Question V. (marg.) How long did Joshua keep this manner of life and constancy in that tabernacle?

For my part, I think he kept this manner of life so long as this tabernacle stood. For to it, as I said, he was given by Moses as, so to speak, its keeper [aedituus], and set over it almost like a high-priest [Antistes]. And it stood until that other [tabernacle] was, by the Lord’s prescript, erected — that is, until the beginning of the second year from the Egyptian exodus (Exod. 40). For there, then, the worship of God, the oracles, and all the ceremonies began to flourish; and thus all use of this [former one] vanished away. Besides — what cause and matter would draw him from this tabernacle before that time of the second year? Certainly, before Moses ascended Mount Sinai again to obtain the second tables from God, that [Joshua] always remained at this his station, the text signifies, while at the same [book, ch. 33], v. 7 and following it shows that, at the time when Moses was wont to go out to that tabernacle, Joshua always persisted in it. For what else do these words indicate (v. 11): “And when Moses returned into the camp, his minister Joshua, the son of Nun, a boy, departed not from the tabernacle”? But when Moses ascended the mountain again, that Joshua was his companion — even if he were not expressly named — we should reckon (as at ch. [4] q. 4 and 15 above), unless Moses were seen purposely to wish to snatch this opinion from [his] readers, since he wrote that [Joshua] was already separated from him [Moses] and set over the office which needed his service in religion, prudence, and diligence — and this without doubt most of all when, for the tables’ sake, [Moses] withdrew again onto the mountain. For to station Aaron there, sullied by the fresh memory of his crime, seemed little seemly. And this reasoning would also hold good, if we thought with the Jews [that], before Moses entered on his ascent for the tables’ sake, he had gone up once before a second time, and there, to appease the Lord with prayers and tears, had stayed 40 days. But [it is] much truer [that] Moses ascended only twice for that whole long stay of so many days — namely, when he received the first, and when [he received] the second tables. For since it is agreed that from the mountain, after the last ascent, he descended on the 7th day of the 10th month, bringing the second tables, we cannot find between the first descent and this last [descent] twice 40 days. For he descended with the former tables on the 24th day of the 4th month, as shown above. Therefore, from that [point] — since, by the Hebrews’ calculation, the month was “hollow” [29 days] — there remained days:

—and this would be the day the prayers ended. But let us grant that on the same day he both descended a second time and ascended on the third day following — that is, on the 60th day; there will be reckoned from that “hollow” month, 27 days [remaining]; therefore from the 7th month one must take out the rest, namely:

And therefore he would not have descended before the 13th day of September — that is, on the 30th day after the feast of Expiation or Propitiation — which the Jews will not [have]. But they say [that] Moses ascended a second time on the 18th day of the 4th month; and so there remained in that month 12 days, so that he descended a second time on the 28th day of the fifth month:

And he ascended a third time on the 30th day of the same month. And therefore—

(col. 137)

But [the Jews] are refuted: first, because it was demonstrated above (q. 14) that he descended the first time on the 17th day of the 4th month; second, because even if he had ascended on that day, he still could not have ascended again straightway on the 18th or 19th. For there is described, after that descent, the slaughter of the impious made (ch. 32), the moving of this tabernacle, [and] Moses’s frequent going and returning to it (ch. 33). Were all these things done in one or two days? It is truer that Moses stayed in the camp, from the first descent up to the second and last, a full 34 days — that is, from the 24th day of the 4th month up to the 29th of the 5th month, taking both termini inclusively. And in that time the same Moses frequently came to that tabernacle; thence he would return to his own camp-tabernacle. But Joshua never [moved] from his post—

(col. 138)

—was moved. But on the 30th day of the fifth month Moses ascended a second time, and 40 days are consumed, as I said, during which Joshua remained and kept watch most of all in that his tabernacle. Thence, to the year’s end, there remain:

And therefore, summarily, Joshua was in this tabernacle of the Lord — in prayers and fastings, in the office and care of a keeper [aeditimus] — a little more than seven months. For it seems that after the slaughter of the impious, on the following day — that is, on the 25th day of the fourth month — this tabernacle was carried out of the camp and set up outside, and that thence, in it, Joshua discharged the duties I have said for 241 days [sic — evidently a misprint; the sum should be the roughly seven months just tabulated]. But I take the months here according to the Jews’ customary opinion, and unequal, being by turns hollow and full.