Ibid. R.V. Let us destroy the tree with the fruit
thereof. The word rendered fruit is literally
bread. The phrase is evidently proverbial. The
Hebrew word which means “destroy” is misinterpreted
by ἐμβάλωμεν in
the Greek. Hence arose the fanciful application of the passage to
the cross laid on the body of Christ to be borne by Him. Justin
M. (Tryph. lxxii.) charges the Jews with having recently cut out
the passage because of the supposed reference to Christ.
Tertullian (adv. Judæos, c. 10) writes: “Of
course on His body that ‘wood’ was put; for so Christ has
revealed, calling His body ‘bread.’” He gives
the same interpretation elsewhere (adv. Marcion. III. 19; IV.
40). Cf. Cyprian (Testimonia ad Quirinum, Lib. II. 15);
Athanas. (de Incarn. § 33).