝܘ܆‬ ‫ܘܢܦܩ ̱ܘ ܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬ ̣ܬ ݀ ܰܫ ܰܒܬ ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ ܰܡ ܰ‬ ‫�ܝܬ ܐ̱� ܙܶ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܨܝܪܐ ܛܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܥ ܳܝܢܐ ܳܢܝ ܳܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܣܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ܶܡܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܳܗ ܶܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܶܡܢ ܽܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܶܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܬ�ܝܚ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ܆‬ ‫ܡܠܝ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܗܛ ܽܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܰ�ܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܝ ܳܚܐ܀‬ ‫ܥܒ ̈ܕ ̱ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ̇ܗ ܺ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܰܙܒܢ̈ܐ܆‬ ‫ܠܓܝܓ� ܕܡ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܕ ܰܕ ܳܢܝ ܳܚܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܬܐ ܰܕ ܳܪܗܛܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܕ ܺܝܢܝܢ ܳܒ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܺ ܰ ܰ ܽ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܘܕܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܛ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܫܒܥܐ ܝܘܡܝܢ ܐܝܟ ܥܡ‬ ‫ܥܢ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܺܣܝܡ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܗܘܢ ܳܩܐܡ ܳܗܐ ܶܡܢ ܳܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ܀‬

‫‪B129‬‬

14

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2575 The Wisdom of the Exalted One built a house full of beautiful things, and upon these seven pillars She set [the house] 4 that it [too] may be beautiful. Its Lord set these seven as precious gems on the crowning 5 of the world, and lo, these seven are beautiful and full of wonder. The path of the world is laid down along a sevenfold journey, 2580 six of activity and one of a rest that is full of tranquility. By the course of these seven is the entire world ordered, by weeks and full moons, by the beginning of months and the days 6 that came to be, a cycle of seven [days] that travels along their courses, producing years and all the time intervals found therein. 2585 Each of these days is gathered in and forms seven days, and these all come and go according to their reckoning; they form months by their sequential movements, and they introduce and comprise a year of months beneath the heavenly spheres. [That year] began to draw other years along with it; 2590 [thus,] the entire course of the world was fashioned in those seven days. From them came the days, from them the weeks, and from them the months, then a year with its course and along with it many [more] years. Behold, days and nights, by their progression, supported and brought the world to completion in seven days.

Cf. Proverbs 9:1. Or, “as seals for the completion” of the creation of the world. 6 Read yāwmê instead of yarḥê with P. Bedjan, Homiliae Selectae MarJacobi Sarugensis, III.130, n.1. 4 5

‫‪15‬‬ ‫‪2575‬‬

‫‪2580‬‬

‫‪2585‬‬

‫‪2590‬‬

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

‫ܶ ܰ ܳܳ ܳ ݀ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ�ܐ܆‬ ‫ܚܟܡܬ ܪܡܐ ܒܢ ̣ܬ ̱ܗܘܬ ܒܝܬܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܕܐ ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܬܗ ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܫܦܝܪ܀‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܣܡ‬ ‫ܘܒܥܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܥܐ ܛܒܥܝܢ ܣܡ ܒܟܠܝܠܗ ܕܥ�ܡܐ ܡܪܗ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܥܬ�̈ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܫܦܝܪܝܢ ܘܡܠܝܢ ܬܗܪܐ ܫ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܥܠ ܰܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܽܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܣ� ̈ܘ ܢܐ ܫܒܥܐ ܣܝܡܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܫܬܐ ܕܪܗܛܐ ܘܚܕ ܕܢܝܚܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܳܗܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܗܛܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܦܪܢܣ ܥ�ܡܐ ܟܠܗ܆‬ ‫ܒܪ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ ̈ܣܐܐ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܫ ̈ܒܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܝ ̈ܘ ܶܡܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪܝܫ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܟܐ ܰܥܠ ܽܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܰܟܕ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܓ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܶ�ܐ܆‬ ‫ܓ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܕܐ ܘܟ�ܗܘܢ ܰܙܒܢܐ ܒ ̇ܗ ܡܫܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܫ�ܝܐ ܳ� ܳ‬ ‫ܟܚܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܒܕܐ ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܫܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܚܕ ܰܚܕ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܡܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܽܢܘܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܳܐ ܺܙ ̱ܠܝܢ ܳܘܐܬܝܢ ܰܥܠ ܶܡ ܳ ̈‬ ‫ܢ�ܢܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܒܗ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܽܢܘܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܳܥ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܕܝܢ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܰܟܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ̇ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܕ� ܶ‬ ‫ܬܚܝܬ ܰܡ ܰܘܙܠܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܰܘܐܥܶ� ̱ܘ ܟܕܢܘܗ ܰ �ܫܢ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰܳ‬ ‫ܪ� ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ܳܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܫ�ܝ̈ܐ ܰܥ ܳܡ ̇ܗ܆‬ ‫ܓܕܐ �̱ܚ�ܢܝܬܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܛܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܬܩܢ ܟܠܗ ܪ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡܢܗܘܢ ܝܘܡܐ ܡܢܗܘܢ ܫܒܐ ܡܢܗܘܢ ��ܚܐ܆‬ ‫ܳܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰܳ ̇ ܰܳ‬ ‫ܫ�ܝ̈ܐ ܰܣ ܺܓܝ̈ܐܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܫܢ̱ܬܐ ܒܪܗܛܐ ܘܥܡܗ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡ ̈ܶܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܗܐ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܝ̈ ܰ� ܳܘܬ ܐ ܰܥܠ ܡܥܒܪܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܕܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܘܐܦܩ ̱‬ ‫ܰܣܒ� ̱‬

‫‪130‬‬

16

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2595 Mornings and evenings joined together and [each pair] became a day, while the Maker 7 was fashioning [the world] six passed by, but on the seventh the cycle stood [still] in all its outward appearance, but now it moves along on its own all the time. All time intervals are reckoned just as they were [then]: 2600 and there was evening and there was morning, a seventh day. Gen 2:2 “And the Lord rested on the seventh day,” Moses wrote, – but it is obvious that no weariness came anywhere near the Lord!

II.

THE SEVENTH DAY IS A SYMBOL FOR THE ETERNAL REST

O great prophet, take off that veil that is spread over you, 8 by means of your words let us see the beauty of your prophecy. 2605 If you were to say that the Lord was tired, who would believe you? But, since He does not tire, why did He rest as you say? If you were to call the cessation of His activity of fashioning a rest, look how He did not cease from guiding the worlds 9 that He created: making the sun rise, making the moon run its course, causing lightning, Syr., ‘ābôdûtâ. Here, as often previously in this mêmrâ, Jacob employs the abstract form, “act, or process, of making; operation,” etc., as a way of referring to God as Maker. See E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Third Day, introduction, 5, for initial discussion of this and similar terms. Jacob employs this term numerous times in the last section of his mêmrâ; consult the Index of Names and Terms, below. 8 Cf. Exodus 34:33–35. Jacob devotes an entire mêmrâ to discerning the meaning of this veil; see S. Brock, Jacob of Sarug’s Homily on the Veil on Moses’ Face. See also Jacob’s Homily against the Jews, III.27–44, where he treats the same topic; see M. Albert, Jacques de Saroug, Homélies contre les juifs, 88–89. 9 Jacob often utilizes the plural ‘worlds’ referring to both the invisible (which he sometimes refers to as the ‘other world’, Syr., ‘almâ ḥərînâ) and the visible worlds; see, e.g., E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Third Day, 8–9, l.848, and the brief discussion in T. Bou Mansour, La théologie de Jacques de Saroug, I. 4–7. 7

‫‪17‬‬ ‫‪2595‬‬

‫‪2600‬‬

‫‪2605‬‬

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

‫ܬܟ ܰܢܫܘ ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܨ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܦ�ܐ ܰܘ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ܆‬ ‫̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳܳ ܳܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܛܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܥܬ ܫܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܬܘܩܢܐ ܕܥܒܘܕ‬ ‫ܪܗ ܳ �‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܫܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܘܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݀‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܝܐ ܳܩ ܰܡ ̣ܬ ܺܓܝܓ� ܒܟܠ ܐܣܟܡܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܦܫ ̇ܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܪܟܐ ܺܗܝ ܰܥܠ ܰܢ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܶܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܰ ̈ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܝܢ ܐܝܟ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܽܝܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܘܟ�ܗܘܢ ܙܒܢܐ ܒ ̇ܗ ܡܬܚ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܪܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܬܒ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ܆‬ ‫ܐܬܬ�ܝܚ ܡܪ�ܐ ܒܝܘܡܐ ܕܫܒܥܐ ܐ‬ ‫ܳܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܳ� ܶܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܒ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܘܓ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫�ܝܐ ̱ܗܝ ܗܕܐ ܕ�‬ ‫ܘܫ ܳܦܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܦܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܳܝܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܰܣܒ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܣܐ ܳܠܟ܆‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ܦܬܓܡܝܟ ܢܚܙ ܐ ܫܘܦܪܐ ܕܢܒܝܘܬܟ܀‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܳܐ ܰܡܪ ܰܐܢ̱ܬ ܰܕ�ܺܝ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܡܢ ܰܡ ܰܫܪ ܳܠܟ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܳ� ܳ� ܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳܢܐ ܶܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܐܢ̱ܬ܀‬ ‫ܬܬ�ܝܚ ܐܝܟ ܕ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘܐܢ ܶܠܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡܢ ܬ ̈ܘ ܳܩܢܶܐ ܳܢܝ ܳܚܐ ܳܩ ܶܪܝܬ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ̈ܶ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܗܐ � ܫ� ܠܗ ܡܢ ܕܡܕܒܪ ܥ‬ ‫ܪܗܛ ܰܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܰܕܢܚ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܘܥܒܕ ܒ�ܩܐ܆‬

‫‪131‬‬

18

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2610 making thunder heard, bringing down rain, causing seeds to sprout, causing winds to blow, forming fruit among the trees, fashioning grapes into their clusters on vines, making rivers gush and flow forth from springs, through married women forming embryos inside wombs, 2615 and each day maintaining those things that had been produced, 10 John 5:17 just as it is said, “My Father is working even until now.” And if He “is working”, He does not “rest” even if He were to “tire”, Gen 2:2 so why did Moses say, “He rested on the seventh day”? Moses was masked, and just as He was masked so are his words masked; 2620 unless his veil is removed, then his beauty will not appear. Reveal to me your face, O scribe, 11 who proclaims what is true, and take the veil away from your text that I may see its beauty. Since He dies not tire, the Lord – Your Lord! – cannot be fatigued, so He does not ‘rest’ except to denote symbolic and typological meanings. 12 2625 “A thousand years are reckoned by God as one day, for a thousand years, in the eyes of the Lord, are one day.” 2 Pet 3:8; cf. Ps 90:4 So these six days in which all that [God] fashioned came into existence, are the six thousand years that the world exists and progresses. In the seventh millennium the world will come to an end and the courses cease,

A similar list of God’s continuing “works” can be found in Jacob’s Homily against the Jews, III.151–178, where he treats the same topic; see M. Albert, Jacques de Saroug, Homélies contre les juifs, 96–97. 11 A title that Jacob has attributed to Moses previously in this homily; see E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The First Day, 57, 137, 146, 255. 12 Compare the longer discussion of the particular purpose of Moses’ veil in S. Brock, Jacob of Sarug’s Homily on the Veil on Moses’ Face, pp. 14–17, ll. 21–46. 10

‫‪19‬‬ ‫‪2610‬‬

‫‪2615‬‬

‫‪2620‬‬

‫‪2625‬‬

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

‫ܘܡ ܶܚܬ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܛܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܘܥܶܐ ܰܙ �ܥܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܶܫܒ ܽ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܡܠ ܺܦ ܶܐ� ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ�ܢ̈ܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ̈ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܶ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܣܓ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܒܐ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ�ܝ̈ ܶܗܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܓܘ ܓܘܦܢܐ ܓܠܦ ܥ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܰܡ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܥܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܓܝܚ ܡܦܩ ܢܗ�ܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ ܳܰ ܽ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫�ܣܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܒ�ܝܠܬܐ � ܐܪ �ܘ� ܒܓܘ ܟ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ̈ ̈ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܶܒܕ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܝܘܡ ܗܢܝܢ ܗܠܝܢ ܕܥܒܝܕܢ ̱ܗܘܝ܆‬ ‫ܐܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܒܝ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗ ܳܫܐ ܳܥ ܶܒܕ܀‬ ‫ܝܪܐ ܳܗܝ ܳܕ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܶܘܐܢ ܳܥ ܶܒܕ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܳܗܐ ܳ� ܶܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܬ�ܝܚ ܐܢ � ܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܫܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܬܬ�ܝܚ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܶܕ ܺ‬ ‫�ܡܘܢ ܶܐ ܰܡܪ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܬܚ ܺܦܝ ܰ ̈‬ ‫ܡܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܰܦܝ ܰܘܐܝܟ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܝܢ ܶܡ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ܆‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܘܐܢ ܫܘܫܦܗ � ܡܫܬܩ� ܫܘܦܪܗ ܠ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܺ ܺ ܰܰ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰܺ ܳܳ‬ ‫ܓܠܝ ܠܝ ܐܦܝܟ ܣܦܪܐ ܕܡܟܪܙ ܫܪܝ�ܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܪ� ܳܢܟ ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܒ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܳܦܐ ܶܡܢ ܶܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦܪܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܛ ܰܪܦ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܳܡ ܳܪܟ܆‬ ‫ܟܕ � � ܐ � ܡ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܺ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫� ܡܬܬ�ܚ ܕܝܢ ܐ � ܕܐ̱� ܙ ܐ ܘܛܘܦܣܐ ܢܪܫܘܡ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܫܝܒ � ܳ� ܳܗܐ܆‬ ‫ܫ�ܝܐ ܐܠܦܐ ܚܕ ̱ܗܘ �ܘܡܐ‬ ‫ܳܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܝ̈ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܠܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕܡܪ�ܐ ܚܕ ̱ܗܘ �ܘܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܒ� ̈� ܰܢ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܗܘܢ ܳܩܡ ̱ܘ ܽܟܠ ܽ�ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬܐ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܺ�ܝ̈ܢ܆‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܶܡܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܠܦܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܥܬ ܫܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܫ�ܝܐ ܕܥ�ܡܐ ܕܥܒܪ ܩܐܡ ܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܳܒ ܶܛܠ ܳ�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܠܦܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܘܫܠܝܢ �ܗܛܐ܆‬

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THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2630 and there will be rest in the seventh millennium as has been signified. 13 This world is like a chariot that runs its course in six [millennia], but the seventh will come, stop it and bring it to an end. And there will be rest in the seventh millennium for mankind, and creation will cease from its labor just as on a Sabbath. 2635 In six [days] the process of making moved along, on the seventh it came to an end; thus, it set down for the world how long it would move along and when it would cease. When [God] made the world, He taught it how long it would exist, both how long it would move along, and when the course it held would come to an end. Gen 2:2 “The Lord rested on the seventh day” signifies 14 2640 that for only six days would He permit the world to run its course. [God] created creation but He [only] pretended to require rest; He [thus] taught the world that for it too there would be a time to cease. On the sixth day He finished the fashioning of all creation, so that the world might perceive that just as it came to be in six [days] so would it come to an end in six [millennia]. 2645 The seventh day would be a world that was after this world, on which there would be tranquility, rest from fashioning and without toil: no one darting about, no one straining themselves, no one running around, no architects nor any craftsman of things made. The world was idle, it became tranquil, time had come to a stop,

Syr., ’etramzat. It is important here to note that the root of this verb is rmz, whence also comes the noun remzâ, a word of paramount significance in Jacob. See K. Alwan, “Le ‘remzo’ selon la pensée de Jacques de Saroug,” and E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The First Day, 14, n.10. 14 Syr., râmez; see note 13, above. 13

‫‪21‬‬ ‫‪2630‬‬

‫‪2635‬‬

‫‪2640‬‬

‫‪2645‬‬

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

‫ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܠܦܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܙ ̣ܬ݀܀‬ ‫ܘܗܘ�ܐ ܢܝ‬ ‫ܳܳ ܳ ܳ ܳܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܡܪܟܒܬܐ ̱ܗܘ ܗܢܐ ܥ�ܡܐ ܕܪܗܛ ܒܫܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳܳ ܳܶ ܳܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܒܛܠ ܳ�ܠ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܫܒܝ�ܝܐ ܐܬ ܐ ܫܪܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ܳܢܝܚܬܐ ܰܒܐܠܦܐ ܕܫܒܥܐ ܠܒ��ܢܫܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܶܡܢ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܚ ܳܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܛ� ܒܪ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݀ ܳܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܐܫܬܐ ܪܗܛܬ ܒܫܒܥܐ ܒܛܠܬ ܥܒܘܕܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫̣ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ̣ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣܡܬܗ �ܥ�ܡܐ ܕܟܡܐ ܢܪܗܛ ܘܐܝܟܐ ܢܫ�܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܳܩܐܡ܆‬ ‫ܰܟܕ ܳܥ ܶܒܕ ܶܠܗ �ܥ�ܡܐ ܐܠܦܗ ܕ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܛܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫�ܒܟ܀‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܳܪ ܶܗܛ ܘ� ܰܡܬܝ ܫܠܡ ܪ‬ ‫ܫܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܬ�ܝܚ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܝܐ ܰܟܕ ܳܪ ܶܡܙ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܶܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬܐ ܳ� ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܦܐ ܶܠܗ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܗܛ܀‬ ‫ܕܐ� ܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫��ܬܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܕܢܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܠܡ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܪܐ ܶܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܬ�ܝܚ ܳܒܥܶܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܠܦܗ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܢܐ ܢܶܫ�܀‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܳܕܐܦ ܶܠܗ ܐܝܬ ܠܗ ܙ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܫܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫��ܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ̱ܘ ܬ ̈ܘ ܳܩܢܶܐ ܽܕܟܠ ܒ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܢܪܓܫ ܥ�ܡܐ ܕܗܘܐ ܒܐܫܬܐ ܘܒܐܫܬܐ ܫܠܡ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ܆‬ ‫�ܘܡܐ ܕܫܒܥܐ ܥ�ܡܐ ܕܒ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫ� ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܢܚ ܶܡܢ ܬ ̈ܘ ܳܩܢܶܐ ܘܠܝܬ ܒܗ ܥܡ�܀‬ ‫ܕ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺ ̈ܶ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܰܳ ܶ‬ ‫� ܩ�ܝ� ܘ� ܟܫܝ�ܐ ܘ� �ܗܛܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘ� ܐ�ܕܟ� ܘ� ܐܘܡܢܐ ܕܥܒ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܛܠ ܶ�ܠܗ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܫܠܡ ܠܗ ܰܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܠܗ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܢܐ܆‬

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THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2650 for the Sabbath had entered and all courses ceased and were now idle. The One in charge disconnected the chariot that had been yoked for six days, and did not permit it to run along its course on the seventh day. As soon as it courses through six entire days it is unhitched, put into its stall, sits idle, and remains there undriven. 2655 It is written “God rested on the seventh day from what He Gen 2:2 fashioned,” so who would dare to do anything on the seventh [day]? God Himself undertook to rest although He was not wearied, and so taught the world that it too might rest because it would be weary. Seven days denote seven thousand [years]; 2660 this temporal rest signifies the eternal rest.

III. CREATION IS BEAUTIFUL, WONDROUS AND FULL OF WISDOM

How beautiful are all those things that belong to You, O Maker; they are full of wonder, mighty power 15 and wisdom. That a world should come to be from nothing is mighty power, and that it should also have a completion is wisdom. 2665 It is fitting for You that after its being adorned in six days the world should reach the end of its being fashioned. It was also fitting that when You set it down at its end, there might be rest for those things that had duly run their courses. O Maker, who are full of wonder, who is equal to You?

15

Syr., ganbārûtâ; for the use of the abstract, see note 7, above.

‫‪23‬‬ ‫‪2650‬‬

‫‪2655‬‬

‫‪2660‬‬

‫‪2665‬‬

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

‫ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܶܰ ݀ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܛܝܢ ܰܟܕ ܰܒ ܺܛ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܦܫ ̱ܘ ܽܟܠ �‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ̣ܬ ܫ‬ ‫ܳ̇ ܳܽ ܳ̇ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܪܗ ܕܒܘܪܗ �ܗܝ ܡܪܟܒܬܐ ܟܕܝܢܬ ܒܐܫܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܫܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܳ� ܶܗܒ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܕܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܗܛ ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܕܐ ܳܕܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܐܫܬܐ ܶܡܫܬ ܳܪ�ܐ ܳܠ ̇ܗ܆‬ ‫ܦܩܐ �ܟ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܛ� ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܳܘ� ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܟܐ܀‬ ‫ܡܬܒܓܪܐ ܒ ̇ܗ ܒ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܟܬܝܒ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܬ�ܝܚ ܶܡܢ ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܫܒܬܐ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܐ� ܳܗܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ܆‬ ‫ܫܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܽܢܘ ܰܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܪܚ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܽܗܘ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܰ�ܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܝ ܳܚܐ ܰܟܕ � � ܐ܆‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܑ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܠܦܗ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܳܕܐܦ ܽܗܘ ܶܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܬ�ܝܚ ܶܡܛܠ ܕ� ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܠܦܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܬ܆‬ ‫ܫܒܥܬ ܝܘܡܐ ܒܫܒܥܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ ܳܨ ܳܝܪܐ ܳܗܝ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠܡ܀‬ ‫ܢܝܚܬܐ ܕܙܒܢܐ ܢܝ‬ ‫ܳܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܳܝ�ܢ ܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܟܝ ܥܒܘܕܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܺܕܝܠ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ�ܝܢ ܬܗܪܐ ܘܓܢ̱ܒܪܘܬ ܐ ܘܚܟܝܡܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܶܡܢ � ܶܡ ܶܕܡ ܰܓܢ̱ ܳܒ ܽܪܘܬ ܐ ̱ܗܝ܆‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܠܗ ܬܘܒ ܫܘ�ܡܐ ܚܟ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܟܝ ܰܟܕ ܶܡ�ܛ ܰܒܬ ܶܒܐܫܬܐ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܰܫ ܺܦܝܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܠ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܐܚܘܕ ܳܣ ܳܟܐ ܽܕܟܠ ܽ�ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܝ ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ܀‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܶܡܢܶ ̱‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝܘܗܝ ܰܥܠ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܡܐ܆‬ ‫ܟܝ ܡܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܬ ܶܘܒ ܰܫܦܝܪ ܶܠ ܰ ̱‬ ‫ܐܣܡܟܬ ܺ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ � ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܘ ܰܙ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܕܬܗܘܐ ܢܝ‬ ‫ܪܗ �‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܝ܆‬ ‫ܥܒܘܕ‬ ‫�ܝܬ ܬܗܪܐ ܰܡܢ ܳܣܦܩ ܠ ̱‬

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THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2670 Or who is able to measure the heights of Your mighty power? Your wisdom is praised in the market-places by all those You have created, and in every corner of every region it raises up its own voice. Lo, “The heavens declare Your glory,” O Maker, “and the firmament proclaims Your handiwork” to the entire Ps 19:1 world. 2675 Mornings and evenings, yes even days and nights recount within their boundaries and in their courses what You have done: Those beautiful things that You spread throughout all the lands, those courses of the hosts that are on the firmament; 16 those high places that are suspended and stand upon nothing, 17 2680 those depths that were built and laid down with no foundation, those appearances of the sun and the moon – how swift they are! Those tributaries of the rivers – how they flow! Those treasures of all the springs – how rich they are! Those fruits of all the trees – how sweet they are! 2685 Those colors of all the flowers – how beautiful they are! Those species that are in the waters – how bounteous they are! Those stars that are on the firmament – how resplendent they are! And the angels of fire that are in the heights – how holy they are! Your beautiful things impact me on every side, from every angle,

16 17

Cf. Psalm 19:2–6. Cf. Job 26:7.

‫‪25‬‬ ‫‪2670‬‬

‫‪2675‬‬

‫‪2680‬‬

‫‪2685‬‬

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

‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܐܘ ܰܡܢ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ ܳܡ ܰܫܚ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܝ܀‬ ‫ܕܓܢ̱ ܳܒ ܽܪܘܬ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ̈ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܚܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܝ܆‬ ‫ܒܟܠ ܒ‬ ‫ܟܝ ܒܫܘܩܐ ܗܐ ܡ‬ ‫��ܬ ̱‬ ‫ܶܚܟܡܬ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܳܩ ܳܠ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܒܙ ̈ܘ ܳ�ܬܐ ܽܕܟܠ ܦܢܝ‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܳܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܟܝ ܥܒܘܕܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܗܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܫܬܥܝܢ ܫܡܝܐ ܫܘܒܚ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟܝ ܡܚܘܐ ܪܩܝܥܐ �ܥ�ܡܐ ܟܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܥܒܕ ܐܝܕ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܺ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܨܦ�ܐ ܘ�ܡܫܐ ܘܐܦ ܐܝܡܡܐ ܘ�ܝ�ܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܳܶ ܰ ܽ ܰ ̈ܽ ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܛ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܟܝ ܬ�ܝܢ ܒܬܚܘܡܝܗܘܢ ܘܒ�‬ ‫ܪܒ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ�ܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܦܪ ܺ‬ ‫�ܥܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܟܝ ܥܠ ܐ‬ ‫ܝܣܝܢ ܶܠ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܚ ̈ܝ ܰ� ܳܘ ܳܬ ܐ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܛܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ܀‬ ‫ܗܠܝܢ �‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰ�ܘܡܐ ܰܕܬܠܝܢ ܩܝܡܝܢ ܥܠ � ܡ ܶܕܡ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܽ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܺ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ ܕ� ܶܫܬܐܣܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܗܠܝܢ �ܘܡܩܐ ܕܒܢܝܢ ܣ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܶܕ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܣܗܪܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܚܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܩܠܝܠܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܬ ̈ܶܦܐ ܰܕܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܗ� ܳܘ ܳܬ ܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܳܪ ܶܕܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܓܙ̈ܶ ܐ ܽܕܟܠ ܰܡ ܽܒ ̈ܘܥܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܥܬ ܺܝܪܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܺܦ ܶܐ� ܐ ܽܕܟܠ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܺ�ܝ̈ܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܗ ܺܢܝܐܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܓ ̈ܘ ܢܶܐ ܽܕܟܠ ܰܗ ܳܒ ܺܒܝ̈ܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܰܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܶܓܢ̈ ܶܣܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܣ ܺܓܝܐܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟܒܐ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܢ ܺܗ ܺܝܪܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܗܠܝܢ ܟ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝ�ܝ ܽܢܘܪܐ ܕܐܝܬ ܒܡ�ܘܡܐ ܟܡܐ ܩܕܝܫܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܬ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܟܝ ܶܡܢ ܽܟܠ ܰ�ܓ ܺܒܝ̈ܢ ܶܡܢ ܽܟܠ ܶܦܢܝ̈ܢ܆‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ܽܫܘܦ� ̱‬ ‫ܟܒ ̱‬

‫‪135‬‬

26

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2690 from every height, from every depth and from every place. I gazed up on high and the path of Orion 18 filled me with wonder, I went down to the depth and wonder seized me at the great sea. Should I look to the east I would be overwhelmed by the rays, should I run to the south I would not overtake the hosts. 2695 Should I go 19 to the west, evening would rouse me to stand and give praise, should I gaze to the north, night is there and it terrifies me. Among the transitions of both nights and of days, my Maker has set me – how much I should be amazed, yet how much I hold back! As often as I gaze out, I see the most beautiful things of creation; 2700 even were I not to gaze out, wonder at the Creator rouses me.

IV. THE GRANDEUR OF CREATION SHOULD ELICIT WONDER AND PRAISE

It is most becoming that one should marvel at the works of creation and by them be stirred to give praise, 20 as [did] Isaiah when he gazed out, marveled and wonder seized him at the mighty power of the Creator 21 and His affairs. 2705 With awe he looked upon the works of the Maker, and by questioning compelled earthly beings to be moved with him. That visionary began by asking, “Who has measured the sea in the hollow of his hand, or marked out the heavens by the span of his hand, or set in his palm and held all the dust of the earth, Job 9:9. Reading ’ezal instead of ’ešlê with P. Bedjan, Homiliae Selectae MarJacobi Sarugensis, III.135, n.2. 20 That nature should inspire the one who beholds it to give praise is another important facet of Jacob’s theology that he inherited from his mentor Ephrem; for Ephrem, see S. Brock, The Luminous Eye, and for Jacob, see T. Kollamparampil, Salvation in Christ according to Jacob of Serugh. 21 Again, Jacob here employs the abstract form of the noun (Syr., bârôyûtâ) instead of the nomen agentis (Syr., bârôyâ) as he just did in l. 2700; cf. also note 7, above. 18 19

‫‪27‬‬ ‫‪2690‬‬

‫‪2695‬‬

‫‪2700‬‬

‫‪2705‬‬

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

‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܽܟܠ ܽ� ̈ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܽܟܠ ܰ� ܺ‬ ‫ܡܩܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܽܟܠ ܐܬ�ܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܡ�ܢܝ ܬܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܝܠ ܰ�ܓܢ̱ ܳܒ ܳܪܐ܆‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܳܚ ܶܪܬ ܰܘ ܳ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܚܕܢܝ ܬܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳܡܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܡܩܐ ܢܶܚܬ ܳܬ ܰܘ ܰ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܕܢܚܐ ܐ ܽܚܘܪ ܛܐܦ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܺܠܝ ܶܡܢ ܰܙ ܺ�ܝ̈ ܶܩܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬܝܡܢܐ ܐܪܗܛ � ܡܕܪܟ ܐ̱ܢܐ �ܚܝ�ܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܙܝܥ ܺܠܝ ܶܐ ܽܩܘܡ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܪܒܐ ܶܐ ܰܙܠ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕܐ܆‬ ‫ܪܒܝܐ ܶܐ ܽܚܘܪ ܺ� ܳܝܐ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܣ ܶܪܕ ܺܠܝ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܡ ̈ܡܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܝܢܬ ܣܕ�ܐ ܕ�ܝ�ܘܬ ܐ ܐܦ ܕ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܬܗܪ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ̱ܗܘ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܝ ܳܥ ܽܒܘܕ ̱ܝ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ̱ܗܘ ܐܛ�ܘܡ܀‬ ‫ܳܣ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫��ܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܕܚܐܪ ܐ̱ܢܐ ܫܘܦ�ܐ ܐܚܙ ܐ ܡܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܳܐ� ܶܐ ܽܚܘܪ ܬܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܙܝܥ ܺܠܝ ܶܡܢ ܳܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܑܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ̈ܕܐ܆‬ ‫ܣܓܝ ܦܐ�ܐ ܕܢܗܘܐ ܬܗܪ ܐ̱ܢܫ ܒ‬ ‫ܳܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܳܙ ܰܐܥ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܳܒ ܽܚܘ܀‬ ‫ܕܒܪܘ�‬ ‫ܰ ܶܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܐܫܥܝܐ ܕܚܪ ܘܐܬܕܡܪ ܘܐܚܕܗ ܬܗܪܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܘܬ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܒܓܢ̱ܒܪܘܬ ܐ ܕܒܪܘ�ܘܬ ܐ ܘܒܨ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ̈ܶ ܳ ܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܕܘܡܪܐ ܚܪ ܒܥܒܕܐ ܕܥܒܘܕܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܰܕ ܺܢܙܝܥ ܶܒܗ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܐܝܟ ܽܫ ܳܘ ܳܐ� ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ�ܝܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܺ ܰ ܰ ܰܳܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܽܢܘ ܐ ܺܟܝܠ܆‬ ‫ܘܫܪܝ ܕܢܐܡܪ ܗܘ ܚܙ�ܐ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ� ܳܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܠܗ ܰܐܘ ܰܠܫܡܝܐ ܒܙܪܬܗ ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܚ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܣܡ ܰܒ ܳܙܘ ܶܪܗ ܶܘ ܰܐܚܕ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܪ ̇ܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ܆‬

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28

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2710 or weighed the mountains and placed the hills on a balance?” 22 Hear now the profound implications of the prophecy, and like [the prophet] 23, marvel at the Mighty One who established the worlds. The prophet perceived that his Master “measured the sea in the hollow of His hand,” for which reason he said, “Who has measured”, unless it was He? 2715 He had also perceived that “He marked out the heavens by the span of His hand, weighed the mountains and held all the dust of the earth.” These are the things that His Lord made in mighty fashion, and set them in their midst. Who [else] is able to make them? When the Lord was stretching out the heavens, “He measured it with the span of His hand,” 2720 and when He was gathering up the seas, “He measured them out in the hollow of His hand.” As for the dust of the earth, when He weighed it He placed it in His palm, and with it He put the mountains on a scale and on a balance. The hills too, when He carved out [the earth] upon nothing, He spread them out and set them in various places. 2725 He weighed and placed equal weight upon each of its sides, and it was not tipped when He put this weight upon the scale. His signal 24 held it [level], but it was set and weighed as if in palms, upon nothing and although it was being weighed, it did not tip.

V.

LET THE WONDER OF CREATION DISPEL ALL DISPUTE ABOUT THE CREATOR

Isaiah marveled at the work of [God’s] mighty power,

Isaiah 40:12, slightly altered from the Peshitta version. Reading ’akwâteh instead of ’akwâtāh with P. Bedjan, Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis, III.136, n.4. 24 Syriac, remzâ; see note 13, above. 22 23

‫‪29‬‬ ‫‪2710‬‬

‫‪2715‬‬

‫‪2720‬‬

‫‪2725‬‬

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

‫ܽ ܶ ܰ ܳܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܣܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܬܩܠ ܛܘ�ܐ ܘ��ܡܬܐ ܫܪܐ ܒܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܗܫܐ ܥܡܝܩܬ ̇ܗ ܕܢܒܝܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܒܓܢ̱ ܳܒ ܳܪܐ ܰܕ ܺܐܩܝܡ ܥ�ܡܐ ܬܗܪ ܐ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܳܝܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܪܓܫ ܰܕ ܺܐܟܝܠ ܰ� ܳܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܶܪܗ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܥܠܗ܆‬ ‫ܶܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܳܗܝ ܐ ܰܡܪ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܐ ܺܟܝܠ ܐ � ܐܢ ܽܗܘ܀‬ ‫ܪܓܫ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܒܗ ܳܕܐܦ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܙܪܬܶܗ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܚ ̇ܗ܆‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ܰܘ ܺܐܟܝܠ ܰ�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܪܐ ܽܕܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ܀‬ ‫ܬܩܠ ܛ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܢܶܝܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܳܡ ܶܪܗ ܰܓܢ̱ ܳܒ ܳܪܐܝܬ܆‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܐܢܶܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܕܡ ܽܢܘ ܡ� ܐ ܠܡ ܢ‬ ‫ܣܡ ܒܡܨ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܙܪܬܗ ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܟܕ ܳܛ ܰܦܚ ̱ܗܘܐ ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܚ ̇ܗ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ̈ܶ ܽ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܠܗ ܐ ܺܟܝܠ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܩܒܐ ̱ܗܘܐ �ܡܡܐ ܒܫ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܰܟܕ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܪ ̇ܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܩܢ ܠܗ ܳܣܡ ܰܒ ܳܙܘܪܗ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܣܬܐ ܳܣܡ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ܛܘ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܡܬܩ� ܘܒܡ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܦ ܳ� ܳܡܬܐ ܰܟܕ ܳܪ ܰܩܥ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰܥܠ � ܶܡ ܶܕܡ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶܶ ܰ ܳ ܶܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬ� ܳܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܫܘܝ ܐܢܝܢ ܟܕ ܣܡ ܐܢܝܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܶ ̈ ܳ ̇ܳ‬ ‫ܬܩܠ ܳܣܡ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܪܐ ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ܰܥܠ ܟܢܦܬܗ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܩ ܳ� ܺܣܝܡ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫�ܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܘ� ܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ̈ܶ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܙܗ ܛܥܝܢ ܠ ̇ܗ ܘܐܝܟ ܕܒܟܦܐ ܬܩܝ� ܣܝܡܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫�ܛ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܥܠ � ܡܕܡ ܘܥܠ ܕܬܩܝ� � ܡ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳܳ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܗ ܒܥܒܕܐ ܕܓܢ̱ܒܪܘܬ ܐ ܬܗܪ ܐܫܥܝܐ܆‬

‫‪137‬‬

30

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2730 and therefore asked who it was who made these beautiful things. In order to rouse mankind and make them marvel, He set out the high places that His Master had raised up to test them. Let that one who has not “measured the sea in his palm” remain silent, and unless he has “measured the heavens with his span”, let him say nothing 2735 disputatious, controversial or contentious, or anything speculative that seeks to pry into the Mighty One. 25 Let that one who wishes to pry into his Lord gaze upon the heavens, and unless he measured them out, let him remain quite silent, and never again be so rash against that Mighty One who “weighed the mountains and measured the seas, 2740 meted out the hills,” covered the depths and gathered into the Is 40:12 abysses, made the sun to shine or caused the moon to change in the heights above, 26 and established the world, and whose mighty power is not to be questioned. With a signal He created the entire world when He created it, and in six days He set out beautiful things in it as well as all He fashioned.

Syr., ganbārâ, a common title for God in Jacob’s Homilies, which he seems to appropriate from such passages as Isaiah 43:12; see also Isaiah 9:6, 10:21, and Exodus 15:3, Deuteronomy 10:17. In this homily, he uses it in ll. 177 (Day 1), 951, 1003 (Day 3), 1395 (Day 4), 2413 (Day 6), here and below ll. 2739, 2991. In Jacob’s theology, when used of God, one could almost translate it as “the Omnipotent One”. Previously, Jacob once used this term of Adam, the image of God; cf. E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Sixth Day, 2487. 26 Read dal‘al in the place of dəa’ār, with P. Bedjan, Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis, III.137, n.4. 25

‫‪31‬‬ ‫‪2730‬‬

‫‪2735‬‬

‫‪2740‬‬

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

‫ܥܒܕ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܳܗܝ ܰܫܐܶܠ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ ܽ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽܶ‬ ‫ܕܢܙܝܥ ܐܢܘܢ ܠܒ��ܢܫܐ ܘܢܬܗܪ ܐܢܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܳܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܩܐ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܫܕܐ �ܡܬܐ ܕܬ� ܡܪܗ ܕܢ‬ ‫ܰܳ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ ܳܝܢܐ ܕ� ܰܠܡ ܶܡ ܺܟܝܠ �ܡܐ ܒܫܘܥܠܗ ܢܫ�܆‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܙܪܬܶܗ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫܚ ܽܬܘܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܳܐ� ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟܘܪ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ� ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳܒܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܶܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܰܡ ܽܨܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܠܓܢ̱ ܳܒ ܳܪܐ ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܫ ܽܘ ܳܐ ܳ� ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ܐ ܳܣ ܶܒܟ܀‬ ‫ܒ� ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳܝܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܶܪܗ ܽܢܚܘܪ ܰܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܒܥܶܐ ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܬܘܒ ܳ� ܰܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪܚ܀‬ ‫ܘܐ� ܡܫܚ ̇ܗ ܡܫ� ܢܫ�‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ܰ�ܓܢ̱ ܳܒ ܳܪܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܩܠ ܛܘ�ܐ ܘܐܟܝܠ �ܡܡܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܽ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܘܛ ܶܠܠ �ܘܡܩܐ ܘܩܒܐ ܬܗ‬ ‫ܘܡܫܚ �‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܚܠܦ ܰܣܗܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܕܠܩ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܳܕ� ܰܥܠ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺܐܩܝܡ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܳܘ� ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܒ ܳܨ�ܐ ܰܓܢ̱ ܳܒ ܽܪܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܪܝ ̱ܗܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܟܕ ܳܒ ܶܪܐ ܶܠܗ܆‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬܐ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܢ̈ܐ܀‬ ‫ܣܕܪ ܶܒܗ ܐܦ ܬ‬ ‫ܘܒ‬

‫‪138‬‬

32

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2745 On the seventh day He put forth a figure concerning its end, and depicted an image for its termination on a Sabbath that is complete tranquility.

VI. THE “REST” OF THE SABBATH DAY IS A SYMBOL OF THE END OF THE WORLD

As for you, O Sabbath day, why have you ceased from all work? Who rested on you although He had neither toiled nor wearied? At the end of the world there is depicted a cessation of work performed on you; 2750 for this reason your tranquility is “death” for the one who gives heed to it. Let us call you ‘rest’, not because the Lord – Your Lord! – rested on you, but because the course of the world ceases when it comes upon you. The world reveres you, let it be still when you reach it; if it were not for you, the world would not wish to be still. 2755 You brought to an end the great, swift course of the six days, and on you their activity which the Maker has bound will be still. The Lord provides a rest at the end for the entire world, He took it upon Himself, and [Moses] said, Cf. Gen 2:2 “He rested from what He had fashioned.” The one who knows how to read Moses in a spiritual manner, 2760 will clearly understand the mystery of the Sabbath day. The Lord had no need to rest Himself since He does not tire, but He provided a clear example about the completion. As soon as the cycle of the world progresses six thousand years, in the seventh it ceases and no longer makes its rounds.

‫‪33‬‬ ‫‪2745‬‬

‫‪2750‬‬

‫‪2755‬‬

‫‪2760‬‬

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

‫ܰ ܺ ܳܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ� ܰܥܠ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ܶܡܗ܆‬ ‫ܘܒܫܒܝ�ܝܐ ܥܒܕ ܠܗ ܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܪ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܫܒܬܐ ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܝܐ܀‬ ‫�ܡܐ �ܚ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܢ ܰܒܛ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܬ ̱ܝ ܶܡܢ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܚ ܳܢܐ܆‬ ‫ܟܝ ܫ‬ ‫ܐܘ ܶܠ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ ܳܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ܶܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܝ ܰܟܕ � � ܐ ܘ� ܶܡܬܛ ܰܪܦ܀‬ ‫ܬܬ�ܝܚ ܶܒ ̱‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܝ܆‬ ‫ܒܫܘܠܡ ܥ�ܡܐ ܨܝܪ ܒܛ�ܢܐ‬ ‫ܕܡܫܬ ܰܡܫ ܶܒ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚܐܪ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܟܝ ܡ‬ ‫�ܗ ܳܢܐ ܶܫ�ܝܶ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܟܝ ܰܠܘ ܶܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܝ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܝ܆‬ ‫ܢܝ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܳܡ ܶܪ ̱‬ ‫ܐܬܬ�ܝܚ ܶܒ ̱‬ ‫ܩܪ ̱ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܒܛܠ ܪܗܛܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳ� ܳ‬ ‫ܟܝ܀‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܳܡܐ ܕܦ ܰܓܥ ܶܒ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܟܝ ܳܒ ܶܗܬ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܘܗܝ܆‬ ‫ܶܡܢܶ ̱ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܢܶܫ� ܶ ܳܡ ܳܐ ܰܕܡܛܬ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶܕ ܽܐܠܘ� ܐܢ̱ܬ ̱ܝ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܕܢܶܫ� � ܳܨ ܶܒܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܛܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܺܪܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܘܗܝ܆‬ ‫�ܪ‬ ‫ܝܒܐ ܶܕܐܫܬܐ ܐܢ̱ܬܝ ܰܒ ܳܛܠܬ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܢܶܫ� ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܳܥ ܽܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܟܝ ܺܚܐܦܐ ܕܟ ܰܕܢ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܘܕܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫�ܘܬ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚܪܬ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ ܳܥ ܶܒܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ܆‬ ‫ܢܝ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܫܩܠ ̇ܗ ܘܐܡܪ ܕܐܬܬ�‬ ‫ܰܘܥ�‬ ‫ܝܚ ܡܢ ܬܘܩܢ ̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳܰ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܢܐܝܬ܆‬ ‫ܘܐܝܢܐ ܕܝܕܥ ܕܢܩܪܐ ܒܡܘܫܐ ܪ‬ ‫ܳܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶܡܣܬ ܰܟܠ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܒ ̱ܐ� ܙ ̇ܗ ܕܫܒܬܐ ܢܗܝܪܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܣܢܝܩ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܕܢܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܠܘ ܽܗܘ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܬ�ܝܚ ܰܟܕ � � ܐ܆‬ ‫ܶܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܰܢ ܺܗ ܳܝܪܐ ܰܥܠ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܐ� ܡ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ̈ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕܐ ܕܪܗܛܐ ܺܓ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܓܠܗ ܕܥ�ܡܐ ܐܠܦܝܢ ܐܫܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܳܪ�ܐ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܳܘ� ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܟܐ܀‬ ‫ܒܫܒܝ�ܝܐ ܡ‬

‫‪139‬‬

34

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2765 For this reason, He fitted it out and yoked it for six days, and imposed a limit on it that it should progress for six days and then cease.

VII. THESE SEVEN DAYS CAN ONLY BE UNDERSTOOD SPIRITUALLY

The Jew does not understand this in any spiritual manner; he will say, “The Lord rested”, but anything more than that, no. Gen 2:2 Even though He was bodiless [the Jew] made him weary contrary to His nature, 2770 so when the Only-Begotten took on a body and became weary he despised Him too. Scripture proclaims that “The Lord rested,” but [the Jew] does not understand that without a body there can be neither weariness nor exhaustion. The Son who took on a body was wearied upon the cross on the sixth day, 27 but because of that weariness He entered into the rest on the seventh day. 2775 About the Father, however, it is never said that “He wearied,” nor that “He rested”, except in figure or by allegory. The world is great because of its reckoning of seven days: its entire cycle is six days of work and one of rest. The Maker built the house in six days [in which]

Reading bəyawmâ daštâ with P. Bedjan, Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis, III.139, n.2. Bedjan’s text reads here “For the sake of Adam (Syr., metûl Ādam)”. This seems to be a gratuitous scribal insertion of Adam who is otherwise never mentioned here in the last section of this mêmrâ; it is also to be noted that one finds the same contrast between the crucifixion on day six and the rest on day seven in Jacob’s Homily against the Jews, III.45–46; see M. Albert, Jacques de Saroug, Homélies contre les juifs, 88–89. T. Muraoka, Jacob of Serugh’s Hexaemeron, 212–213, l.211, reads “because of the air (Syr., metûl ’ā’ar)”; this seems to make the least sense here. 27

‫‪35‬‬ ‫‪2765‬‬

‫‪2770‬‬

‫‪2775‬‬

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

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗ ܳܢܐ ܶܒܐܫܬܐ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ ܰܪ ܶܟܒ ܰܟ ܳܕܢ ̇ܗ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܕܐ ܕܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ̱ܗܒ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܢ ܶܡܫܬ ܳܪ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܪܗܛ ܐ‬ ‫ܽ ܳܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰܰ ܽ ܳܳܺ‬ ‫� ̱ܗܘܕ�ܐ ܕܝܢ � ܡܣܬܟܠ ܪܘܚܢܐܝܬ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳ� ܳܐ ܰܡܪ ܶܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܘܬܘܒ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ �܀‬ ‫ܐܬܬ�ܝܚ ܡ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܰܫܡ ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܕܗ ܰ� ܳ�ܐ ܳܕ� ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܟܕ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܟ� ܳܢܐ܆‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܓ ܰܫܡ ܺ� ܺܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܕ ܳ�ܐ ܰܘ�ܝ ܳܫܛܗ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܟܬ ܳܒܐ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܪܙ ܶܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܘ� ܶܡܣܬ ܰܟܠ܆‬ ‫ܐܬܬ�ܝܚ ܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܳܘ� ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܳܦܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܕ� ܓܘܫܡܐ � ܐܝܬ �‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܐ ܕܐܬܓܫܡ �ܝ ܒܙܩܝܦܐ ܒܝܘܡܐ ܕܫܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܗܝ �ܘܬ ܐ ܥܠ�ܠܢܝ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܰܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪܐ ܰܕ�ܝ ܶܡܢ ܡܬܘܡ܆‬ ‫ܥܠ ܐܒܐ ܓܝܪ � ܡ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܦ� ܶܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܬܬ�ܝܚ ܐ � ܒܡܬ� ܘܒܦ�ܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܢ�ܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ�ܡܐ ܪܒܐ ܥܠ ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܫܒܥܐ ܰܝܘܡܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܶ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܥܡ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܕ ܰܕ ܳܢܝ ܳܚܐ܀‬ ‫ܪܗܛ ܟܠܗ ܐ‬ ‫ܳܽ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܘܕܘܬ ܐ ܒܢܬܗ �ܒܝܬܐ ܒܐܫܬܐ ܝܘܡܝܢ܆‬

36

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2780 He wove, sculpted, painted and adorned all its beautiful things. When the house was completed 28 in six days, He instituted a rest, and the seventh day became a rest from all that He had fashioned. The number seven is beautiful here as they each take their turn, and one finds that each one of the[se numbers] has its own beauty within it. 2785 If there is any love that opens the gate29 to allow my word to enter in, then let me recount how beautiful these seven [numbers] are.

VIII.

THE BEAUTY OF THE NUMBER ONE

One is a beautiful number, it is great and is without limit, He set it down first as a foundation for its companions. In the same way, that First One, 30 the Only-Begotten, 31 is beautiful, 2790 and one is that Self-Existent One, 32 one is God and one is the Creator. He is the only One who has no other companion with him, He is the One from whom exists all that is, that was, and that will be. For this reason that first day is beautiful, and its number is crowned with light and with glory. Gen 1:3 2795 On it light came to be, on it the world rose up out of nothing, on it there stirred into being a new work with great wonder. According to the number of the day is its beauty and what was made on it, for “it came to be” and “it was good” as the Maker Himself bears Gen 1:5 witness.

Literally, “was crowned (Syr., ’eštaklal)”, a favorite expression of Jacob; see, e.g., E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Sixth Day, 2031, 2077, 2135, and l. 2577, above. 29 Here, the “gate” is the ear; see l. 2976, and note ad loc., below. 30 Cf. Rev 1:17, 22:13. 31 Cf. John 1:14, 18, 3:16, 18, 1 John 4:9. 32 Syr., ’îtyâ. See E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The First Day, 14, n.11. 28

‫‪37‬‬ ‫‪2780‬‬

‫‪2785‬‬

‫‪2790‬‬

‫‪2795‬‬

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

‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܰ ݀ ܳܰ ݀ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܬ ̣ܬ ݀ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܘܓܕܠ ̣ܬ ܪܫܡ ̣ܬ �ܪ ̣ܬ ܨ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܽܫܘܦ� ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܕܬ܆݀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܕ‬ ‫ܟܠܠ ܰܒܝܬܐ ܒܐܫܬܐ ܽ ܳܢܝ ܳܚܐ ܥ ܰ ̣‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܘܐ �ܘܡܐ ܕܫܒܥܐ ܢܝܚܬܐ ܕܡܢ ܬܘܩܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܬܟ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܰܫ ܺܦܝܪ ܶܟܕ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܟܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܓ ܶܘܗ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܕ ܰܚܕ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦܪܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܠܬܐ ܕܬ ܽܥܘܠ܆‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‬ ‫ܘܐܢ ܐܝܬ ܚܘܒܐ ܕܦ‬ ‫ܳ ܳܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܐܦ ܐܡܪ ܐ̱ܢܐ ܟܡܐ ܫܦܝܪܝܢ ܫܒܥܬ�ܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܰ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܽܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܚܕ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦܪܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܕ� ܶܡܣܬ�ܟ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܣܬܐ ܳܣܡ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝܐ ܰ� ̈ܟ ܰ� ܳܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܰܘܐܝܟ ܫܬ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܰܟܢ ܰܫ ܺܦܝܪ ܰܗܘ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝܐ ܺ� ܺܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕ ܳ�ܐ܆‬ ‫ܝܬ�ܐ ܰܚܕ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܰܚܕ ܳܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܕ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܐ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܕ� ܐܝܬ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܚܕ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܪ ܳܢܐ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ܆‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܘܕ ̱‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܚܕ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܽܕܟܠ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܘܐ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܐܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܗܘ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗ ܳܢܐ ܰܫ ܺܦܝܪ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܢ�ܢܶܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܘܚܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܡܟ ܰܠܠ ܘܒܬ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ ܶܒܗ ܳܩܡ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܒܗ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܶܡܢ � ܶܡ ܶܕܡ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܒܗ ܳܙܥ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܥܒ ܳܕܐ ܰܚܕܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳܶ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ̈� ܳܕܬܗ܆‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܡܢ�ܢܗ ܕ�ܘܡܐ ܫܘܦܪܗ ܘ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܗܘܐ ܘܫܦܝܪ ܟܕ ܣܗܕܐ ܠܗ ܥܒܘܕܘܬ ܐ܀‬

‫‪140‬‬

38

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

IX. THE BEAUTY OF THE NUMBER TWO

The number two is also a wonder to the one who gazes upon it, 2800 for it rushed in to become a companion to that first day. It is written in the prophet, “The Lord will again, a second time, by Is 11:11, Pesh His hand”, and that “second time, by His hand” is that number two. The people sinned and Moses became angry and smashed the tabcf. Exod 32:15–20 lets, and the Lord again, a second time, by His hand, reconstructed cf. Exod 34:1–4 them. 2805 Adam transgressed, and His Lord cast him out from Paradise, cf. Gen 3:23–24 but let him back in “a second time, by His hand,” by means of a cf. Luke 23:43 thief. A sheep owner lost one lamb that had gone astray out of a hundred, but he went after him and by his diligence acquired it a second cf. Matt 18:12–13 time. The race of mankind was destroyed in the house of Abaddon, 2810 but lo, baptism renewed them through a second birth. That number two is beautiful to the one who gazes upon it, and the work that came to be on the second day is full of wonder. There was a dome in the waters, and the waters were piled over its top, a firmament was wondrously pitched like a tent for the entire earth.

‫‪39‬‬

‫‪2800‬‬

‫‪2805‬‬

‫‪2810‬‬

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

‫ܰ ܳܰ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܐܦ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚܐܪ ܶܒܗ܆‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ̱ܗܘ ܠ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܒܨ �ܶ ܽܥܘܠ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܘ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܕܗܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܺܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܬ ܳܢܝܐ ܺܕܐܝܬܗ܆‬ ‫ܟܬܝܒ ܒܢܒܝܐ ܕܢܘܣܦ ܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳܳ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘ�ܘ ܬ ܳܢܝܐ ܺܕܐܝܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܡܢ�ܢܐ ܕܬܪܝܢ ܗ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܓܙ ܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܛܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܘܬܒܪ �ܘ ܶܚܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶܳ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܬܩܢ ܐܢܶܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܐܘܣܦ ܡܪ�ܐ ܬܢܝܐ ܕܐܝܬܗ ܘ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟܠ ܳܐ ܳܕܡ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܦܩܗ ܳܡ ܶܪܗ ܡܢ ܦ ܰܪܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܦܟ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܕܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܬ ܳܢܝܐ ܺܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܝܕ ܰܓ ܳܝ ܳܣܐ܀‬ ‫ܥܠܗ‬ ‫ܳܡ ܶܪܐ ܳ� ܳܢ̈ܐ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܕ ܥܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܒܐ ܳܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܝܐ ܰܕ ܳܡܐܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܛ ܽ‬ ‫ܝ�ܘܬܶܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܢܝ ̱ܗܝ ܬܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ� ܽܢܘܬ܀‬ ‫ܘܐܬ ܐ ܒܬܪܗ ܘܒ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰܒܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܒܝܬ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܣܐ ܕܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܕ ܳܢܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܰܶ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܕܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܚܕܬܬܗ ܡܥܡܘܕ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܳܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܡܢ�ܢܐ ܕܬܪܝܢ ܫܦܝܪ ܠܕܚܐܪ ܒܗ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܬܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ܳܕܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽܩܘܒܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܡܝ̈ܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܫܝܢ ܰܡܝ̈ܐ �ܥܠ ܡܢ ܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫ ̇ܗ܆‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟܢܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܺܢܩܝܫ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܬ ܶܒܝܠ܀‬ ‫ܝܥܐ‬

‫‪141‬‬

40

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2815 It became a ceiling 33 for the great house of mankind, and within it the earth and the seas were enclosed. Between these two waters it was placed as a great boundary, and it separated them and it continues to bear up the seas every day. 34 For this reason, the second day must also 2820 give praise, together with the first day, to the Maker. For on it the Lord “added” to the beginning “a second time by His hand,” and He also made that second day along with the first.

X.

THE BEAUTY OF THE NUMBER THREE

As for that number three, its height is great, its wonder is great, its beauty is greater than the other numbers. 2825 This [number] is beautiful just like that first number, it is both like it, comes from it, exists and is. One is three and likewise three are one, the Self-existent One 35 is one and the Trinity is one. That one Essence36 and that one power are Three, 2830 for these three are One that stands without movement. The three that exist need nothing to support 37 them, for by one power [only] are they truly upheld and exist. That number three is honored wherever it is, for it upholds itself and without being upheld exists in wonder. These terms used here, “dome, tent, ceiling”, are only some of the terms that Jacob employs in his description for the covering over the earth; cf. E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Second Day, 2–3, with references to that portion of the homily. 34 See Jacob’s own description of this separation in E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Second Day, 549– 604. 35 Syr., ’îtyâ. 36 Reading qənômâ in place of qāwmâ with P. Bedjan, Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis, III.142, n.2; it is required by the meter, but the usual translation of “person” would clearly not work here. 37 Jacob seems to be enjoying here a little verbal wordplay here with snq “need” and smk “support”. 33

‫‪41‬‬ ‫‪2815‬‬

‫‪2820‬‬

‫‪2825‬‬

‫‪2830‬‬

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

‫ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ܆‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܬܛܠܝ� �ܒ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܠܓܘ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܡܐ ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܫܝܢ ̱ܗܘܘ܀‬ ‫ܬܚ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܶܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܒ ܳܝܢܬ ܰܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܬܣܝܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܡܐ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܝܘܡ܀‬ ‫ܘܦ ܶܪܫ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܘܗܐ ܛܥܝܢ ܩܐܡ �‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ ܐܦ ܽܗܘ ܰܚ ܳܝܒ܆‬ ‫ܘܡܛ�ܗܢܐ �ܘܡܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܳܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܚܐ ܰܥܡ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܠ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝܐ �ܥܒܘܕܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܢ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܒܗ ܐܘܣܦ ̱ܗܘܐ ܡܪ�ܐ ܒܪܝܫܝܬ ܬܢܝܐ ܕܐܝܕܗ܆‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪܝܢ ܰܥܡ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܕܗ ܳܐܦ ܶܠܗ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܳܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܪܒ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ܆‬ ‫ܡܢ�ܢܐ ܕܝܢ ܗܘ ܕܬܠ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܪܒ ܽܗܘ ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܗܪܗ ܰܪܒ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܽܫܘܦܪܗ ܡܢ ܡ ̈‬ ‫ܢ�ܢܐ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܰܗܘ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܰܫܦܝܪ ܐܝܟ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳܝܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܶܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܘܠܗ ̱ܗܘ ܕܡܐ ܘܡܢܗ ܐܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳܐܡ ܺܘܐܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܰܟܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܚܕ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܠܬܐ ܐܦ ܰܚܕ ܗܘܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܬܠ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܕ ̱ܗܘ ܐܝܬ�ܐ ܘܚܕܐ ܐܝܬ ̇ܝܗ ܬܠܝܬ�ܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ ܰܚܕ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܕ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܚܝ�܆‬ ‫ܬܠ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ̈ܽ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܕܬܠܬ�ܗܘܢ ܚܕ ̱ܗܘ ܕܩܐܡ ܟܕ � ܢܐܕ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ ܬܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳܕܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܣܡܘܟ ܐܢܘܢ܆‬ ‫� ܶܡܣܬ ܺܢܩܝܢ ܬܠ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܟܝܢ ܳܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܝ� ܺ‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ ܰܫ ܺܪ ܳܝܪܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܕܒܚܕ ܚ‬ ‫ܶ ܳܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܆‬ ‫ܫܒܝܚ ܡܢ�ܢܐ ܗܘ ܳܕܬܠܬܐ ܐܝܟܐ ܕܐܝܬ ̱ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܕܗܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܰܘܕ� ܳܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܥܝܢ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܳܩܐܡ܀‬ ‫ܡܟܐ‬

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42

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2835 For this reason, there was fashioned on the third day the earth that exists without being upheld and not upon anything. Gen 1:9; Job 26:7 The Trinity holds up the world without any support, it stands still without moving [under] any great weight. 38 Gen 1:10 On that third day, the waters were gathered together into seas, 2840 and the Trinity held up the earth and the sea. This is the power that without any support upholds creation, and is upheld by Its own substance and is confirmed in mighty fashion. For this reason the works that came to be on the third day, – a blessed day! – merit wonder and marvel. 2845 On it the waters gathered together from where they were into seas, on it the Lord laid down sand as the boundary for the great sea, on it the Most High uncovered the surface of the earth from the flood waters, on it the sea and the dry land were fenced off by their own boundaries, 39 on it the earth became pregnant and gave birth to all sorts of trees, 2850 all the grains, all the herbs, and all the flowers. On the third day the earth, the bride, was bathing in the deep, it rose up from it and wondrously clothed itself in a robe of blossoms. On this day, when the month progressed three days, Nisan 40 became dazzling with lilies and [other] flowers. Cf. Jacob’s description of God supporting the world on nothing in E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Third Day, 991–1036. 39 See Jacob’s long description of the waters’ being gathered within the boundaries of sand in E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Third Day, 843–990. 40 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 E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Third Day, 34–35, and the comments in T. Jansma, “L’Hexaméron de Jacques de Sarug,” 22. 38

‫‪43‬‬ ‫‪2835‬‬

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‫‪2850‬‬

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

‫ܶ ܽ ܳܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܳ�ܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܩܢ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ܆‬ ‫ܘܡܛ�ܗܢܐ ܒܬܠ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܳܕܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܰܟܕ � ܣܡܝܟܐ ܘ� ܥܠ ܡ ܶܕܡ܀‬ ‫ܺ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܥ ܳܝܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܘ ܳܕ� ܳܣ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܟܐ܆‬ ‫ܬܠܝܬ�‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܩܐܡ ܘܫ� ܟܕ � ܢܐܕ �ܘܩܪܐ ܪܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ̈ ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܗ ܐܬܟܢܫ ̱ܘ ܡܝܐ �ܝܡܡܐ ܒܬܠܝܬ�ܐ܆‬ ‫ܺ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܡܐ ܺܗܝ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ� ܳ‬ ‫ܛܥ ܳܝܢܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܬܠܝܬ�ܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫��ܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܰܚܝ� ̱ܗܘ ܗܢܐ ܕܕ� ܣܡܟܐ ܛܥܝܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܡܝܟ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܰܪܪ ܰܓܢ̱ ܳܒ ܳܪܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܥܠ �‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܛ�ܗܢܐ ܥܒܕܐ ܕܗܘܘ ܒܬܠܝܬ�ܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܠܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܳ‬ ‫�ܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܳܫ ܶܘܝܢ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܝܟܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ̈ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܡܡܐ ܶܡܢ ܳܥ ܰܡܪܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܗ ܐܬܟܢܫ ̱ܘ ܡܝܐ �ܝ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܳܚ ܳ� ܽ‬ ‫ܶܒܗ ܳܣܡ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝ ܳܡܐ ܪ ܳܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶܒܗ ܓ� ܳܪ ܳܡܐ ܐ ̈ܦܐ ܠܬ ܶܒܝܠ ܡܢ ܡܡܘ�܆‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳ‬ ‫ܒܫܐ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܬ ܰ�ܟ ̱ܘ ܰ� ܳܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܒܗ ܐ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܗ ܚܒܠܬ ̱ܗܘܬ ܐܪܥܐ ܘ��ܕ ̣ܬ ܟܠ ܐܝ��ܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽܟܠ ܰܙ ܽ‬ ‫�ܥ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܢܝܢ ܽܟܠ ܽ� ̈ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܦ� ܺܢܝܢ ܽܟܠ ܰܗ ܳܒ ̈ܒܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܚ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܬܠܝܬ�ܐ ܟ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶܶ ܽ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܩܚܐܶ‬ ‫ܒܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܫܬ܀݀‬ ‫ܘܬܝܢ ܶܦ ̈‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܶܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ�ܩ ̣ܬ ܡܢܗ ܘܟ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܪܚܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܗ ܳܢܐ ܳ� ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܟܕ ܰܥܠ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܬܠܬܐ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܗ ܳܒ ̈ܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܢܝܣܢ ܐܦܪܓ ܘܒܫܘܫܢܐ ܘ‬

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THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2855 On this day both fruits and trees shall give praise, as will the blossoms of Nisan in both lowlands and high places. On the third day both seeds and those who sowed them will offer praise to that One who brought them forth on the third day. 41

XI. THE BEAUTY OF THE NUMBER FOUR

The number four too is a wonder and a marvel, 2860 its beauty shines even brighter than the beauty of its companions. On the fourth day there stand the four quadrants with their designations, and that number provides length and width to the earth. For this reason it was even said to Abraham that he should then walk the length and the width of the land. 42 Gen 13:17 2865 Length and width, however, do not make the sum of four, but when one walks out the length and the width he depicts a cross. And by the number four there arises this sign: that [number] indicates that the land of Jebus was to belong to Abram. 43 There are four ends to the two legs of a cross,

Earlier Jacob had used the image of God as husband and earth as bride, when he is describing this initial growth of the many types of flowers and vegetation on the newly appeared earth; see E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Third Day, 1037– 1150. 42 Cf. Jacob’s Homily against the Jews, IV.185–190; M. Albert, Jacques de Saroug, Homélies contre les juifs, 124–125. 43 Cf. Genesis 15:18–21. Jebus, however, is not explicitly mentioned here, only the “land of the Jebusites”, who are but one of ten peoples whose land Abram is to inherit. Everywhere else in the Bible, Jebus is named as a city, and is always specifically identified with Jerusalem; cf. Joshua 18:28, Judges 19:10, and 1 Chronicles 11:4. 41

‫‪45‬‬ ‫‪2855‬‬

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‫‪2865‬‬

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

‫ܳܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܝ�ܢ̈ܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܗܢܐ �ܘܡܐ ܢܫܒܚܘܢ ܦܐ� ܐ ܐܦ ܐ‬ ‫ܶ ̈ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦܩܚܝ ܢܝܣܢ ܡܢ ܐ�ܥܬܐ ܘܡܢ �ܡܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܙ �ܥܶܐ ܳܘܙ ܽ� ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܳ�ܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܒܬܠ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܠܘܢ ܫܘܒܚܐ �ܗܘ ܕܐܘܥܝ ܐ̱ܢܘܢ ܒܬܠܝܬ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܪܒܥܐ ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ̱ܗܘ ܳܐܦ ܽܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܐܦ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܪܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܽ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܟ� ̈ܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܡܦܪܓ ܫܘܦܪܗ ܛܒ ܡܢ ܫܘܦܪܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܪܒܥ ܶܦ ܳܢܝ̈ܢ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܒܥܐ ܳܩܝ̈ ܳܡܢ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܰܗ�̈ܗܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܘܪܟܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܳܥ ܶܒܕ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ�ܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܬ܆‬ ‫�ܗ ܳܢܐ ܐܦ �ܒܪܗܡ ܡ‬ ‫ܘܡܛ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽܕ� ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ� ̇ܗ ܢܗܠܟ ̱ܗܘܐ ܒ ̇ܗ ܰܒܐܪܥܐ ܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܟ ̇ܗ ܘܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܒܥܐ � ܶܡܣܬ ܰ�ܟ܆‬ ‫ܐܘܪܟܐ ܘܦܘܬ�ܐ ܐ � ܒ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܳܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܕܗܠܟ ܐ̱ܢܫ ܐܘܪܟܐ ܘܦܘܬ�ܐ ܨܠܝܒܐ � ܐܪ܀‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܒܥܐ ܳܢ ܶܦܩ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܐ̱ ܳܪ ܳܙ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡ ̇ܗ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܳܕ� ܽܒܘܣ ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܡ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܰ̈ܺ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܒܥܐ �ܝܫܝܢ ܠܬܪܝܢ ܩܝܣܝܢ ܕܨܠܝܒܘܬ ܐ܆‬

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46

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2870 and for this reason the number [four] is honored and full of beauty. For this reason this fourth day is also very beautiful, very bright, and many beautiful things begin to move about on it. On it the firmament, which already existed, was adorned with all the luminaries, and the entire course of the heavenly hosts attained its Gen 1:14–15 completion. 2875 On the fourth day the sun and the moon received dominion Gen 1:16–18 from the Creator over the days and the nights. On this day [the firmament] was harnessed to [the sun] like a chariot of light; it went forth to visit the entire earth. On the fourth day the world’s lanterns blazed on the firmament, 2880 and by them the entire creation that had been dark became light. On the fourth day the Maker 44 forged the stars of light that they would be signs and seasons. On this fourth day the sun began to rule and it went forth to take control of the world and to become ruler over days. 2885 Let this day give more praise than its companions, for on it the light that had [already] existed was divided among the luminaries. 45 On it let the directions give praise from their borders, and let them sing “Alleluia” for on it He established their boundaries. Let sun and moon give praise on the fourth day,

Syr., ‘ābôdûtâ; see E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Third Day, 5, for this use of the abstract. 45 Jacob here follows a common teaching that the sun and moon were not new lights, but were globes into which the light created on the first day was inserted; see, more fully, E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Fourth Day, 1181–1214, with n.2. Jacob certainly inherited this teaching from his mentor Ephrem; cf. Ephrem, Commentary on Genesis, I.9.2; Eng. tr. in E. G. Mathews, Jr., St. Ephrem the Syrian: Selected Prose Works, 81–82. 44

‫‪47‬‬ ‫‪2870‬‬

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‫‪2880‬‬

‫‪2885‬‬

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

‫ܶ ܳܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܗ ܳܢܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܫܒܝܚ ܡܢ�ܢܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܽܛܠ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܒܥܐ ܰܣ ܺܓܝ ܰܫ ܺܦܝܪ܆‬ ‫ܰܣ ܺܓܝ ܰܢ ܺܗܝܪ ܰܣ ܺܓܝ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ�ܐ ܶܡܬܬܙܺ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܥܝܢ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܒܗ ܶܐ ܰ�ܛ ܰܒܬ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܟܠ ܰܢ ܺܗ ܺܝ�ܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܛܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܚ ̈ܝ ܰ� ܳܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܣܟܗ ܟܠܗ ܪ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܒܥܐ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܩ� ̱ܘ ܽܫܘܠܛ ܳܢܐ܆‬ ‫ܝܡ ̈ܶܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܝ̈ ܰ� ܳܘ ܳܬ ܐ ܶܡܢ ܳܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܟܒܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܗܢܐ �ܘܡܐ ܐܬܟܕܢ ̣ܬ ܠܗ ܐܝܟ ܡ‬ ‫ܽܕܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܣܥܘܪ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܝܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܠܩ ̱ܘ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܒ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫ� ܰܓܝ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܽ ܽ ܳ ̇ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܬ܀‬ ‫ܘܢܗܪܬ ܡܢܗܘܢ ܟܠܗ ܒܪ‬ ‫ܰ ̣ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܕܐܪܒܥܐ ܚܫܠ ̣ܬ ܐܢܘܢ ܥܒܘܕܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܟܒܝ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ ܰܕ ܳ� ܳ ̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܘ ܳܬ ܐ ܰܘܙܒܢ̈ܶܐ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ̈ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܒܥܐ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܗ ܳܢܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܠܟ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܘܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܚܘܕ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܡ ̈ܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܫ ܺܠܝܛ ܥܠ ܐ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ܆‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܢܶܬܠ ܫ‬ ‫ܘܒܚܐ ܛܒ ܶܡܢ ܰܚܒ� ̱‬ ‫ܬܦ ܰܠܓ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܒܗ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܥܠ ܰܢ ܺܗ ܶܝ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܚܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܢ̈ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܠܢ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦܝ̈ ܶܗܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܒܗ ܦܢܝ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ̈ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢܗܠܢ ܒܗ ܕܐܩܝܡ ܐܢܝܢ ܒܬܚܘܡܝܗܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܚܐ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܠܘܢ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܝܐ܆‬

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THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2890 for He made them large and then enlarged them by their rays.

XII. THE BEAUTY OF THE NUMBER FIVE

This number five, then, is even greater, for many marvelous things were ushered in on it to the one who perceives it. Human nature is comprised of five stages, and there were five covenants between God and man. 46 2895 For a human begins as a new-born, then [becomes] a child, then an adolescent, then a young adult, then a full-grown adult, and thus in five stages one rises up and becomes a full-grown adult. Likewise, an adult also has five senses; there is sight, hearing, smell, 2900 taste and touch – there are five of them! As for God, He has provided for the earth with five covenants: that with Adam, that with Noah, with Abraham, with the house of Moses, and now, the fifth, with the Son of God, who has brought them all to fulfillment; and as [covenant] number five He arose for us from Ephrata. 47 2905 Every thing that came to be on the fifth [day] was very beautiful, desirable and pleasing as if for the praise of the Maker. On the fifth day God gave the command and the waters began to produce, and fish darted along the path of the seas and the rivers. 48 The waters also sent forth birds into the airy heights;

These three sets of five: senses, stages and covenants, are also discussed in Jacob’s Homily against the Jews, IV.109–176; see M. Albert, Jacques de Saroug, Homélies contre les juifs, 118–123. 47 Cf. Micah 5:2. 48 For a fuller description of the creation of the fish, cf. E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Fifth Day, 1597–1656. 46

‫‪49‬‬ ‫‪2890‬‬

‫‪2895‬‬

‫‪2900‬‬

‫‪2905‬‬

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

‫ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܒ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܙ ܺ�ܝ̈ ܶܩܐ ܐܥܬܪ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܕܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܶܕܝܢ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܳܪܡ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܣ ܺܓܝ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗ�ܐ ܶܡܬܬܙܺ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܥܝܢ ܶܒܗ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܝ ܰܕܥ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܣܓܝ ܬ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܫ ܡܘܫܚܢ ܐܝܬ ܠܟ�ܢܐ ܕܒ��ܢܫܐ܆‬ ‫ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܩܝ̈ ܺܡܝܢ ܐܝܬ � ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܰܥܡ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܽܫܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܚ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܒ ܳܪܢ ܳܫܐ ܶܓܝܪ ܳܗ ܶܘܐ ܽܥܘ� ܐܦ ܰ� ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕܐ܆‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܘܐ ܰܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܘܐ ܰܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܘܐ ܰܓ ܳ‬ ‫�ܓܝܢ ܳܣ ܶܠܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܪܐ܆‬ ‫ܠܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܶ� ܺ‬ ‫ܒܪܐ ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܺܐܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܘܐܦ ܶܠܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܓܫܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܚܙ ܳ�ܐ ܺܐܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܥܐ ܺܐܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܰܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܺܐܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܬ�̈ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܺܘܐܝܬ ܠܗ ܛܥܡܐ ܘܓܫܬܐ ܘܩܝܡܝܢ ܚ‬ ‫ܳ ܰܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܝ̈ ܺܡܝܢ ܰܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܪ ̇ܗ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ܆‬ ‫ܐܦ ܐ�ܗܐ ܒܚܡܫܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳܕ ܳܐܕܡ ܰܘ ܽܕܢܘܚ ܳܐܦ ܰܕܐܒܪܗܡ ܘܕܒܝܬ ܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ܀‬ ‫ܕܒܪ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܽܕܗܘ ܰܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܠܝ ܽܟܠ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰܕܢܚ ܰܠܢ ܶܡܢ ܐ ܰܦܪܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰܣ ܺܓܝ ܰܫ ܺܦܝܪ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܕܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܪܓܝܓ ܘܦܐܐ ܐܝܟ ܕ�ܫܘܒܚܐ ܕܥܒ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܚܫ ̱ܘ ܰܡܝ̈ܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܦܬ ̱ܘ ܽ� ̈ܘ ܢܶܐ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܒܝܠ �ܡܡܐ ܘܢܗ�ܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܳܕܐܐܪ܆‬ ‫ܘܫܕܪ ̱ܘ ܡܝܐ ܐܦ ܦܪܚܬܐ �ܪ‬

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THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2910 the seas were enriched, and the air was made glad by the birds. 49 Let both the fish of the seas and the winged creatures give praise, on the fifth day along with the day that is full of beauties. Let the sea give praise that it has become the dwelling place for those creatures that dwell in the water; behold, they dwell therein as if in prosperous villages. 2915 Let the depths give thanks along with the beasts that are beneath the earth, as well as Leviathan 50 who, without food, has become stately and robust. Let the eagle give praise on that high place to which it ascends, as well as the swallows within the bed-chambers of virgins. Let all those things that came to be on the fifth day give praise; 2920 the day is delightful and all that came to be on it is beautiful and lovely.

XIII.

THE BEAUTY OF THE NUMBER SIX

The number six, then, is more beautiful than many, for it is the total number of the six directions found in creation. When height and depth are reckoned along with the four regions, there are then six upon which the entire world stands. 51 2925 This number is entirely beautiful to the one who gazes upon it; this day six is also beautiful and full of wonder. On the sixth day the earth was made richer by new births: beasts, swarming things as well as many other animals. 52 On the sixth day the works that came to be arrived at their culmination, For a fuller description of the creation of the birds, cf. E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Fifth Day, 1763–1878. 50 Cf. E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Fifth Day, 1621. 51 Cf. E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Sixth Day, 2029–2032. 52 Cf. E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Sixth Day, 1949–2026. 49

‫‪51‬‬ ‫‪2910‬‬

‫‪2915‬‬

‫‪2920‬‬

‫‪2925‬‬

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

‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ̈ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܰܘܙ ̣ܬ ݀ ܐܐܪ ܶܡܢ ܳܦ ܰܪܚܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܥܬܪ ̱ܘ �ܡܡܐ‬ ‫ܽ ̈ ܰ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܝܘܬ ܶܓܦܐ ܢܬܠܘܢ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܚܐ܆‬ ‫ܘ�ܘ ܢܝ �‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ܕܚܡܫܐ ܥܡܗ ܕ�ܘܡܐ ܕܡ� ܫܘܦ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܪܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܢܫ ܰܒܚ ܰ� ܳܡܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܡ�ܝ ܰܡܝ̈ܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕ ܺܝܪܝܢ ܶܒܗ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ��ܐ ܰܟ ܺܗܝܢ̈ܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܬܚܝܬ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܥܡ ܰܬ ܺ� ̈�ܢܶܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܦܛܡ܀‬ ‫ܘ�ܬܢ ܰܕܕ� ܐܘܟ� ܓܐܐ ܘ‬ ‫ܐܦ ܠ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܢܫ ܰܒܚ ܢܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܪܐ ܰܒܐܬܪ ܐ ܪ ܳܡܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܶܠܗ܆‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܓܘ ܰܩܝܛ ̈ܘ ܢܶܐ ܰܕܒܬ ̈ܘ ܳܠܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܣܢܘܢܝ‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܟ�ܡܘܢ ܕܗܘܐ ܒܝܘܡܐ ܕܚܡܫܐ ܫܘܒܚܐ ܢܬܠ܆‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܦܝܪ ܰܘܦܐܶܐ ܽܟܠ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܚܝܡ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܒܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܶܓܝܪ ܶܕܫܬܐ ܰܫ ܺܦܝܪ ܶܡܢ ܰܣ ܺܓܝ̈ܐܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽܕܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܪܝܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܘ�ܘ ܳܣ ܳܟܐ ܶܕܐܫܬܐ ܰܓ ܺܒܝ̈ܢ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܠ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܩܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܪܒܥ ܶܦ ܳܢܝ̈ܢ ܰܟܕ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬܐ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܗܘܢ ܳܩܐܶܡ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܝܢ ܐ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܦ�ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚܐܪ ܶܒܗ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܬܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܦ ܗܘ �ܘܡܐ ܕܐܫܬܐ ܫܦܝܪ ܘ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܕܐܫܬܐ ܥܬܪ ̣ܬ ܐܪܥܐ ܒܝ�ܕܐ ܚܕܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܳܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܫܐ ܐܦ ܰܚ ̈� ܳܘܬ ܐ ܰܣ ܺܓܝ̈ܐܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܒܥܝܪܐ ܘ�‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ܕܫܬܐ ܫܩ� ̱ܘ ܫܘ�ܡܐ ܥܒܕܐ ܕܗܘܘ܆‬

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52

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2930 and on it everything that was fashioned by the Maker was concluded. 53 On this day six which was lovely and full of beautiful things, “God saw everything that He had made and behold it was very Gen 1:31 good”. On it He formed Adam to be the image of the Godhead, and on it Adam depicted types when he slept in symbolic fashion. 2935 On it the bride was adorned, and she went forth to close the gate, 54 and the wedding couple was radiant in their wedding apparel and their crowns. On it the entire human race was blessed by God, “to be fruitful and multiply,” that the world might exist in their Gen 1:28 descendants. On this sixth day there arose the great image; 2940 he inherited the world and received authority over all creation. On this day Paradise opened its great gate, and the beautiful [wedding couple] entered the Garden of Eden which was full of good things. 55 The sixth day is the most exalted in its story of all the days, for it is the beginning and the end of the house of Adam.

Cf. E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Sixth Day, 2027–2086. 54 I am not exactly clear to what this phrase refers, but is it possible that it refers to the ‘gate’ of Adam’s chest, which is closed up as Eve goes forth from Adam to assume her own identity? See Jacob’s beautiful description of the scene in E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Sixth Day, 2463–2500. 55 Cf. Genesis 2:8, and see also E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Sixth Day, 2135–2176, 2283–2400. 53

‫‪53‬‬ ‫‪2930‬‬

‫‪2935‬‬

‫‪2940‬‬

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

‫ܶ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܽ ܳ ̈ܶ ܳ ܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܐܫܬܡܠܝܘ ܟܠ�ܬܘܩܢܐ ܕܥܒ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܗ ܳܢܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܶܕܫܬܐ ܰܕܦܐܐ ܰܘܡ� ܽܫܘܦ�ܐ܆‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܛܒ ܰܫ ܺܦܝܪ܀‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܽܟܠ ܡܘܢ ܕܥܒܕ‬ ‫ܰ ܳܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ� ܽܗܘܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܶܒܗ ܓܒܠ ܐܕܡ ܢܗܘܐ ܨ�ܡܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܳ�ܪ ܽܛ ̈‬ ‫ܘܦ ܶܣܐ ܳܐ ܳܕܡ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡܟ ܐ̱ ܳܪ ܳܙ ܢܳܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܬܶ ܽܐܚܘܕ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ܘܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܩ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܪܥܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܗ ܐ�ܛܒܬ ̣ܬ ܟ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܦܪܓ ̱ܘ ܰܚܬܢ̈ܐ ܒ�ܒܘܫܝܗܘܢ ܘܟܠܝ�ܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬܒ ܰܪܟ ܶܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܒܗ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣܐ ܕܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܶܡܢ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܛܐ ܰܘ ܽܢܩܘܡ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܶܡܢ ܰ� ܰ ̈‬ ‫�ܕ ܽܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܕܢܦܪܐ ܘܢ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܗ ܳܢܐ ܰ�ܘܡܐ ܕܐܫܬܐ ܩܡ ̱ܗܘܐ ܰܨ�ܡܐ ܪܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܺܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܪܬ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܽܫܘܠܛ ܳܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܒ��‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܗ ܳܢܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣܐ ܬܪܥܶܗ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܦܬܚ ܦܪܕ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥ�ܘ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܕܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܰܢܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܝ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܛ ̈ܘ ܶܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܫܬܐ ܳܪܡ ̱ܗܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܒܗ ܶܡܢ ܽܟܠ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ܆‬ ‫�ܘܡܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܗܘ�ܘ ܪܝܫܐ ܐܦ ܫܘ�ܡܐ ܠܕܒܝܬ ܐܕܡ܀‬

54

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2945 Friday offered a sacrifice and rose up onto the cross, 56 saved the world; the sun darkened on it, 57 light dawned on it. On it, the dead came to life, graves were filled with light, and rocks split, 58 and on it a thief found the garden that Adam had lost. 59 The sixth day is exalted, glorified and full of beautiful things; 2950 at both its beginning and its end it is full of victories. On it that Mighty One completed what He had fashioned while Gen 2:1 creating, and on it the Life-Giver rose up on the cross saving [the world]. On that day the rib of Adam was extracted to become Eve, Gen 2:21–22 Cf. John 19:34 and on it baptism was instituted upon Golgotha. 2955 For this reason Friday will give glory – more than all its companions – to that One who multiplied these spiritually beautiful things for it. Let Adam give praise for he became a bridegroom on the sixth day in his marriage to the virgin Eve in such a chaste manner. Let Eve, along with her spouse, give thanks on the sixth day 2960 for on it the common debt of their generations has been repaid. Let the sixth day and its five companions – all six of them! –, give glory to You, O Creator, in their [various] times: in their evenings, in their mornings, at their dawns, in their transitions, in their days and in their nights,

See Matthew 26:1–27:54, Mark 14:43–15:32, Luke 22:54–23:38, John 18:1–19:30. 57 See Luke 23:45. 58 Cf. Matthew 27:51–53. 59 Cf. Luke 23:39–43. 56

‫‪55‬‬ ‫‪2945‬‬

‫‪2950‬‬

‫‪2955‬‬

‫‪2960‬‬

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

‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܕܬ ݀ ܺܙܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܬܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܝܦܐ ܶܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܒ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܶܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ܆‬ ‫ܥܪ‬ ‫ܒܚܐ ܥܶ ܰ ̣‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܥ�ܡܐ ܦܪܩ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܫܟ ܒ ̇ܗ ܢܘܗܪܐ ܰܕܢܚ ܒ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܺ ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܝܘ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ܰܩ ܶ‬ ‫ܒ�ܐ ܰܢܗܪ ̱ܘ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ܽܫ ̈ܘܥܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܩܥ ̱ܘ ܳܒ ̇ܗ܆‬ ‫ܡܝ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ̇ܗ ܓܝܣܐ ܐܫܟܚ ܓܢܬܐ ܕܐܘܒܕ ܐܕܡ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܽܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ�ܐ܆‬ ‫�ܘܡܐ ܕܐܫܬܐ ܪܡ ܘܡܫܒܚ ܘ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܳ�ܐ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܡܐ ܡ� ܢܨܚܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܓܡܪ ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܒܗ ܰܓܢ̱ ܳܒ ܳܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܰܟܕ ܳܒ ܶܪܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܆‬ ‫ܣܠܩ ܰܠ ܺ‬ ‫ܚ� ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܨܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܒܐ ܰܟܕ ܳܦ ܶܪܩ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܶܒܗ ܽܗܘ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܬܪܥ ܶܣ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܪܗ ܳܕ ܳܐܕܡ ܕܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܚ ܳܘܐ܆‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܰ ܽ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ ܐܬܦܬܚ ̣ܬ ܡܥܡܘܕܝܬܐ ܥܠ�ܓܓܘܠܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܫ ܰܒܚ ܳܛܒ ܶܡܢ ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ̇ܝܗ܆‬ ‫ܘܡܛ�ܗܢܐ ܥܪ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ ̇ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘ ܕܐܣܓܝ ܠܗ ܗܠܝܢ ܫܘܦ�ܐ �ܘܚ�ܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܢܫ ܰܒܚ ܳܐ ܳܕܡ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܶܕܫܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܕܚ ܳܘܐ ܒܬܘܠܬܐ ܩܕ‬ ‫ܒܡܟܝܪ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ̇ ܰ ܺ ܳܳ‬ ‫ܚܘܐ ܬܘܕܐ ܥܡ ܒܪ ܙܘܓܗ ܒܫܬܝܬ�ܐ܆‬ ‫ܕܒܗ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܘܒܬ ܰܓ ܳܘܐ ܶܡܢ ܳܕ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܫܬܐ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܐܫܬܬ�̈ ܽܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܚ‬ ‫�ܘܡܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܘܚܒ� ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ܢܬܠܘܢ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܠܟ ܳܒܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܚܐ ܒ� ̈ܕ ܰܢܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܒܨ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܦ� ܽܝܗܘܢ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܒ� ܰ‬ ‫ܒܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܚ ̈ܝ ܽܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡ ̈ܶܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܛ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܰܘܒܐܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܝ̈ ܰ� ܳܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܒ�‬

‫‪148‬‬

56

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2965 in the twelve hours of the day [when it is] light, and in the four watches of the night [when it is] dark. 60

XIV. THE BEAUTY OF THE NUMBER SEVEN

Very beautiful, very beautiful is the cycle of the sixth day; so too is this number seven beautiful with it. There were seven lamps on the lampstand that Zechariah saw, 2970 and there were seven nozzles 61 per lamp that was placed there. 62 There were seven eyes of the Lord that gazed upon the entire world, 63 seven times a day King David gave praise. 64 The light of the sun then will be sevenfold, 65 Naaman dipped himself seven times when he was purified. 66 2975 Noah took in seven pairs of clean animals, 67 the Creator opened the seven portals on the face of [every] human. 68 Seven times on the path along the sea [Elijah] looked for a cloud, 69 the house of the world stands upon seven pillars; “Wisdom built herself a house, which is the entire world, Jacob devoted an entire mêmrâ to the praise of the morning and the evening; cf. P. Bedjan, Homiliae Selectae Mar-Jacobi Sarugensis, III.907– 912, Eng. tr., in “A Homily on the Giving of Praise for the Morning and Evening by Mar Jacob, Bishop of Serugh (†521)”. 61 Syr., pûmê; lit., “mouths”. 62 Cf. Zechariah 4:2. 63 Cf. Zechariah 4:10. 64 Cf. Psalm 119:164. 65 Cf. Isaiah 30:26. 66 Cf. 2 Kings 5:14. 67 Cf. Genesis 7:2–3. 68 I.e., the two eyes, two ears, two nostrils and mouth; I thank Sebastian Brock for resolving this for me. Jacob had also recounted these “portals” earlier at ll. 2898–2900. The suggestion of T. Muraoka, Jacob of Serugh’s Hexaemeron, 199, that these seven portals (lit., “gates”) refer to the seven letters mentioned in Revelation 2–3 is not at all likely. 69 Cf. 1 Kings 18:43–44. 60

‫‪57‬‬ ‫‪2965‬‬

‫‪2970‬‬

‫‪2975‬‬

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

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܰܥ̈ܝ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܬܪܬܶܝܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܣܪ ܰܢ ܺܗ ܳܝ�ܬ ܐ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܛ�ܬܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܕ� ܳܝܐ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܒܥ ܶܚ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܳܟܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪܐ ܳܛܒ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܛܒ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪܐ ܺܓܝܓ� ܶܕܐܫܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܕܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܐܦ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܰܥ ܳܡ ̇ܗ ܰܫ ܺܦܝܪ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܰܙܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ܆‬ ‫ܫܒܥܐ ܫ�ܓܐ ܐܝܬ ܒܡܢ‬ ‫ܳ ܳܰ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܽܦ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ ܺܐܝܬ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܪ ܳܓܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܕܣܝܡ ̱ܗܘܐ ܬܡܢ܀‬ ‫ܕܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ�ܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܒܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ܆‬ ‫ܫܒܥ ܰܠܡ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܫ ܰܒܚ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܕ ܺܘܝܕ܀‬ ‫ܫܒܥ ܙܒܢ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܚܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܠܡ ܢܘܗܪܗ ܕܫܡܫܐ ܢܗܘܐ ܗܝܕܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܚܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܡܢ ܰܟܕ ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܕ ܺܟܝ܀‬ ‫ܫܒܥ ܙܒܢ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܰܙ ̈ܘ ܶܓܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܩܠ ܽܢܘܚ ܶܡܢ ܰܕܟܝ̈ܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ܰܒ ܰ̈‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܰܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܬܚ ܳܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥܝܢ‬ ‫ܐܦܝ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ̈ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܡܡܐ ܳܚܪ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ� ܳܢܐ܆‬ ‫ܫܒܥ ܙܒܢܬܐ ܒܐܘܪܚܐ ܕ�‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ̈ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܝܬܗ ܕܥ�ܡܐ ܥܠ�ܥܡܘܕܐ ܫܒܥܐ ܩܐܡ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܡܬܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܢ ̣ ݀‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܟܠܗ܆‬ ‫ܶܚ‬ ‫ܬ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰܒܝܬܐ ܺܕܐܝܬ ̱‬

‫‪149‬‬

58

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

2980 and established it in seven days just as the pillars. 70 Behold, these [pillars] are what hold up the great world, while it travels each day through their evenings and their mornings. The number seven is also beloved because of these things, and that seventh day is also beautiful and full of wonder. 2985 This day also establishes the Sabbath every seven days, so if it were lacking from the total number there would be no Sabbath. The six [days] ran [their course] and all six of them ran well, this seventh [day] provided rest for [the six] and [thus] the Sabbath arose. Very beautiful, very beautiful 71 is the Sabbath that arrived, 2990 and it has become an example to proclaim the end of the world. That Mighty One has now completed His work and entered into His rest;72 give Him praise, O Sabbath day, for on you are stillness and great peace.

XV. LET THE ENTIRE CREATION COME FORTH TO GIVE PRAISE TO THE CREATOR

Come, O days, and give glory to the Creator, and present before Him your time intervals as offerings. 2995 Let the dawns come with patens of light upon their hands; let them enter before Him, worshipping Him in their magnificence. Let the evenings, those sober workers, come with their darkness, Ps 119:105 saying to Him, “‘Your word is a lamp,’” enlighten us with it.” Let the noontimes come with ardent love [to give] praise,

Cf. Proverbs 9:1, and see ll. 2573–2578, above. Syr., ṭāb šapîrâ; these words reflect God’s assessment of creation as expressed in Genesis 1:31: “God saw that it was very good”. 72 See note 3, above. 70 71

‫‪59‬‬ ‫‪2980‬‬

‫‪2985‬‬

‫‪2990‬‬

‫‪2995‬‬

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

‫ܰ ܺ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܺ ܰ ܰ ܽ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܘܕܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܐܩܝܡ ̣ܬ ܒܗ ܫܒܥܐ ܝܘܡܝܢ ܐܝܟ ܥܡ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܽܢܘܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܳܗܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܥ ܺܝܢܝܢ ܶܠܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܪܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܒܨ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܦ� ܽܝܗܘܢ ܳܪ ܶܕܐ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܒ� ܰ‬ ‫�ܝܘܡ܀‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܐܦ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܰܚ ܺܒܝܒ ܶܡܛܠ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܬܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܦ ܗܘ �ܘܡܐ ܕܫܒܥܐ ܫܦܝܪ ܘ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫�ܫܒܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܩܝܡ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܺܡܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܕܐܢ ܽܗܘ ܰܚ ܺܣܝܪ ܶܡܢ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܰܫܒܬܐ ܰܠܝܬ ̇ܝܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ܐܫܬܬ�̈ ܽܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܪܗܛ ̣ܬ ܐܫܬܐ ܘܫܦܝܪ ܪܗܛ ̣‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܒܬܐ ܳܩ ܰܡ ̣ ݀‬ ‫ܒܥܐ ܳܢܝ ܳܚܐ ܰ� ̱ܗܒ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ܀‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪܐ ܳܛܒ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܛܒ ܰܫ ܺܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪܐ ܰܫܒܬܐ ܶܕܐܬ ̣ܬ݀܆‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ� ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܥܠ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ܶܡܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܪܙ܀‬ ‫ܘܗܘܬ ܡ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗܐ ܰܓܢ̱ ܳܒܪܐ ܫܡܠܝ ܥܒܕܗ ܘܥܠ�ܠܢܝܚܐ܆‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܟܝ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܫ ܺ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܳܝܢܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܝܘܗܝ ܰܫܒܬܐ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܶܒ‬ ‫ܒܚ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܘܚܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ܰܗܒ ̱ܘ ܬ‬ ‫ܬܘ ܝܘܡ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰܘܐܥܶ� ̱ܘ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ � ܳܕ ܢܝܟܘܢ ܐܝܟ � ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ�ܢܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܕܡ ̱‬ ‫ܺ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܦܝܢ̈ ܶܟܐ ܽܕܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬܘܢ ܰܨ ܶ‬ ‫ܦ�ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ ܰܥܠ ܺܐ ܰ ̈‬ ‫ܝܕ ܽܝܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܢ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܓܕܝܢ ܠܗ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܶܥ�ܘܢ ܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܟܕ ܳܣ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܝܩ� ܽܝܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܕܡ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܳܦܥ̈� ܰܢ ̈ܟ ܶܦܐ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬܘܢ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܐܘܟ ܰܡܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܢ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܟܕ ܐܡܪܝܢ ܠܗ ܫܪ ܳܓܐ ̱ܗܝ ܡܠܬܟ ܒ ̇ܗ ܐܢܗܪ ܠܢ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܗ�ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܘܚܬܐ܆‬ ‫ܕܚ ܺܡܝܡ ܥܠ�ܬ‬ ‫ܢܐܬܘܢ ܛ‬

‫‪150‬‬

60

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

3000 and let them stand among the saints in worship in His house. Let the east come, the daytime being led in along with it, and enter to worship that One who made all the luminaries rise in it. Let the west come and bring in the night which also gives praise, for it ought to give thanks to that hidden power 73 that gave it rest. 3005 Let the joyous light, lovely firmament, great sea, resplendent sun, pleasing moon, earth with its fruits, heavens with its hosts, the seas with its swarming creatures and its serpents, fire with its warmth, wind with its fierce gusts, lightning with its speed, thunder with the echoes of its claps, 3010 clouds with their rain and with the sprinkles from within them, the firmament, the dew and the blessed waters from it and above it, the seas above, the depths below – the entire world! –, height and depth, width and length, and every side, the entire creation, and I who was anxious to speak, 3015 my frail mouth and all my senses that are so insufficient, all my limbs, on both sides, and my entire person, my eyes, my ears, my feet, my hands, my tongue, my lips, my speech, even my voice, my brain, my mind, my heart, my kidneys, my soul and body, all their movements as well as my thoughts, 3020 along with all Your creation, give to You praise and glory! The end of “On the Fashioning of Creation” with the help of Our Lord

A favorite phrase of Jacob, used throughout this mêmrâ; see, especially, E.G. Mathews, Jr., Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Fourth Day, 1257, and note, ad loc. 73

‫‪61‬‬ ‫‪3000‬‬

‫‪3005‬‬

‫‪3010‬‬

‫‪3015‬‬

‫‪3020‬‬

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

‫ܰ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ܽܢܩ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܘܢ ܰܥܡ ܰܩ ܺ̈ܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܒܬܫܡܫܬܐ ܕܒ‬ ‫ܺ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐܬ ܐ ܡܕܢܚܐ ܟܕ ܐܝܡܡܐ ܕܒܝܪܐ ܥܡ ̇ܗ܆‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܣܓܘܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܳܐ� ܕܬܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܕܢܚ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ܽܟܠ ܢܗܝ�ܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܺ� ܳܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܰܒܚ ܐܦ ܽܗܘ܆‬ ‫ܬܐܬ ܐ ܡܥܪܒܐ ܘܬ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܕܚ ܳܝܒ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܕܐ �ܚܝ� ܟܣܝܐ ܕ� ̱ܗܒ ܠܗ ܫ�ܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪܐ ܰܓ ܳܐ�ܐ ܺܪܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܰܦ ܳܐ�ܐ ܰ� ܳܡܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܰܕܢ ܺܗܝܪ ܰܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܦܐ� ̇ܝܗ܀‬ ‫ܪܓܝܓ ܐܪܥܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ̈ܶ ̇ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܬ ܺܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܝ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ܆‬ ‫ܫܡܝܐ ܒܟܢܫܝܗ ܬܗܘܡܐ ܒ�ܚܫܗ ܘ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̇ܗ ܘܪܘܚܐ ܒܡܫܒܐ ܕ�ܙܝܙܘܬ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܛܐ ܰܘ� ܶ‬ ‫ܒܩ ܳ� ܽܕ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܰܒܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܆‬ ‫ܒ�ܩܐ ܒܪ‬ ‫ܳ ̈ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡܢ ܽܥ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܥ�ܢܐ ܒܡܛܪܐ ܘܒ�ܘܛܦ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܛ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܒ�ܝܟܐ ܕܡܢܗ ܘ�ܥܠ܆‬ ‫ܪܩܝܥܐ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܬܗ ̈‬ ‫ܡܡܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܕܠܬܚܬ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫�‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܽ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܩܐ ܦܬ�ܐ ܘܐܘܪܟܐ ܘܟ�ܗܘܢ ܓܒܐ܆‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܳܠܘ܀‬ ‫ܒܪܝܬܐ ܟܠ ̇ܗ ܘܐܢܐ ܕܚܒܨܬ ܠ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܓܫܝ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ� ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܟܕ � ܳܫ ܶܘܝܢ܆‬ ‫ܘܡܝ ܚ�ܫܐ‬ ‫ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܽܟܠ ܰܗ ܳ ̈ܕ ܰܡܝ ܶܡܢ ܽܟܠ ܰ�ܓ ܺܒܝ̈ܢ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܝ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܩܢ ̱‬ ‫ܢܝ ܶܣ ܳ ̈‬ ‫ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝ ܶܘ ̈ܐܕ ܰܢܝ ܶ� ܰ‬ ‫ܦܘܬ ̱ܝ܆‬ ‫ܓܠܝ ܺܘ ̈ܐܝ ܰܕܝ ܶ� ܳܫ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܝ ܰܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܒܝ ܐܦ ܽܟܘ�ܝ̈ܬ ̱ܝ܀‬ ‫ܪܥܝܬ ̱ܝ ܶܠ ̱‬ ‫ܠܝ ܰܡ ܰܕ ̱‬ ‫ܶܡ ܰܠܬ ̱ܝ ܐܦ ܳܩ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ̈ ܰ ܽ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦܫܐ ܘܦܓܪܐ ܙܘܥܝ ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܐܦ ܚ‬ ‫ܘܫ ̈ܒܝ܆‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫��ܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܠܘܢ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܚܐ ܰܥܡ ܽܟܠ ܶܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܘܚܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܠܟ ܬ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܕܪܢ ܳܡ ܰܪܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ܕܥܠ�ܬܘܩܢܐ ܕܒ��‬

‫‪151‬‬

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WORKS CITED PRIMARY TEXTS

BARNABAS Prigent, P. and R. Kraft, ed. and tr. Épître de Barnabé. SC, 172; Paris: Editions du Cerf, 1971. English translation in M. Stanforth, tr., Early Christian Writings. Revised by A. Louth. Penguin Classics. London/New York: Penguin Books, 1987.

JUSTIN MARTYR Marcovich, Miroslav, ed. Iustini Martyris Dialogus cum Tryphone. PTS, 47; Berlin/New York: de Gruyter, 1997. English translation in Thomas B. Falls, tr., revised and with a new introduction by Thomas P. Halton, St. Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho. Selections from the Fathers of the Church, 3. Washington: Catholic University of America Press, 2003.

THEOPHILUS OF ANTIOCH Grant, Robert M., ed. and tr. Theophilus of Antioch, Ad Autolycum. OECT. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1970. IRENAEUS OF LYONS Rousseau, A., L. Doutreleau, and Ch. Mercier, Irénée de Lyon, Contre les hérésies. Livre V. SC, 152–153; Paris: Editions du Cerf, 1969. English translation from R.M. Grant, Irenaeus of Lyons. Early Church Fathers. London/New York: Routledge, 1997. [A new translation by Fr. John Behr is in preparation] 63

64

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

Ter Mĕkĕrttschian, Karapet and S.G. Wilson, eds. and trs. S. Irenaeus, The Proof of the Apostolic Preaching with Seven Fragments [with accompanying French translation by J. Bartmoulot]. PO, XII.5. Paris: Firmin-Didot, 1913. English translation in John Behr, tr., St. Irenaeus of Lyons, On the Apostolic Preaching. PPS, 17. Yonkers: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1997.

HIPPOLYTUS OF ROME Lefèvre, M., ed. and tr. Hippolyte, Commentaire sur Daniel. SC, 14; Paris: Editions du Cerf, 1947.

EUSEBIUS OF EMESA Petit, Françoise, Lucas Van Rompay and Jos. J.S. Weitenberg, trs. Eusèbe d’Émèse, Commentaire de la Genèse. TEG, 15; Louvain: Peeters, 2011.

BASIL Giet, Stanislas, ed. and tr. Saint Basile, Homélies sur l’ Hexaéméron. SC, 26bis; Paris: Editions du Cerf, 1968. English translation in Blomfield Jackson, tr., The Hexaemeron of Saint Basil. LNPF. 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. Smets, Alexis and Michel Van Esbroek, eds. and trs. Saint Basile, Sur l’origine de l’homme (Hom. X et XI de l’Hexaéméron). SC, 160; Paris: Editions du Cerf, 1970. APHRAHAT Parisot, D.I., ed. and tr. Aphraatis Sapientis Persae Demonstrationes. PS, 1.1–1.2. Paris: Firmin-Didot, 1894, 1907. English translation in Adam Lehto, The Demonstrations of Aphrahat, the Persian Sage. GECS, 27. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2010.

EPHREM Tonneau, Raymond M., ed. and tr. Sancti Ephraem Syri in Genesim et in Exodum commentarii. CSCO 152–53. Louvain: Peeters, 1955. English translation by Edward G. Mathews, Jr. in

BIBLIOGRAPHY

65

Edward G. Mathews, Jr. and Joseph P. Amar, St. Ephrem the Syrian: Selected Prose Works. FOTC, 91. Washington: Catholic University of America Press, 1994. Pp. 67–213.

PS.-EPHREM Mathews, Jr., Edward G., ed. and tr. The Armenian Commentary on the Book of Genesis attributed to Ephrem the Syrian. CSCO 572– 573: Scriptores Armeniaci, 23–24. Louvain: Peeters, 1998.

GREGORY OF NYSSA Laplace, J, ed. and tr. Saint Grégoire de Nysse, La creation de l’homme. SC, 6; Paris: Editions du Cerf, 1943. English translation in W. Moore and H.A. Austin, trs., Gregory of Nyssa, On the Making of Man. LNPF. Second Series. Grand Rapids, 1976. Vol. 5, pp. 387–427. [A new translation by Fr. John Behr is in preparation] SEVERIAN OF GABALA Severianus Gabalensis Episcopus, In Mundi Creationem homiliae 1–6. PG 56.429–500. English translation by Robert C. Hill in Robert C. Hill and Carmen S. Hardin, Severian of Gabala and Bede the Venerable, Commentaries on Genesis 1–3. Ancient Christian Texts. Downers Grove: IVP Academic Press, 2010. Pp. 23–87.

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA McLeod, Frederick G., tr. Theodore of Mopsuestia. ECF. London/New York: Routledge, 2009.

JOHN CHRYSOSTOM Iohannes Chrysostomus, Adversus Iudaeos orationes 1–8. PG 48.843– 942. English translation in Paul W. Harkins, Paul W., tr., Saint John Chrysostom Discourses against Judaizing Christians. FOTC, 68. Washington: The Catholic University of America Press, 1977.

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THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY

THEODORET OF CYRUS Hill, Robert C., ed. and tr. Theodoret of Cyrus, The Questions on the Octateuch. Volume 1: On Genesis and Exodus. LEC, 1; Washington: Catholic University Press, 2007.

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]. Akhrass, Roger and Imad Syryany, eds. 160 unpublished homilies of Jacob of Serugh. 2 volumes. Damascus: Department of Syriac Studies – Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate, 2017. Albert, Micheline, ed. and tr. Jacques de Saroug, Homélies contre les juifs. PO, XXXVIII.1 [174]. Turnhout: Brepols, 1976. Alwan, Khalil, ed. and tr. Jacques de Saroug, Quatre Homélies Métriques sur la Création. CSCO 508–509; Louvain: Peeters, 1989. Bedjan, Paulus, ed. S. Martyrii, qui est Sahdona, quæ supersunt omnia. Paris/Leipzig: Otto Harrassowitz, 1902. [Marian Homilies of Jacob of Sarug, pp. 614–865.] English translation of homilies 1–3, 5, in Mary Teresa Hansbury. Jacob of Serug, On the Mother of God. PPS 19. Crestwood: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1998. Brock, Sebastian P. Jacob of Sarug’s Homily on the Veil on Moses’ Face. TFCLA, 20; Metrical Homilies of Mar Jacob of Sarug, 1. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2009. Mathews, Jr., Edward G., tr. Jacob of Sarug’s Homily on the Creation of Adam and the Resurrection of the Dead. TFCLA, 37; Metrical Homilies of Mar Jacob of Sarug. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2014. Mathews, Jr., Edward G., tr. Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The First Day. TFCLA, 27; Metrical Homilies of Mar Jacob of Sarug, 29. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2009. Mathews, Jr., Edward G., tr. Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Second Day. TFCLA, 40. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2016.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

67

Mathews, Jr., Edward G., tr. Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Third Day. TFCLA, 47. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2016. Mathews, Jr., Edward G., tr. Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Fourth Day. TFCLA, 52. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2018. Mathews, Jr., Edward G., tr. Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Six Days of Creation: The Fifth Day. TFCLA, 55. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2019. Muraoka, Takamitsu. Jacob of Serugh’s Hexaemeron. Ancient Near Eastern Studies Supplement, 52. Leuven: Peeters, 2018. Sony, Behnam M. Boulos. “Hymne sur la création de l’homme de l’hexaméron de Jacques de Saroug.” PdO 11 (1983), 167– 199. NARSAI Gignoux, Philippe, ed. and tr. Homélies de Narsaï sur la création. PO, 34.3–4 [161–162]. Turnhout: Brepols, 1968.

SECONDARY WORKS

Alexandre, Monique. Le commencement du livre Genèse I–V: La version grecque de la Septante et sa reception. CA, 3. Paris: Beauchesne, 1988. 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, E. Die Theologie des Hl. Ephräm in seinem Hymnen über den Glauben. Studia Anselmiana, 21. Rome, 1949. Bou Mansour, T. La pensée symbolique de Saint Ephrem le Syrien. BUSEK, 16. Kaslik, 1988. Bou Mansour, Tanios. La théologie de Jacques de Saroug. Tome I: Création, Anthropologie, Ecclésiologie et Sacraments. BUSEK, 36; Kaslik: l’Université Saint-Esprit, 1993. Brock, Sebastian, P. The Luminous Eye: The Spiritual World Vision of St. Ephrem. Rome: Centre for Indian and Interreligious Stud-

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ies, 1985. 2d ed., CSS, 124. Kalamazoo: Cistercian Publishers, 1992. Hidal, Sten. Interpretatio Syriaca. Coniectanea Biblica: Old Testament, Series 6. Lund: CWK Gleerup, 1974. Holy Transfiguration Monastery. “A Homily on the Giving of Praise for the Morning and Evening by Mar Jacob, Bishop of Serugh (†521).” The Way 7 (1998), 59–64. Jansma, Taeke. “L’Hexaméron de Jacques de Sarug.” OS 4 (1959), 3–42, 129–162, 253–284. Jansma, Taeke. “Une homélie anonyme sur la création du monde.” OS 5 (1960), 385–400. Kiraz, George Anton, ed. Jacob of Serugh and His Times: Studies in Sixth-Century Syriac Christianity. GECS, 8. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2010. Kollamparampil, Thomas. Salvation in Christ according to Jacob of Serugh: An Exegetico-theological Study on the Homilies of Jacob of Serugh (451–521 AD) on the Feasts of Our Lord. Early Syriac Christian Patristic Studies. Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 2001. Kronholm, Tryggve. Motifs from Genesis 1–11 in the Genuine Hymns of Ephrem the Syrian with particular reference to the influence of Jewish exegetical tradition. Coniectanea Biblica. Old Testament Series, 11. Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1978. Louth, Andrew, ed. Genesis 1–11. ACCS. Old Testament, 1. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001. “Millenarianism.” In F.L. Cross and E.A. Livingstone, eds. ODCC. Third Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997. Miller, Robert D., ed. Syriac and Antiochian Exegesis and Biblical Theology for the 3rd Millennium. GECS, 6. Piscataway: Gorgias Press, 2008. 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. Sony, Behnam M. Boulos. “La méthode exégétique de Jacques de Saroug.” PdO 9 (1979–1980), 67–103. ten Napel, Erik. “Some Remarks on the Hexaemeral Literature in Syriac.” In Hans J.W. Drijvers, Rene Lavenant, Collie Mo-

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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lenberg and Gerrart J. Reinink, eds. IV Symposium Syriacum: Literary Genres in Syriac Literature. OCA, 229. Rome: Pontificium Institutum Studiorum Orientalium, 1987. Pp. 57–69. Vööbus, Arthur. Handschriftliche Überlieferung der Mēmrē-Dichtung des Jaʿqōb von Serūg. 4 volumes in two parts. CSCO 344–345, 421– 422. Louvain: Peeters, 1973, 1980. Westermann, Claus. Genesis 1–11: A Commentary. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1984.

INDEX NAMES AND THEMES

references are to line numbers Abaddon 2809 Abraham 2863, 2902 Abram 2868 Adam 2805, 2902, 2933, 2934, 2944, 2948, 2953, 2957

David (king) 2972 dawn 2995, 2963 day 2585, 2591, 2593, 2595, 2615, 2675, 2697, 2797, 2818, 2876, 2884, 2943, 2964, 2965, 2972, 2982, 2993 first day 2793, 2800, 2820 second day 2812, 2819, 2822 third day 2835, 2839, 2843, 2844, 2851, 2853, 2855, 2857, 2858 fourth day 2861, 2871, 2875, 2877, 2879, 2881, 2883, 2885, 2889 fifth day 2905, 2907, 2912, 2919, 2920 sixth day 2643, 2773, 2926, 2927, 2929, 2931, 2939, 2941, 2943, 2949, 2953, 2957, 2959, 2961, 2967 seventh day 2569, 2600, 2601, 2618, 2639, 2645, 2652, 2655, 2656, 2745, 2774, 2782, 2912, 2984, 2985, 2988

beauty 2604, 2620, 2622, 2784, 2797, 2824, 2861, 2870

course 2564, 2570, 2581, 2583,2590, 2592, 2604, 2629, 2631, 2638, 2640, 2650, 2652, 2653, 2668, 2676, 2678, 2752, 2755, 2874, 2987 covenant 2894, 2901, 2904 creation 2563, 2634, 2641, 2643, 2699, 2702, 2841, 2880, 2922, 2940, 3014, 3020 Creator (bârôyâ) 2700, 2790, 2876, 2962, 2976, 2993 (bârôyûtâ) 2704 cycle 2571, 2583, 2597, 2763, 2778, 2967,

71

72

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY one day 2625, 2626 Sabbath day 2747, 2760, 2992 see also Sabbath, seventh day six days 2572, 2627, 2635, 2640, 2643, 2651, 2653, 2665, 2744, 2755, 2765, 2766, 2778, 2779, 2781, 2987, seven days 2566, 2571, 2573, 2583, 2585, 2590, 2594, 2659, 2777, 2980, 2985 three days 2853

Eden 2942 Elijah 2977 Ephrata 2904 Essence 2829 eternal 2660 Eve 2953, 2958, 2959 evening 2565, 2595, 2600, 2675, 2695, 2963, 2982, 2997 Exalted One 2575 Father 2616, 2775 firmament 2674, 2678, 2687, 2814, 2873, 2877, 2879, 3005, 3011 five 2891, 2893, 2894, 2897, 2898, 2900, 2901, 2904, 2961 four 2859, 2861, 2865, 2867, 2869, 2870, 2923, 2966

glory

2673, 2794, 2955, 2962, 2993, 3020 God 2625, 2627, 2637, 2641, 2655, 2657, 2729, 2790, 2894, 2901, 2903, 2907, 2932, 2937 Godhead 2933

house 2575, 2576, 2779, 2781, 2809, 2815, 2902, 2944, 2978, 2979, 3000 Isaiah

2703, 2729

Jebus 2868 Jew 2767, 2769, 2771 Leviathan 2916 Life-Giver 2952 light 2794, 2795, 2878, 2880, 2882, 2886, 2946, 2947, 2965, 2973, 2995, 3005 Lord 2563, 2564, 2569, 2577, 2601, 2602, 2605, 2623, 2626, 2639, 2717, 2719, 2737, 2751, 2757, 2761, 2768, 2771, 2801, 2804, 2805, 2821, 2846, 2971

Maker (‘ābôdâ) 2698 (‘ābôdûtâ) 2596, 2661, 2669, 2673, 2705, 2756, 2779, 2798, 2820, 2881, 2906, 2930 marvel 2701, 2703, 2712, 2729, 2731, 2844, 2859 Master 2713, 2732 Mighty One 2712, 2736, 2739, 2951, 2991 millennium 2629, 2630, 2631, 2633, 2644 month 2582, 2587, 2588, 2591, 2853 moon 2582, 2609, 2681, 2741, 2875, 2889, 3006 morning 2565, 2595, 2600, 2675, 2963, 2982, Moses 2601, 2618, 2619, 2758, 2759, 2803, 2902 Most High 2847

INDEX mystery

2566, 2760

Naaman 2974 night 2593, 2675, 2696, 2697, 2876, 2964, 2966, 3003 Nisan 2854, 2856 Noah 2975 Only-Begotten 2770, 2789 Orion 2691

Paradise 2805, 2941 path 2564, 2579, 2691, 2908, 2977 pillar 2573, 2576, 2978, 2980, 2981 power 2662, 2663, 2670, 2704, 2729, 2742, 2829, 2832, 2841, 3004 praise 2671, 2696, 2702, 2820, 2855, 2858, 2885, 2887, 2889, 2906, 2911, 2913, 2917, 2919, 2957, 2972, 2992, 2999, 3003, 3020 prophecy 2604, 2711 prophet 2603, 2712, 2713, 2801

rest 2567, 2570, 2572, 2580, 2607, 2624, 2630, 2633, 2646, 2660, 2668, 2751, 2757, 2774, 2778, 2781, 2782, 2988, 2991, 3004

Sabbath 2566, 2634, 2650, 2746, 2985, 2988, 2889 see also Sabbath day, seventh day (both under ‘day’) scribe 2621 Scripture 2771 Son 2773, 2903

73

sun 2609, 2681, 2741, 2875, 2877, 2883, 2889, 2946, 2973, 3006

temporal 2571, 2660 thousand 2625, 2626, 2628, 2659, 2763 three 2823, 2827, 2829, 2830, 2831, 2833, 2853 time 2584, 2598, 2599, 2642, 2649, 2962, 2994 tire 2605, 2606, 2617, 2623, 2761 tranquility 2567, 2580, 2646, 2747, 2750 Trinity 2828, 2837, 2840 two 2799, 2802, 2811, 2817, 2869 type 2567, 2934 veil 2603, 2620, 2622

water

2686, 2813, 2817, 2839, 2845, 2847, 2907, 2909, 2913, 3011 week 2582, 2591 wisdom 2575, 2662, 2664, 2671, 2979 wonder 2578, 2662, 2669, 2691, 2692, 2700, 2703, 2796, 2799, 2812, 2824, 2834, 2844, 2859, 2926, 2984 world 2568, 2573, 2577, 2579, 2581, 2590, 2594, 2596, 2608, 2628, 2629, 2631, 2636, 2637, 2640, 2642, 2644, 2645, 2649, 2658, 2663, 2666, 2674, 2712, 2742, 2743, 2749, 2752, 2753, 2754, 2757, 2763, 2777, 2795, 2837, 2879, 2884, 2924, 2938, 2940, 2946, 2952, 2972, 2978, 2979, 2981, 2990, 3012

74 year

THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION: THE SEVENTH DAY 2584, 2588, 2589, 2592, 2625, 2626, 2628, 2659, 2763

Zechariah 2969

BIBLICAL REFERENCES

References are to page number Genesis 1:3 1:5 1:9 1:10 1:14–15 1:16–18 1:26 1:28 1:31 2:1 2:1-3 2:2

2:4ff. 2:7 2:8 2:21–22 3:23–24 7:2–3 13:17 15:18–21

Exodus 15:3 32:15–20 34:1–4 34:33–35 Deuteronomy 10:17

36 36 42 42 46 46 3 52 12, 52, 58n71 54 2 2, 3, 5, 7, 8n20, 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, 32, 34 3 3 52n55 54 38 56n67 44 44n43 30n25 38 38 16n8 30n25

Joshua 18:28 Judges 19:10

1 Kings 18:43–44 2 Kings 5:14

1 Chronicles 11:4 Job

9:9 26:7

Psalms Ps 19:1 19:2–6 90:4 119:105 119:164 Proverbs 9:1

Isaiah 9:6 10:21

44n43 44n43 56n69 56n66 44n43 26n18 24n17, 42 24 24n16 7, 18 58 56n64 5, 14n4, 58n70 30n25 30n25

INDEX 11:11, Pesh 30:26 40:12 43:12

Micah 5:2

Zechariah 4:2 4:10

38 56n65 28n22 30n25 48n47 56n62 56n63

Matthew 18:12–13 38 26:1–27:54 54n56 27:51–53 54n58

Mark 14:43–15:32 54n56 Luke 22:54–23:38 23:39–43 23:43 23:45

54n56 54n59 38 54n57

John

75 1:14 1:18 3:16 3:18 5:17 18:1–19:30 19:34

Hebrews 4:1–11 2 Peter 3:8

1 John 4:9

Revelation 1:17 2–3 22:13

36n31 36n31 36n31 36n31 6, 18 54n56 54 12n2 7, 18 36n31 36n30 56n68 36n30