Chapter LXXIX.—He proves against Trypho that the wicked angels have revolted
from God.
On this, Trypho, who was somewhat angry, but respected the Scriptures, as was manifest
from his countenance, said to me, “The utterances of God are holy, but your expositions
are mere contrivances, as is plain from what has been explained by you; nay, even blas-
phemies, for you assert that angels sinned and revolted from God.”
And I, wishing to get him to listen to me, answered in milder tones, thus: “I admire, sir,
this piety of yours; and I pray that you may entertain the same disposition towards Him to
whom angels are recorded to minister, as Daniel says; for [one] like the Son of man is led
to the Ancient of days, and every kingdom is given to Him for ever and ever. But that you
may know, sir,” continued I, “that it is not our audacity which has induced us to adopt this
exposition, which you reprehend, I shall give you evidence from Isaiah himself; for he affirms
that evil angels have dwelt and do dwell in Tanis, in Egypt. These are [his] words: ‘Woe to
the rebellious children! Thus saith the Lord, You have taken counsel, but not through Me;
and [made] agreements, but not through My Spirit, to add sins to sins; who have sinned486
in going down to Egypt (but they have not inquired at Me), that they may be assisted by
Pharaoh, and be covered with the shadow of the Egyptians. For the shadow of Pharaoh shall
be a disgrace to you, and a reproach to those who trust in the Egyptians; for the princes in
Tanis487 are evil angels. In vain will they labour for a people which will not profit them by
assistance, but [will be] for a disgrace and a reproach [to them].’488 And, further, Zechariah
tells, as you yourself have related, that the devil stood on the right hand of Joshua the priest,
to resist him; and [the Lord] said, ‘The Lord, who has taken489 Jerusalem, rebuke thee.’490
And again, it is written in Job,491 as you said yourself, how that the angels came to stand
before the Lord, and the devil came with them. And we have it recorded by Moses in the
beginning of Genesis, that the serpent beguiled Eve, and was cursed. And we know that in
Egypt there were magicians who emulated492 the mighty power displayed by God through
the faithful servant Moses. And you are aware that David said, ‘The gods of the nations are
demons.’ ”493
486 LXX. “who walk,” πορευόμενοι for πονηρευόμενοι.
487 In E. V. “Zoan.”
488 Isa. xxx. 1–5.
489 ἐκδεξάμενος; in chap. cxv. inf. it is ἐκλεξάμενος.
490 Zech. iii. 1.
491 Job i. 6.
492 Maranus suggests the insertion of ἐποίησαν or ἐπείρασαν before ἐξισοῦσθαι.
493 Ps. xcvi. 5.
Chapter LXXIX.—He proves against Trypho that the wicked angels have revolted from God.
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Chapter LXXIX.—He proves against Trypho that the wicked angels have revolted…