Chapter X.
Contrary to what might seem to some, the night is considered to come before the day. Why is one day called 'prior' rather than 'first'; and why does it end at the conclusion of morning?
36. And it was evening, and it was morning, one day (Gen. I, 5). Some ask why the Scripture mentions evening first and then morning, lest it appear to signify night before day. They do not notice at first that it mentioned day by saying: And God called the light day, and the darkness he called night; then that evening is the end of the day, and morning is the end of the night. Therefore, in order to give the prerogative and primacy of the birth of the day, it indicated the end of the day first, after the following night, and then it added the end of the night afterwards. However, the Scripture could not prefer the night of the day until the end, so that it enclosed the times of both day and night, claiming the name of day with primary authority. And we prove by frequent examples that it is the custom of Scripture to assign the name to the more important one. For indeed Jacob said, 'The days of my life, few and evil' (Gen. 47:9). And again, 'All the days of my life.' And David stated, 'The days of our years' (Ps. 89:10); he did not say 'and nights.' Wherefore we observe that those things which are now related in the form of history were at first established by the law of God for the future. The beginning of the day, therefore, is the word of God: let there be light, and there was light. The end of the day is evening. Now the following day succeeds from the end of the night. But the clear intention of God, because He first called the light day, and the darkness He called night.
37. He also very cleverly called one day not the first; for the following second, and third day, and thereafter the rest, he could have called the first: and this seemed to be an order, but he established a law, that only twenty-four hours of daylight and darkness should be defined by name for one day, so that if he were to say: 'The measure of twenty-four hours is the time of one day.' Just as the generation of men is computed, and the generation of women is also understood, because they are connected with the second and superior; so also the days are counted, and the nights are assessed as attached. Just as there is one circle, so there is one day. For many also call one week one day; because it returns to itself as if it were one day, and as if it were recurring seven times within itself. And this circle begins from itself and returns to itself. Therefore, at times, the Scriptures call it one age. For although it uses the term age in other places, it seems to signify more the diversities of public states or affairs rather than define any successions of ages: Because the day of the Lord is great and very glorious (Joel 2:11). And elsewhere, why are you seeking the day of the Lord? (Amos V, 16) And here there is darkness and not light. For it is clear that for those with a guilty conscience and unworthy, that day will be dark, in which innocence will shine, and the guilty mind will be tormented. Moreover, without the interruption of nights and the succession of darkness, Scripture teaches us that that perpetual day will be the future of eternal retribution. (Isaiah LX, 19).
However, beautifully, having both roles to be spoken of in one day, he concluded with the end of the morning, in order to teach that he began the day from light and ended in light. For it is not complete day time, unless night has been fulfilled. Therefore, let us always walk as if in the day, and let us cast off the works of darkness. For we know that night is given for the rest of the body, not for the pursuit of any task or work, which is passed in sleep and oblivion. Let there not be among us revelry, drunkenness, debauchery. Let us not say: Darkness and walls cover us, and who knows if the Most High will see? But let there be among us a love of light and a care for honesty, so that as if walking in daylight, we may desire our works to shine before God, to whom be honor, praise, glory, power, with our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit from eternity, and now and forever, and for all ages, Amen.
Book Two. Of the Work of the Second Day.