Works › Commentary on the Apocalypse of Blessed John
Volume 38 · pp. 591–593
Chapter VII: interpretations of the sealed tribes
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« Ex tribu Juda duodecim millia signati, »
Id est, omnes electi qui per quatuor mundi partes tenent fidem Trinitatis cum perfectione operis.
Sed tunc quaeritur, Quare non dixit in generali de omni tribu filiorum Israel duodecim millia signati, ut non exprimeret tribus et nomina filiorum Israel? Responsio. Propter duo factum est. Primo, ut ostenderetur quod electi illas virtutes debent habere quae per nomina filiorum designantur. Secundo, ut aliquos filios computando, et non omnes, alios a numero ostenderet excludendos. Nam tribus Dan et Ephraim non ponuntur hic. Nam ex tribu Dan nasciturus est Antichristus, de Ephraim natus est Jeroboam qui filios Israel primus traxit ad idololatriam 1. Ad signandum ergo quod schisma maxime detestandum est, non ponuntur tribus illorum a quibus descenderunt illi qui schisma fecerunt, sicut Jeroboam in veteri lege, et Antichristus in nova. Tamen quidam dicunt de Ephraim, quod intelligatur hic per tribum Joseph.
Nota, quod dicit: « Signati. » Hic ponitur genus pro genere, id est, masculinum pro neutro: vel est genitivus singularis, et ponitur pro plurali: vel subintelligitur substantivum, scilicet, homines, sic: « Ex tribu Juda, » supple, sunt homines signati duodecim millia.
Item, nota, quod dicit: « Duodecim millia, » non vult, quod tot praecise de qualibet tribu salvandi sint, vel quod tam parvus numerus salvandorum sit in qualibet tribu: sed propter duodecim Apostolos quorum praedicatione et doctrina ad salutem sunt vocati. Vel, sic dictum est propter fidem Trinitatis et perfectionem operum in quatuor mundi partibus habitam a salvandis.
Nota etiam, quod est triplex confessio peccati. Prima, de qua Psalmista, Psal. XXXI, 5: Dixi (in quo denotatur deliberatio): Confitebor adversum, etc., in quo notatur bona intentio. Secunda est fidei. Ad Roman. X, 10: Corde creditur ad justitiam, etc. Tertia est laudis. Eccli. LI, 1: Confitebor tibi, Domine rex, etc.
Nota: Secundum Bedam, Judas interpretatur confessio: qui ideo primus ponitur, quia nisi per confessionem renuntiemus malis actibus, rectis non informamur.
« Ex tribu Ruben duodecim millia signati. »
Ruben interpretatur Judaeus in medio. Sic autem est quod in actu peccati sunt tria: sensualitas, inferior pars rationis, et superior. Sensualitas offert delectabile inferiori parti rationis. Inferior pars superiorem ad consensum trahit. In hoc ergo medio debet poenitens inspicere post confessionem, ne pars inferior aliquid offerat superiori quod ipsam trahat ad peccati consensum. In hoc medio respiciendum est per contritionem, ut primo sit Judas per confessionem, postea Ruben per contritionem.
“From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand sealed,”
That is, all the elect who through the four parts of the world hold the faith of the Trinity with perfection of work.
But then it is asked: Why did he not say generally, from every tribe of the children of Israel, twelve thousand sealed, so that he would not express the tribes and the names of the children of Israel? Response. This was done for two reasons. First, so that it might be shown that the elect ought to have those virtues which are designated by the names of the sons. Second, so that by counting some sons and not all, he might show that others are to be excluded from the number. For the tribes of Dan and Ephraim are not placed here. For from the tribe of Dan Antichrist is to be born; from Ephraim was born Jeroboam, who first drew the children of Israel to idolatry 1. Therefore to signify that schism is especially to be detested, the tribes of those from whom descended those who made schism are not placed here, as Jeroboam did in the old law, and Antichrist in the new. Yet some say concerning Ephraim that he is understood here through the tribe of Joseph.
Note that he says, “sealed.” Here gender is placed for gender, that is, the masculine for the neuter; or it is the genitive singular and is placed for the plural; or a substantive is understood, namely, men, thus: “From the tribe of Judah,” supply, there are twelve thousand sealed men.
Likewise, note that he says, “twelve thousand.” He does not mean that precisely so many from each tribe are to be saved, or that there is so small a number of those to be saved in each tribe, but it is because of the twelve Apostles, by whose preaching and teaching they were called to salvation. Or, it was said thus because of the faith of the Trinity and the perfection of works had by those to be saved in the four parts of the world.
Note also that there is a threefold confession of sin. The first is that of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm XXXI, 5: I said (in which deliberation is denoted): I will confess against, etc.; in this good intention is marked. The second is of faith. Romans X, 10: With the heart one believes unto justice, etc. The third is of praise. Ecclesiasticus LI, 1: I will confess to you, O Lord king, etc.
Note: According to Bede, Judah is interpreted confession; and he is therefore placed first because unless through confession we renounce evil acts, we are not formed in right acts.
“From the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand sealed.”
Reuben is interpreted a Jew in the middle. Now in the act of sin there are three things: sensuality, the lower part of reason, and the higher part. Sensuality offers the pleasurable thing to the lower part of reason. The lower part draws the higher to consent. Therefore in this middle the penitent ought to look after confession, lest the lower part offer something to the higher which draws it to consent to sin. In this middle one must look back through contrition, so that first he may be Judah through confession, afterward Reuben through contrition.
« Ex tribu Gad duodecim millia signati. »
Gad interpretatur accinctus: in quo notatur, quod postquam confessus est homo et contritus, debet accingi ad bene operandum, ut satisfaciat, et contra tentationes ne cadat. Genes. XLIX, 19: Gad accinctus praeliabitur ante eum. Et, Luc. XII, 35: Sint lumbi vestri praecincti, contra luxuriam: et lucernae ardentes in manibus vestris, ut satisfaciatis per bonam operationem.
Sic ergo in istis tribus describitur status incipientium, qui consistit in confessione, contritione, et satisfactione.
Deinde procedit ad describendum statum proficientium, ad quem requiruntur exercitium virtutum, dilatatio charitatis, contemptus terrenorum.
Unde dicit:
« Ex tribu Aser duodecim millia signati. »
Aser interpretatur beatus. Hoc bene convenit proficienti, qui custodit mandata, et intendit operibus bonis. Psal. CV, 3: Qui custodiunt judicium, et faciunt justitiam in omni tempore. Et, Luc. XI, 28: Beati qui audiunt verbum Dei.
« Ex tribu Nephthali duodecim millia signati. »
Nephthali interpretatur latitudo, per quod signatur latitudo charitatis quam habent proficientes in operibus justitiae et custodia mandatorum. Psal. CXVIII, 96: Latum mandatum tuum nimis. Quia extenditur usque ad inimicos. Psal. CXVIII, 32: Viam mandatorum tuorum cucurri, cum dilatasti cor meum.
« Ex tribu Manasse duodecim millia signati. »
Manasse interpretatur oblitus, vel necessitas, quod bene convenit proficienti: cum enim mandata servando in charitate dilatatus fuerit, quae retro sunt obliviscitur, et in anteriora se extendit 2. Et quia adhuc ad quod extenditur nondum pervenit, ideo dicitur necessitas, et etiam quia curam carnis non facit in desideriis, sed sola necessitate humanae conditionis. Psal. CVI, 6: Et clamaverunt ad Dominum cum tribularentur, et de necessitatibus eorum eripuit eos.
In his ergo tribus signatur status proficientium: ut qui proficit sit Aser per custodiam mandatorum, Nephthali per latitudinem charitatis, Manasse per contemptum mundi.
“From the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand sealed.”
Gad is interpreted girded; in this it is marked that after a human being has confessed and been contrite, he ought to be girded to work well, so that he may make satisfaction and stand against temptations lest he fall. Genesis XLIX, 19: Gad, girded, will fight before him. And Luke XII, 35: Let your loins be girded, against lust; and lamps burning in your hands, so that you may make satisfaction through good operation.
Thus, therefore, in these three the state of beginners is described, which consists in confession, contrition, and satisfaction.
Then he proceeds to describe the state of the advancing, for which are required the exercise of virtues, the expansion of charity, and contempt of earthly things.
Hence he says:
“From the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand sealed.”
Asher is interpreted blessed. This fits well with one advancing, who keeps the commandments and applies himself to good works. Psalm CV, 3: Those who keep judgment and do justice at every time. And Luke XI, 28: Blessed are those who hear the word of God.
“From the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand sealed.”
Naphtali is interpreted breadth, by which is signified the breadth of charity which those advancing have in works of justice and keeping of the commandments. Psalm CXVIII, 96: Your commandment is exceedingly broad, because it extends even to enemies. Psalm CXVIII, 32: I ran the way of your commandments when you enlarged my heart.
“From the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand sealed.”
Manasseh is interpreted forgetful, or necessity, which fits well with one advancing; for when, by keeping the commandments, he has been enlarged in charity, he forgets the things that are behind and stretches forth to the things that are before 2. And because he has not yet reached that toward which he stretches, he is therefore called necessity, and also because he does not make care of the flesh in desires, but only in the necessity of the human condition. Psalm CVI, 6: And they cried to the Lord when they were troubled, and he rescued them from their necessities.
In these three, therefore, the state of those advancing is signified, so that one who advances is Asher through keeping of the commandments, Naphtali through breadth of charity, and Manasseh through contempt of the world.
Deinde procedit ad ostendendum statum perfectorum, ad quem concurrunt tria: compassio, operum supererogatio, divinae bonitatis praegustatio. Unde dicit:
« Ex tribu Simeon duodecim millia signati. »
Simeon interpretatur odiens maerorem, vel audivit tristitiam, quod convenit perfectis quibus inest duplex tristitia, et duplex maeror: unus pro incolatu praesentis miseriae, alius pro dilatione patriae.
« Ex tribu Levi duodecim millia signati. »
Levi interpretatur additus. Perfecti autem implent consilia quae sunt addita supra praecepta: et ideo bene per Levi signantur.
« Ex tribu Issachar duodecim millia signati. »
Issachar interpretatur merces, quae facit perfectos praegustare dulcedinem divinae bonitatis. Unde, Jerem. XXXI, 16: Quiescat vox tua a ploratu, et oculi tui a lacrymis: quia est merces operi tuo.
Ex his ergo tribus exprimitur status perfectorum, qui debent merere, vel plorare, consilia adimplere, et ad mercedem tendere.
« Ex tribu Zabulon duodecim millia signati. »
Hic describitur status perseverantium, ad quem concurrunt tria: victoria vitiorum, abundantia meritorum, adeptio praemiorum.
Dicit ergo: « Ex tribu Zabulon duodecim millia signati. » Zabulon interpretatur habitaculum fortitudinis, quod fit per victoriam vitiorum, quam sola obtinet perseverantia: et ideo perseverantibus convenit quod dicitur habitaculum fortitudinis, quia tales non succumbunt tentationi, sed magis roborantur. Ad Hebr. XI, 34: Convaluerunt de infirmitate, etc.
« Ex tribu Joseph duodecim millia signati. »
Joseph interpretatur augmentum, per quod etiam perseverantes intelliguntur, qui pecuniam acceptam cum augmento referunt. Matth. XXV, 22: Ecce alia duo lucratus sum. Hoc convenit solis perseverantibus.
« Ex tribu Benjamin duodecim millia signati. »
Benjamin interpretatur filius dexterae, quod solis perseverantibus convenit, qui in dextera Dei, id est, in beatitudine collocabuntur.
In his ergo tribus signatur status perseverantium. Sunt enim tales, Zabulon per victoriam vitiorum, Joseph per augmentum meritorum, Benjamin per adeptionem praemiorum.
Then he proceeds to show the state of the perfect, for which three things concur: compassion, supererogation of works, and foretaste of divine goodness. Hence he says:
“From the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand sealed.”
Simeon is interpreted hating grief, or he heard sadness, which fits the perfect, in whom there is a twofold sadness and a twofold grief: one for the sojourning of present misery, the other for the delay of the homeland.
“From the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand sealed.”
Levi is interpreted added. But the perfect fulfill the counsels that are added above the precepts; and therefore they are well signified by Levi.
“From the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand sealed.”
Issachar is interpreted reward, which makes the perfect foretaste the sweetness of divine goodness. Hence Jeremiah XXXI, 16: Let your voice rest from weeping, and your eyes from tears, because there is a reward for your work.
From these three, therefore, the state of the perfect is expressed, who ought to merit, or to weep, to fulfill the counsels, and to tend toward the reward.
“From the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand sealed.”
Here the state of the persevering is described, for which three things concur: victory over vices, abundance of merits, and attainment of rewards.
Therefore he says: “From the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand sealed.” Zebulun is interpreted dwelling of fortitude, which is made through victory over vices, which perseverance alone obtains; and therefore what is called the dwelling of fortitude fits the persevering, because such people do not succumb to temptation, but are rather strengthened. Hebrews XI, 34: They grew strong from weakness, etc.
“From the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand sealed.”
Joseph is interpreted increase, by which the persevering also are understood, who return the money received with increase. Matthew XXV, 22: Behold, I have gained two others. This fits the persevering alone.
“From the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand sealed.”
Benjamin is interpreted son of the right hand, which fits only the persevering, who will be placed at the right hand of God, that is, in blessedness.
In these three, therefore, the state of the persevering is signified. For such people are Zebulun through victory over vices, Joseph through increase of merits, and Benjamin through attainment of rewards.
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