Chapter 19
19:1 But the wrath of the ungodly pursued them unmercifully to the end; for he knew beforehand even their future acts, 19:2 that they themselves, having permitted them to depart and having sent them on their way eagerly, would pursue them in repentance. 19:3 For while still holding in their hands the griefs and mourning over the graves of the dead, they drew upon themselves another reasoning of folly, and those whom they had begged and driven out, these they pursued as fugitives. 19:4 For necessity, worthy of this end, drew them on, and oblivion of the events that had happened brought in, so that they might fill up beforehand with punishments what was lacking in their torments, 19:5 and that your people might make a strange journey, while those others might find a death foreign to them.
RABANUS. For this reason, vengeance came upon the enemies of the people of God until the end, because in their morals and life there was no worthy amendment. Therefore, with pretended arguments they pretend repentance, and for this reason, from the inspector of hearts, they did not receive perfect forgiveness. Therefore it is read in Exodus that Pharaoh, when any plague was divinely inflicted upon him and his people, immediately promised to let the people of God go if he escaped the present danger, but after a short interval, he returned again to his former cruelty, until at last, when he was pursuing the departing people, he was drowned and perished in the waves of the Red Sea (Ex. 14). Such is indeed the stubbornness of the unbelieving and proud enemies of the name of Christ, that when they persist hopelessly in wickedness, they finally feel by experience how great is the justice of the omnipotent God in judging. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
19:6 For the whole creation was again fashioned anew in its own kind, serving your commands. So that your children might be kept unharmed. 19:7 The cloud overshadowing the camp, and from that which had stood before the water, the emergence of dry land was seen; from the Red Sea, an unrestricted way and a grassy plain from a violent surge. 19:8 Through which your people passed in whole nation, covered by your hand, having seen wondrous marvels.
RABANUS. Every creature from the beginning is restored to its own kind when it obeys the commands of its Creator and serves His will in all things. For this is the purpose of creation: that it might become subject and obedient to its Creator. How the cloud covered the camp of the Israelites, shining for them at night and shading them against the heat of the sun by day, and how the Red Sea, divided, prepared a way for the people of God and, when it returned upon itself, drowned their enemies, is clearly explained in the history of Exodus. Nor is it any less clear that the cloud which led the people of God signifies the incarnation of Christ, who enlightens believers in this world with the light of the Gospel and protects and guards them by His grace from their persecutors. The Red Sea, moreover, bears the ritual of baptism, where the faithful are saved and the opposing powers are drowned; just as then the children of Israel, having been delivered, sang praises to the Lord, rejoicing with great exultation. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
19:9 For they were fed like horses and leaped about like lambs, praising you, O Lord, who delivered them. 19:10 For they still remembered the things in their sojourning, how instead of the generation of animals the earth brought forth gnats, and instead of aquatic creatures the river spewed forth a multitude of frogs.
RABANUS. Therefore, we also ought at all times to give thanks to our Creator for our deliverance, exulting and saying with the Prophet: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits (Ps. 103:2). The Apostle also seems to teach us this, saying: Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all things, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for all of you (1 Thess. 5:16-18). [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
He praises God for having exalted His people, whom He led out of the land of Egypt, and for having honored them.
19:11 And later they saw also a new generation of birds, because, led on by desire, they asked for food of luxury; 19:12 for a comfort came up to them from the sea in the form of quails.
RABANUS. Note, wise reader, that for the adversaries of God the earth produced flies, and the river brought forth frogs; but for the worshippers of God the earth gave fruit and the sea provided meat as food, because it is fitting that through His works divine providence should acquire nourishment for His faithful. For His enemies, however, it is fitting that through the creatures subject to Him, the justice of the Almighty should prepare appropriate torment. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
19:13 And the punishments came upon the sinners not without the prior evidences, in the violence of the thunderbolts; for they suffered justly for their own wickednesses, since indeed they had practiced a harsher hatred of strangers. 19:14 For while the former did not welcome those who were unknown and present, these enslaved strangers who had done them good. 19:15 And not only so, but there shall be some visitation upon them, since they received outsiders with hostility; 19:16 whereas those who with feasts welcomed in those who already shared in the same rights, they afflicted with grievous labors.
RABANUS. For if those who harshly and mercilessly treated the ancient servants of God, who came to them out of profane necessity, received fitting punishments, so that, darkened in mind and hardened in feeling, they endured the obscurity of darkness and various idols in bodily sense, how much more will those who dishonorably reject and despise the servants of Christ and preachers of the Gospel be eternally tormented with immeasurable and unspeakable punishments. Therefore, Truth itself says to the disciples: Whoever does not receive you or listen to your words, as you go out from that house or city, shake the dust from your feet. Truly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city (Matt. 10:14-15). And it is rightly said that they were struck with blindness, just as those were blinded by darkness who wandered at the doors of the righteous man, that is, Lot, seeking the entrance to his door and not finding it; for whoever suffers the darkness of error within is hemmed in on all sides by the gravest losses, since he has not known the way of life. And that door of which the Gospel says, I am the door; if anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture, the one who wanders will not be able to find it (Jn. 10:9). [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
19:17 And they were struck also with blindness, as those were at the doors of the righteous man, when, surrounded by thick darkness, each sought the way through his own doors.
RABANUS. Just as in the instrument of the organ, different sounds differ from each other, but musicians agree to temper them for the harmony of the melody, so also, although the various elements differ from each other in quality, they are nevertheless bent to the will of their Creator, preserving the law of their nature; for our Maker did not create His creation contrary to Himself, but made it in all things conformable to His will. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
19:18 For the elements, changing among themselves, as in a psaltery the notes of the rhythm alter the name, always remaining in sound, which one may accurately infer from the sight of what has happened. 19:19 For earthly things were changed into watery, and those that swim passed over onto land; 19:20 fire maintained its strength in water beyond its own power, and water forgot its power to quench; 19:21 flames, on the other hand, did not consume the flesh of perishable living creatures walking among them, nor did the melting, crystal-like, easily melted race of ambrosial food.
RABANUS. For men and beasts crossed the depths of the Red Sea on dry ground, and frogs coming out of the rivers filled the houses of the Egyptians. Fire mixed with hail rained down from heaven, and neither did fire shun water, nor water shun fire, but falling together, they struck the land of the Egyptians. But where the children of Israel were, they harmed no one, so as to show that all the elements of the world not only strive for their own nature, but are subject and serve the will of their Creator. [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD
19:22 For in all things, O Lord, you magnified your people and glorified them, and you did not overlook them, standing by at every time and place.
RABANUS. This closing passage of the book makes mention not only of the faithful of former Fathers, but also of those present and future at the same time, because our virtuous and merciful Creator, almighty God, never abandons nor will abandon those who hope in Him; rather, He cherishes, protects, and governs them with caring help. Nor should anyone object to us that the bodies of the holy martyrs are handed over into the hands of their persecutors, because this is permitted not for their condemnation, but for their testing, so that just as gold in the furnace of fire is not destroyed but tested, so too the souls of the elect, examined by the fire of tribulation, may be rendered more precious in the sight of their Creator. For it is written: The furnace tests the potter’s vessels, and the trial of tribulation tests just men (Sirach 27:5). For many are the tribulations of the righteous, and from all these the Lord will deliver them. The Lord guards all their bones; not one of them shall be broken. He will redeem the souls of His servants, and none of those who hope in Him will be forsaken (Ps. 34:22). [Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Wisdom, PL 109] 780-856AD