Certain attentive persons even before us have observed in the Scriptures that presbyters or elders are not so called because they have lived to a great age, but they are honored by this title for their maturity of thought and venerable dignity of life, especially when there is added to presbyter this phrase that follows: full of days.^[1] For if any presbyter or elder seemed so named because of his great age, who would have been even more fitting to designate by this name than Adam, or surely Methuselah or Noah, who clearly are declared to have lived far more years in this world than the rest? Yet, we see that indeed not one of these is called presbyter or elder by Scripture. But Abraham, who lived a much shorter life, is the first to be called presbyter or elder in holy Scriptures.^[2] Also it is said by the Lord to Moses, Choose presbyters for yourself from all the people, those whom you yourself know to be presbyters.^[3] But see, O hearer, whether anywhere in all Scripture you are able to find the title an elder, full of days attributed to any sinner.

But follow me, O hearer, through delicate threads of expression, and I shall disclose to you how for a second time he takes possession of this earth, very much of which is now said to Jesus to be left behind. Listen to what Paul says concerning this: For he must reign until he makes all his enemies his footstool.^[1] This, therefore, is the land, much of which is now said to be left behind, until all are placed entirely under his feet and until he takes possession of all persons for his inheritance. This, it says, is the land that was left behind: all the regions of the Philistines, and, indeed, very many other lands that follow. Much still remains, as far as this pertains to our times, which we see has not yet been placed beneath the feet of Jesus, who is certainly to possess all. . . .

From this it is evident that in the second coming Jesus will obtain this extensive land that still remains. But blessed are those who were taken over at his first coming; for those will be truly dear who receive the inheritance of the land of promise in spite of the resistance of many adversaries and the attacks of many enemies by war and by weapons.

After these things, when he had enumerated very many nations, of the Sidonites alone he said, And I shall exterminate all the Sidonites from the face of the sons of Israel. The Canaanites were also named, and those who were opposite Egypt were mentioned, and those who were from the region of Ekron and from the left portions of the river, and very many other nations; but concerning the Sidonites alone, the Lord says that he will destroy them. Just as we have said previously, however, the Sidonites are called hunters. Who, therefore, do we understand as those evil hunters that the Lord exterminates if not those opposing powers of whom the prophet says, They have prepared snares for my feet,^[1] [snares] by which they pursue and ensnare souls for sin? So then, the Lord exterminates them. For when such hunters as these have perished, when at last there will be no one who stretches out snares and nets in order to entrap souls in sin, then each person will rest under his own vine and under his own fig tree.^[2]

Neither Moses nor Jesus [Joshua], however, gave an inheritance to the Levites, because the Lord God himself is their inheritance.^[1] What else can we understand by this, except that in the church of the Lord there are certain persons who precede all the rest by the strength of their spirit and on account of their merits? The Lord himself is said to be their inheritance. And if it is proper to venture into such things and unveil a profound secret, let us see what the figure of priests or Levites secretly discloses, in case there is something. For among every people—I speak of those who are saved—the great majority are no doubt those who please the Lord through good works, honest ways and acceptable deeds because they simply believe in and fear God. But there are a few persons, exceedingly rare, who give attention to wisdom and to knowledge, keep their mind clean and pure, and cultivate noble virtues for their souls. Through the influence of teaching, they can then illuminate the way for the other more simple ones to walk to and arrive at salvation. These persons are probably designated here under the name of Levites and priests, whose heritage is said to be the Lord himself, who is wisdom, which they dearly loved above all other things.

Just as those who submit to the law, which is the shadow of that true law, diligently serve a shadow and copy of heavenly things,^[1] so those who divide the inheritance of the land in Judea imitate the copy and shadow of a heavenly division. Thus truth was in heaven, but a shadow and copy of truth was on earth. And as long as this shadow remained on earth, there was an earthly Jerusalem; there was a temple, an altar and a visible worship; there were priests and high priests; and there existed regions and towns of Judea and all these things that are described in this book and are now recited.

The whole account of the land of Judah and of the tribes is typical of the church in heaven. Let us read Joshua, the son of Nun, or the concluding portions of Ezekiel, and we shall see that the historical division of the land as related by the one finds a counterpart in the spiritual and heavenly promises of the other. What is the meaning of the seven and eight steps in the description of the temple?^[1] Or again, what significance attaches to the fact that in the Psalter, after being taught the mystic alphabet by the one hundred and eighteenth psalm^[2] we arrive by fifteen steps at the point where we can sing: Behold, now bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord: you who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.^[3] Why did two tribes and a half dwell on the other side of Jordan, a district abounding in cattle, while the remaining nine tribes and a half either drove out the old inhabitants from their possessions or dwelled with them? Why did the tribe of Levi receive no portion in the land but have the Lord for its portion?^[4] And how is it that of the priests and Levites, themselves, the high priest alone entered the Holy of Holies where were the cherubim and the mercy seat?^[5] Why did the other priests wear linen raiment only,^[6] and not have their clothing of wrought gold, blue, scarlet, purple and fine cloth? The priests and Levites of the lower order took care of the oxen and carts; those of the higher order carried the ark of the Lord on their shoulders. If you do away with the gradations of the tabernacle, the temple, the church, if, to use a common military phrase, all upon the right hand are to be up to the same standard, bishops are to no purpose, priests in vain, deacons useless. Why do virgins persevere? Widows toil? Why do married women practice continence? Let us all sin, and when once we have repented, we shall be on the same footing as the apostles.