Chapter XIV.—The Lord hath given us the testament which Moses received and
broke.
Yes [it is even so]; but let us inquire if the Lord has really given that testament which
He swore to the fathers that He would give204 to the people. He did give it; but they were
not worthy to receive it, on account of their sins. For the prophet declares, “And Moses was
fasting forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai, that he might receive the testament of
the Lord for the people.”205 And he received from the Lord206 two tables, written in the
spirit by the finger of the hand of the Lord. And Moses having received them, carried them
down to give to the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Moses, Moses, go down quickly;
for thy people hath sinned, whom thou didst bring out of the land of Egypt.”207 And Moses
understood that they had again208 made molten images; and he threw the tables out of his
hands, and the tables of the testament of the Lord were broken. Moses then received it, but
they proved themselves unworthy. Learn now how we have received it. Moses, as a servant,209
received it; but the Lord himself, having suffered in our behalf, hath given it to us, that we
should be the people of inheritance. But He was manifested, in order that they might be
perfected in their iniquities, and that we, being constituted heirs through Him,210 might
receive the testament of the Lord Jesus, who was prepared for this end, that by His personal
manifestation, redeeming our hearts (which were already wasted by death, and given over
to the iniquity of error) from darkness, He might by His word enter into a covenant with
us. For it is written how the Father, about to redeem211 us from darkness, commanded Him
to prepare212 a holy people for Himself. The prophet therefore declares, “I, the Lord Thy
God, have called Thee in righteousness, and will hold Thy hand, and will strengthen Thee;
and I have given Thee for a covenant to the people, for a light to the nations, to open the
eyes of the blind, and to bring forth from fetters them that are bound, and those that sit in
darkness out of the prison-house.”213 Ye perceive,214 then, whence we have been redeemed.
204 Cod. Sin. absurdly repeats “to give.”
205 Ex. xxiv. 18.
206 Ex. xxxi. 18.
207 Ex. xxxii. 7; Deut. ix. 12.
208 Cod. Sin. reads, “for themselves.”
209 Comp. Heb. iii. 5.
210 Cod. Sin. and other mss. read, “through Him who inherited.”
211 Cod. Sin. refers this to Christ.
212 Cod. Sin. reads, “be prepared.” Hilgenfeld follows Cod. Sin. so far, and reads, “For it is written how the
Father commanded Him who was to redeem us from darkness (αὐτῷ—λυτρωσάμενος) to prepare a holy people
for Himself.”
213 Isa. xlii. 6, 7.
214 Cod. Sin. has, “we know.”
Chapter XIV.—The Lord hath given us the testament which Moses received and broke.
392
Chapter XIV.—The Lord hath given us the testament which Moses received and…