TEXT AND TRANSLATION

27
 28 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

MEMRA 5
ON AARON THE PRIEST

[Death and the Priesthood]

1 In the beginning, 1 when the Lord created Adam,
He made him a priest so that he might stand in His service. 2
Indeed, 3 the Lord set a boundary 4 for Adam:

1 ܳ
“In the beginning” (‫ ]) ܶܡܢ ܽܫܘܪ ܳ�ܐ‬Lit. “From the beginning.” A phrase
used frequently in early sources to indicate the status of things at or
after creation. Also appears in opening line of Jacob of Sarug, The Crea-
tion of Adam. Mathews renders the phrase, “At the beginning”
(Mathews, Creation of Adam, 14).
2
Adam as “Priest” (‫ܗܢܐ‬ ܳ ‫ ]) ܳܟ‬In Ephrem Hymns on Paradise 3:16 Adam is
‫“ ܐܝܟ ܟܗܢܐ‬like a priest.” In Cave of Treasures 2.18, 23 et passim, Adam is
‫“ ܟܗܢܐ ܡܠܟܐ ܘܢܒܝܐ‬priest, king, and prophet.” On Adam as Priest in the
Cave of Treasures see Ri, Commentaire de la Caverne des Trésors, 149–53;
and Toepel, Die Adam- und Seth-Legenden, 123ff. Note that in Cave of
Treasures 50.14 Aaron is the quintessential representative of priesthood,
just as Moses represents prophecy and David kingship. These three ti-
tles pass on to Christ typologically as the munus triplex christi. See Mi-
nov, Memory and Identity, 89–95. On the priesthood of Christ, see Mur-
ray, Symbols, 178–82. For Adam as a priest in Syriac liturgical theology,
see Varghese, West Syrian Liturgical Theology, 8–9. In the Syriac Life of
Abel §2, Cain and Abel are the first priests. Brock connects this to the
opening lines of Jacob’s mimro on Cain and Abel (HS V.3ff), where
“Adam tells his sons to sacrifice since he feels unable to act as a priest
himself, owing to his disobedience” (Brock, “Syriac Life of Abel,” 486).
As Bou Mansour notes (Le ministère sacerdotal, 13), in Jacob of Sarug’s
writings, Adamܺ is both ‫( ܟܗܢܐ‬kohno) and ‫( ܟܘܡܪܐ‬kumro).
3 ܳ ܺ ܰ )] Echoing Gen 3:1. This and other terms show that
“Indeed” (‫ܫܪܝܪܐܝܬ‬
the author is alluding to Gen 3:1–3 rather than Gen 2:16–17.
4
“Boundary” (‫ܘܡܐ‬ ܳ ‫ܬܚ‬ܽ )] In Ephrem, Hymns on Paradise 4.1, where, after
the Fall, the “Just One” replaces “that gentle and pleasant boundary”
with “a boundary guarded by force” (Brock, Hymns on Paradise, 97). In
Aphrahat Demonstrations 23.3 the ‫ܘܡܐ‬ ܳ ‫ܬܚ‬
ܽ is the post-transgression
“boundary” around the tree of life that “surrounds and guards it”
 TEXT AND TRANSLATION 29

B5 ܳ ‫ܺܡ‬
‫ܐܡܪ ܐ ܗ‬
.‫ܗܢܐ‬ ܽ ‫ܕܥܠ ܰܐ‬
ܳ ‫ܗܪܘܢ ܳܟ‬ ܰ
ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳܳ ܽ ܶ
68 :‫ܪ�ܐ � ܳܕܡ‬ ‫ܡܢ ܫܘܪ�ܐ ܟܕ ܒܪܐ ܠܗ ܡ‬ 1
ܶ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ
‫ܟܗܢܐ ܥܒܕܗ ܕܢܗܘܐ ܩܐܡ ܥܠ�ܬܫܡܫܬܗ܀‬
ܺ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ
:‫ܘܡܐ � ܳܕܡ ܰܫ ܺܪ ܳܝܪܐܝܬ‬‫ܣܡ ܠܗ ܡܪ�ܐ ܬܚ‬

(Lehto, Demonstrations, 484), more usually ‫“ ܣܝܓܐ‬barrier.” Our author

follows Ephrem, as in Hymns on Nisibis 32.2, where the boundary is the
‫“ ܬܚܘܡܐ ܕܦܘܩܕܢܐ‬boundary of the commandment” given to Adam in Gen
2:16–17. Similarly, in Narsai, On Creation IV 31–40 (Gignoux, Homélies
de Narsai, 612–13) the “boundary” (33) is the commandment (31) of
Gen 2:16–17 (35–36). Cf. also Narsai, On Creation I 195 (Gignoux, Ho-
mélies de Narsai, 538–39): “The Lord called Adam his Image and set a
boundary for him.” In Jacob of Sarug, On Women 2a, the command-
ment is the boundary (Akhrass and Syryany, 160 Unpublished Homilies,
II.533; Walsh, “Mourning Eve,” 55). There seems to be some inherent
connection between the boundary set for Adam and him being called
God’s Image on one hand, and Adam being made a priest on the other.
Aaron is a new Adam, with the tabernacle as a new Eden and Moses as
the new god. Aaron does not transgress the boundaries. He holds back
death, while Adam transgressed the boundaries and brings on death.
Just as a priest sets a boundary to death for the people, so God set a
boundary for Adam. The connection is taken up again in lines 273–76
below.
 30 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

“Eat, Adam, from every fruit that is in Paradise.

5 But do not touch the tree that is in the middle,
for as soon as you touch it you will taste death.” 5
The Evil One envied Adam 6 because he was made the image of
God, 7
and he counseled Eve, 8 and she plucked and ate from the tree.
She gave to Adam and he ate and transgressed the command-
ment, 9
10 and death ruled over Adam, as it has been said.
Adam died and behold, death was handed down through all
generations, 10
and (death) came and reached Moses like a capturer. 11
As the captor of all brought the contract 12 and showed it to Mo-
ses;

5
Gen 2:16–17.
6
“The Evil One envied Adam” (‫ܐܕܡ‬ ܳ ‫ܝܫܐ ܳܒ‬ ܳ ‫ܚܣܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺܒ‬
ܰ )] Satan’s envy of Ad-
am is noted in Ephrem, Hymns on Faith 50.6 (Wickes, Hymns on Faith,
263). Narsai, On the Nativity 25–32 (McLeod, Narsai, 38–39) specifies
that the image was the cause of envy.
7
Gen 1:26–27.
8
“He counselled Eve” (‫�ܚ ܳܘܐ‬ ܰ ‫�ܟ ̇ܗ‬ܳ ‫ ]) ܰܡ‬The same verb is used of the ser-
pent and Eve in Aphrahat Demonstrations 14.12 (Lehto, Demonstrations,
316), Book of Steps 21.9 (Kitchen and Parmentier, Book of Steps, 240),
and in Cyrillona, On Zacchaeus 17–18 (Griffin, Works of Cyrillona, 198–
99). See Papoutsakis, Vicarious Kingship, 58.
9
Gen 3:4–6.
ܳ
ܺ “And behold, [death] was handed down through all generations” ( ‫ܘܗܐ‬
10

ܳ ܽ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܶ
‫ ])ܡܬ�ܒܠ�ܥܠ ܟܠ ܕ �ܝܢ‬appears also as the last 8 syllables in line 263.
On the legacy of death from Adam in pseudepigrapha and early Jewish
sources see Schwarzbaum, “Legends of the Death of Aaron,” 192, esp.
n. 19.
11
“Likeܵ a capturer” (‫ܫ ܳܒ ܳܝܐ‬ ܰ ‫ ]) ܰܐܝܟ‬Cf. Narsai, On the Soul (Mingana II.248–
ܿ ܵ ‫ ܼܿܘܡ ܼܿܫ ܿ ܼܠܚ ܵܠ ̇ܗ ̣ܡܢ ܵܓܘ ܿ ܼܦ‬:‫ܡܪ ̇ܗ‬
ܵ ‫�ܥܘ‬ ܵ
ܿ ܿ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‬ ܿ
49): ‫ܓܪ ܐ ܼܕ ܼܟܢ ܼܝ ܼܟ ܼܘ ܼܬ ̇ܗ‬ ܼ ܼ ‫ܝܟܠ‬
ܼ ‫ܠܗ‬
ܼ ‫ܼܐܝܟ ܼܿܫ ܵܒ ܵܝܐ ܵܥ ܹ ̇ܐܠ ̇ܡ‬
‫“ ܀‬Death enters the temple of her dwelling like a capturer, and rips her
out of the body of her modesty.”
12 ܳ ܶ
“Contract” (‫ ])ܦܛܩܐ‬Gk. πιττάκιον (also spelled ‫)ܦܬܩܐ‬. Also ln. 19, 25,
34, 159, 168. Not the usual term used of Adam’s “contract” or “bond”
 TEXT AND TRANSLATION 31

ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ
‫ܝܣܐ ܐ ܽܟܘܠ ܐ ܳܕܡ܀‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܽܟܠ ܺܦܐ� ܐ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܒܦܪܕ‬
:‫ܬܩ ܰܪܒ‬ ܰ ܶ‫ܥܬܐ ܳ� ܬ‬
ܳ ܰ ܰ
‫ܝ� ܳܢܐ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܒܡܨ‬ ܳ ܺ �‫ܰܘ‬ 5
ܰ ܶ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܬ‬
‫ܛܥܡ܀‬
ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܳܳܶ ܰ
‫ܕܒ�ܕ ܢܐ ܕܬܬܩܪܒ ܠܗ ܡ‬
ܳ ܰ ܶ
:‫ܥܒܝܕ ܨܠܡ ܐ� ܳܗܐ‬ ܺ ‫ܝܫܐ ܳܒ ܳܐܕܡ ܰܕ‬
ܳ ‫ܚܣܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܺܒ‬ ܰ
ܺ
ܳ ‫ܐܟܠܬ ܶܡܢ ܐ‬ ܰ ‫ܛܦܬ ܶܘ‬ ܰ ‫ܘܩ‬ܶ ‫�ܚ ܳܘܐ‬ ܳ ‫ܘܡ‬
‫ܝ� ܳܢܐ܀‬ ܰ ‫�ܟ ̇ܗ‬ ܰ
:‫ܘܩܕ ܳܢܐ‬ ܳ ‫ܥܒܪ ܰܥܠ ܽܦ‬ ܰ ‫ܗܒܬ ܳ� ܳܕܡ ܶܘ ܰܐܟܠ ܰܘ‬ ܰ ܶ�‫ܘ‬
ܰ ‫ܐܬܐ‬ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ
‫ܡܪܬ܀‬ ‫ܶܘܐܫܬ ܰܠܛ ̱ܗܘܐ ܡܘܬ ܐ ܒܐܕܡ ܐܝܟ ܕ‬ 10
ܺ
:‫ܬ� ܰܒܠ ܰ�ܥܠ ܽܟܠ ܳܕ �ܝܢ‬ ܰ ‫ܘܗܐ ܶܡ‬ ܳ ‫ܺܡܝܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳܐ ܳܕܡ‬
ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ
‫ܘܫܐ ܐܝܟ ܰܫ ܳܒ ܳܝܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܐܬ ܐ ܡܘܬ ܐ ܘܡܛܐ �ܡ‬
ܽ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ‫ܝܬܝ ܶܦ‬ ܺ ܰ
:‫ܘܚܘ�ܶܗ �ܡܘܫܐ ܐܝܟ ܫܒܐ ܟܠ‬ ܰ ‫ܛܩܐ‬ ‫ܐ‬

with Death. This term is used of the contract of sale with which Jo-
seph’s brothers sold him to the merchants in Joseph Son of Jacob II.820
etc (Bedjan, Homiliae Mar Narsetis in Joseph, 80/598). The expected
term, ‫“ ܐܫܛܪܐ‬bond,” is found in ln. 164 and 256 (see note on ln. 164
below). That both ‫ ܦܛܩܐ‬and ‫ ܐܫܛܪܐ‬were used as contemporary debt in-
struments is suggested by Cyrillona, On the Scourges 382–85 (Griffin,
Works of Cyrillona, 168–69).
 32 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

Death called out and addressed Moses that son of Amram: 13

15 “I have a dispute with you, 14 I say, because of your father;
you will not cross hence from this place, Moses, unless you pay
me.
Adam incurred a great debt to me among the trees,
and unless you repay me by no means may you cross hence.”
Moses read the contract that his father Adam bequeathed,
20 and he saw that in it was a dreadful death for all of [Adam’s]
children.
It was written thusly, “Because I am in debt to death I will die,
and because I sinned, I gave all my children to death.
I must repay the debt that I owe because I am guilty,
and every generation, in succession, have I given over to
death.” 15

13 ܰ
“Son of Amram” (‫ ]) ܰܒܪ ܰܥܡܪܡ‬Also lns. 175, 201, 209, 309, 331. Stand-
ard epithet for Moses used throughout Narsai, Isaac and Jacob of Sarug,
following Ephrem, Hymns of Nisibis 48.4. Cf. also Ephrem, Sermones
IV.4.392, 632, 671. Rarely, we also find the epithet “Son of Jochebed”
(‫ܒܪ ܝܘܟܒܪ‬, cf. Num 26:59), as in Ephrem, Sermones in Hebdomadem
Sanctum 6.278.
14
“I have a dispute with you” (‫ܝܢܐ ܐܝܬ ܠܝ ܰܥ ܳܡܟ‬
ܺ ܺ ܳ ‫ ]) ܺܕ‬In the sense of a legal
claim or judgement against an individual. We find this expression in
Balai, On Joseph VI.121 (Bedjan, Histoire complete de Joseph, 132): ‫ܬ‬ ܼ ‫ܕܐ ܼܝ‬
‫“ ܹܠܗ ܕ ܼܝ ܵܢܐ ܿ ܼܥܡ ܿ ܼܚ ܼܒ ܹܪܗ‬He has the right to judge his fellowman.” This is said
with respect to Joseph’s rights as regent vis-à-vis the Egyptians. See
also Julian Romance (Hoffman, Julianos der Abtruennige, 198) ‫ܘܠܢ ܗܫܐ‬
‫ܗܘܐ‬
ܼ ‫ܥܡܟ � ܐܝܬ‬ ܼ ‫“ ܕܝܢܐ‬and we would not have had a dispute with you”
(Sokoloff, Julian Romance, 402), in the sense of a rightful claim with
respect to Jovian to become the emperor.
15
“Given over”] i.e. assigned.
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪33‬‬

‫ܘܫܐ ܰܗܘ ܰܒܪ ܰܥ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬

‫ܡܪܡ܀‬ ‫ܩܪܐ ܘܐܡܪ ܠܗ ܡ‬
‫ܽܰ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܺ ܺ ܺܰ ܰܳ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫‪15‬‬
‫ܕܝܢܐ ܐܝܬ ܠܝ ܐܡܪ ܥܡܟ ܡܛܠ ܐܒܘܟ‪:‬‬
‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܶܳ ܰ ܳ‬
‫ܦܪܥܬܢܝ܀‬ ‫ܕ� ܥܒܪ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܡܟܐ ܡܘܫܐ ܐ �‬
‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܰܚܘܒܬܐ ܰܪܒܬܐ ܳܚܒ ܺܠܝ ܐ ܳܕܡ ܶܒܝܬ ܐ�̈�ܢܶܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܳ‬
‫ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬
‫ܘܪܣܐ � ܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܦܪܥܬܢܝ ܕܬܥܒܪ ܡܟܐ ܦ‬ ‫ܘܐ�‬
‫ܳ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܽܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫‪69‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬
‫ܩܪܝܗܝ ̱ܗܘܐ ܡܘܫܐ ܠܦܛܩܐ ܕܐܪܦܝ ܐܕܡ ܐܒ ̱‬
‫ܝ� ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬
‫�ܕܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ܀‬
‫�ܗܘܢ ܰ� ܰ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܒܗ ܡܘܬ ܐ ܕܚ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫‪20‬‬
‫ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬
‫�ܡܘܬ ܐ ܐ ܽܡܘܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܚ ܳܝܒ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܶܠܗ‬ ‫ܟܬܝܒ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳܗ ܰܟܢ ܰ‬
‫ܰ ܳ‬
‫ܘܬ ܐ �ܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰ� ܰ ̈‬ ‫ܚܛܝܬ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ ܺ‬
‫ܗܒܬ܀‬ ‫�ܕܝ �ܡ‬ ‫ܘܡܛܠ ܕ‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܕܚܒܬ ܐܢܐ ܐܦܪܘܥ ܥܠ ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬
‫ܘܒܬܐ ܳ‬
‫ܐܬܚܝܒܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܚ‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܽ ܽ ܳܶ ܰ ܳ‬
‫ܘܒܐܝܕܐ ܒܐܝܕܐ �ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܕ � ܐ �ܡܘܬ ܐ ܣܡܬ܀‬
 34 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

25 Moses saw the contract that his father Adam made,

and drawing near he tasted the cup of death 16 with great sorrow.
All the just ones as well as the righteous ones, prophets, and
kings,
tasted the cup of Adam, who transgressed the commandment. 17
None of the priests, who bear the mysteries of the house of God,
30 (managed to) cross and avoid that verdict of guilt.
All the prophets and kings and priests, the children of Adam,
were subject to the sentence of our father Adam.
Whenever a priest, a prophet, or a king rises, behold he trans-
gresses:
he saw the written decree and delivered himself over to the cup
of death.
35 And as greedy death 18 was handed down to each generation,
he reached Aaron, the noble priest of the house of God. 19
The aim of the homily which I have begun is this, 20

ܳ ܳ
ܰ ‫ ])ܟ ܶܣܗ‬Also lns. 34, 171, 212, 256, 262. This
16
“Cup of Death” (‫ܕܡܘܬ ܐ‬
collocation elsewhere refers to the cup of the passion (Matt 26:39–
42/Mk 14:36/Lk 22:42/Jn 18:11), as in Jacob of Sarug, Vigil of
Wednesday of Holy Week (HS 2.502 ln. 1); and Narsai, On the Passion
245 (Mcleod, Narsai, 114–115), where the collocation is extended to
“the cup of voracious death.”
17
Rom 5:14. Cf. Papoutsakis, Vicarious Kingship, 132.
18
“Greedy Death” (‫ ])ܡܘܬܐ ܝܥܢܐ‬This collocation is first found in
Aphrahat, Demonstration, 21.18 (Lehto, Demonstrations, 453): ‫ܡܢ ܕܢܝܐܝܠ‬
̈
‫ܘܡܚܒ�ܢܐ܂ ܘܡܢ ܝܫܘܥ ܐܣܬܟܪ ܦܘܡܗ ܕܡܘܬܐ ܝܥܢܐ‬ ‫ܐܣܬܟܪ ܦܘܡܐ ܕܐ�ܝܘܬܐ܂ ܝܥܢ̈ܐ‬
‫“ ܘܡܚܒܠ� ܨܘ�ܬܐ܂‬The mouth(s) of the greedy and devouring lions were
shut by Daniel, and the mouth of greedy death, the devourer of appear-
ances, was shut by Jesus.”
19
“Noble priest” (‫ܗ�ܐ‬ ܳ ‫ ]) ܳܟ‬See also 293, which has the synonym ‫ܘܡܪܐ‬
ܳ ‫ܗܢܐ ܰܙ‬ ܳ ‫ܽܟ‬
ܳ‫ ܰܙܗ�ܐ‬. On ‫ܙܗܝܐ‬, see Papoutsakis, “Is He the Rider of the Quadriga,” 407 n.
46, where he argues for the rendering “pure,” as in “the purity of ascet-
ic life.”
ܳ ܺ ‫ܠܬܗ‬ ܶ ܶ
20
“Aim of the Homily” (‫ܕܡܐܡܪ ܐ‬ ‫ ])ܥ‬This is formulaic in Jacob, as in,
for example, On the Star Seen by the Magi (HS I.85), or, On the Rich Man
and Lazarus (HS I.408).
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪35‬‬

‫ܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬
‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ܳܕ ܐ ܳܕܡ ܐ ܽܒ ̱‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ̱ܗܘܐ ܡܘܫܐ ܠܦܛܩܐ ܕ‬ ‫‪25‬‬

‫ܒܚ ܳܫܐ ܪܒܐ܀‬‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܟ ܶܣܗ ܕܡܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥܡܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪܒ ܰܛ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬
‫ܽ ܽ ܺ ̈ܶ ܳ ܰ ܺ ̈ ܶ ܺ ̈ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ‬
‫�ܟܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܟܐܢܐ ܐܦ ܙ ܕ�ܩܐ ܢܒܝܐ ܘܡ‬
‫ܥܒܪ ܰܥܠ ܦܘܩܕ ܢܐ܀‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܳܣܐ ܳܕ ܳܐܕܡ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܳ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܥܡ‬‫ܰܛ ܽ‬
‫ܽ ܽ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳܶ ܶ ܰ‬
‫ܕܒܝܬ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܟܗܢܐ ܕܛܥܢܘ ܐ̱� ܙ ܐ‬
‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬
‫� ܦܣܥܘ ܘܥܒܪܘ ܥܠ ܗܘ ܕܝܢܐ ܕܚܝܒܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫‪30‬‬
‫ܺ ̈ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܽܟ ܽ‬
‫�ܕܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܳܕܐܕܡ‪:‬‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ̈ܗܢܶܐ ܰ� ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܢܒܝܐ ܘܡ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܕܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬
‫ܓܙܪ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ ܰܕ ܽܐܒܘܢ ܐ ܳܕܡ܀‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܐ‬
‫ܥܒܪ ܠܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܳܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܢܐ ܺ‬‫ܳܡܐ ܳܕܩܡ ܳܟ ܳ‬
‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܫܠܡ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܩܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙܝܗܝ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶ‬
‫ܦܫܗ �ܟܣܗ ܕܡܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܳ ̱ ̱‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܒܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܢܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰ� ܳ‬‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫�ܗܘܢ ܳܕ � ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬ� ܰܒܠ ܡ‬ ‫‪35‬‬
‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬
‫ܕܒܝܬ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫ܡܛܐ ܨܝܕ ܐܗܪܘܢ ܟܗܢܐ ܙܗ�ܐ‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܶ ܳܶ ܺ‬
‫ܥܠܬܗ ܕܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܡܩܦ ܠܝ ܒܗ ܗܕܐ ܐܝܬ ̇ܝܗ‪:‬‬
 36 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

(to tell) about how the priesthood of the sons of Levi came
about.
Adam bore (the priesthood) from the beginning of all genera-
tions,
40 and he handed [the priesthood] down in succession to those
following.
That priesthood of our father Adam reached and came to Aaron
and he carried it solemnly and bore it lovingly. 21
And when he was standing, clothed in the mysteries of the
House of God,
he would loose and bind between earthly and heavenly things. 22
45 And when he stood in the tabernacle over Israel,
no one transgressed his command among all the people.

[Moses, Miriam, and Aaron in the Camp of Israel]

Now Moses was made like God over the camp, 23
permitting and commanding the sons of Jacob like God.
Miriam was appointed as a bride of the House of God, 24

21
On priesthood succession, see Bou Mansour, Le ministère sacerdotal,
527–37, esp. 532.
22
On the limits of Aaron’s priesthood power, see Bou Mansour, Le min-
istère sacerdotal, 240–41.
23 ܳܰ ܰ
“Moses was made like God” (‫ܥܒܝܕ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܐܝܟ ܐ� ܳܗܐ‬ ܶ ‫ ]) ܽܡ‬In Ex 4:16 Mo-
ܺ ‫ܘܫܐ‬
ses serves as a God to Aaron, while in Ex 7:1 Moses is given as a god to
ܳܰ ܰ
Pharaoh. Here, Moses is “like God” (‫“ )ܐܝܟ ܐ� ܳܗܐ‬over the camp” ( ‫ܰܥܠ‬
‫ܣܪ�ܶܠ‬ܳ �ܺ ), and also “allowing and commanding” (‫ܘܦ ܶܩܕ‬ ܳ ‫ ) ܳܫ ܶܪܐ‬the sons of
Jacob like God in the following line. For the reception of Ex 4:16 and
7:1 in the early Syriac tradition see Bruns, Das Christusbild Aphrahats,
128–33.
24
“Miriam” (‫ܪ�ܡ‬ ܰ ‫ ]) ܰܡ‬Miriam is presented as one of the leaders of the
camp of Israel as early as Micah 6:4. In Ex 15: 20 she is called a proph-
etess, a title picked up by Aphrahat in Demonstrations 14.33 (Lehto,
Demonstrations, 336) and Ephrem in Hymns on Faith 28.9–11 (Wickes,
Hymns on Faith, 183–84). Miriam is notable in early Syriac literature
primarily for being the sister mentioned in Exodus chapter two, as in
Aphrahat Demonstrations 21.10 (Lehto, Demonstrations, 447); Ephrem,
 TEXT AND TRANSLATION 37

ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܶ ̈ܰ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ
‫ܐܝܟܢ ܐܬܬ܀‬ ‫ܥܠ ܟܗܢܘܬ ܐ ܕܒܢܝ �ܘܝ ܕ‬
ܶ ܳ ܽ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܳܳ ̇ ܳ ܰ
:‫ܛܥܢܗ ܐܕܡ ܡܢ ܫܘܪ�ܐ ܕܟ�ܗܘܢ ܕ � ܐ‬
ܶ ‫ܬ‬ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܺ ̇ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ 40
‫ܪܟܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܐܘܫܛ �ܗܒܗ ܒܐܝܕܐ ܒܐܝܕܐ ܠܕܒ‬
70 :‫ܗܪܘܢ‬ ܽ �ܰ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ‬ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ
ܰ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܕ ܽܐܒܘܢ ܳܐ ܳܕܡ‬ ‫ܗܝ ܟܗܢ‬
ܺ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ
‫ܡܛܬ ̱ܗܘܬ ܘܐܬܬ ܘܙ�ܚ ܛܥܢ ̇ܗ ܚܒܝܒܐܝܬ܀‬
ܰ ܶ ܶܳ
:‫ܕܒܝܬ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ‬ ‫�ܒܝܫ ܐ̱� ܙ ܐ‬ ܺ ‫ܘܟܕ ܳܩܐܶܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܘ‬ ܰ
ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶܳ
‫ܫܡ ܳ�ܢ̈ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܫܪܐ ܘܐܣܪ ܒܝܬ ܐ��ܢܐ ܠ‬
:‫ܣܪ�ܶܠ‬ ܳ �ܺ ‫ܒܢܐ ܰܥܠ‬ ܰ ‫ܒܡ‬
ܳ ‫ܫܟ ܰܢܙ‬ ܰ ‫ܘܟܕ ܳܩܐܶܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‬ ܰ 45

‫ܒܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ܀‬ ܳ ‫ܕܥ ܰܒܪ ܰܥܠ ܽܦ‬

ܽ ‫ܘܩܕ ܢܶܗ‬ ܳ ‫ܳܘ� ܺܐܝܬ‬
ܳ ܺ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳܰ ܰ ܳ ܺ ‫ܘܫܐ‬ ܶ ‫ܘܡ‬ܽ
:‫ܫܪܝܬܐ‬ ‫ܥܒܝܕ ̱ܗܘܐ ܐܝܟ ܐ�ܗܐ ܥܠ ܡ‬
ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳܰ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܶܳ
ܽ �ܰ ‫ܒܢ̈ܝ‬
‫ܥܩܘܒ܀‬ ‫ܘܫܪܐ ܘܦܩܕ ܐܝܟ ܐ�ܗܐ ܠ‬
ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܺ
:‫ܥܒܝܕܐ ܡܪ�ܡ ܒܕܡܘܬ ܟܠܬܐ ܕܒܝܬ ܐ�ܗܐ‬

Hymns on Faith 28.10 (Wickes, Hymns on Faith, 183); and Ephrem,

Commentary on Exodus 2.2–3 (Salvesen, Exodus Commentary, 15–16),
and for complaining against Moses in Num 12, as in Aphrahat, Demon-
strations 6.3 (Lehto, Demonstrations, 177–78); Aphrahat, Demonstrations
9.8 (Lehto, Demonstrations, 245); and Ephrem, Hymns on Faith 28.11,
emphasizing that even someone as important as Miriam is punished for
speaking against Moses (Wickes, Hymns on Faith, 183). Here, however,
her epithets are not only entirely laudatory, but also entirely novel
within the surviving sources, suggesting a more nuanced reading of the
figure of Miriam in the early Syriac tradition. For Miriam in the Quran,
see most recently, Dorival, “Is Maryam.”
 38 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

50 also like a harp playing among the tribes. 25

And Aaron would bear the censer and enter the tabernacle,
and burn incense and make atonement for their sins. 26
And he would drive out dreadful death from the camp 27
with the censer he presented, and suddenly 28 restrain the de-
stroyer. 29
55 And Moses and Aaron saved the people from the midst of Egypt;
Aaron, the priest, was appointed as one who pardons and makes
atonement.
And he burns incense, and the hidden fire becomes accepted for
him, 30

25 ܳܳ ܺ
“Harp” (‫ ])ܩܝܬܪ ܐ‬Miriam is connected with music and song in Ex
15:20–21 (though there she plays a ‫“ ܦܠܓܐ‬tambourine”). Cf. Ephrem,
Hymns on Virginity 35.13 (McVey, Ephrem the Syrian, 419) refers to the
“the Harp of Moses” (‫)ܩܝܬܪܗ ܕܡܘܫܐ‬.
26
The difference between Narsai and Jacob’s treatment of symbolism of
the tabernacle is discussed in Bou Mansour, Le ministère sacerdotal, 221–
222, esp. n. 75. ܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ
27
“Dreadful death” (�‫ܕܚܝ‬ ‫ ])ܡܘܬ ܐ‬Rare, but already in Ephrem, Hymns on
the Church 33.7, and Narsai, On David and Saul (Patriarchal Press II.791
ln. 16).
28
“Suddenly” (‫ܢܫܠܝ‬ ܶ ‫ ]) ܶܡ‬Used here adverbially to qualify the actions of
Aaron in response to ܳ the plague, rather than adjectively in the “sudden
plague” (‫�ܝܐ‬ ܶ ‫ ) ܰܡܘܬ ܳ�ܐ‬of Num 16:46–50.
ܳ ‫ܕܡܢ ܶܫ‬
29
“The destroyer” (‫ܡܚܒ� ܳܢܐ‬
ܳ ܰ )] The agent of annihilation in Num 16:46–
50 is here identified with the Destroyer of Ex 12:23. Note, that this
ܳ ܰ
agent is also called an angel (‫ ) ܰܡ�ܟܐ‬in lns. 85 and 89, and a watcher
ܳ ܺ
(‫ )ܥܝܪ ܐ‬in ln. 93.
ܳ ܺ ܳ ܽ
30
“Hidden Fire” (‫ܟܣܝܬܐ‬ ‫ ])ܢܘܪܐ‬Also lns. 60, ܳ 68, 72, 91. Note, in ln. 68 it
is the “hidden fire in his mind” (‫ܥ�ܢܶܗ‬ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܽ
ܶ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܺ ‫)ܢܘܪܐ ܟܣ ܽܝܬ ܳܐ ܒܪ‬, and in ln. 72 the
“hidden fire of his mind” (‫)ܢܘܪ ܐ ܟܣܝܬܐ ܕܪܥ�ܢܗ‬. We also find the simpler
ܶ ܳ
“fire of his heart” (‫ ) ܽܢܘܪ ܐ ܕ� ܶܒܗ‬in lns. 61 and 69, and “the fire of his
ܶ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܽ
mind” (‫ )ܢܘܪ ܐ ܕܪܥ�ܢܗ‬in ln. 83. On the heart and mind in the Syriac tradi-
tion see Brock, “Prayer of the Heart,” 132–33. In Ephrem, Hymns on
Nativity 14.17 (McVey, Ephrem the Syrian, 144) the hidden fire is equat-
ed to “bodily desire” (‫ ;)ܪܓܬ ܦܓܪܐ‬whereas in Hymns on Virginity, 25.14
(McVey Ephrem the Syrian, 373–74) the hidden fire is a fever (‫)ܐܫܬܐ‬,
 TEXT AND TRANSLATION 39

ܶ ܳ ‫ܝܬ ܳܪܐ ܰܐ ܺܚ‬ܳ ܺ ܳ

‫ܝܕܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܬ ܰܒ ܳܝܢܬ ܰܫ ̈ܒܛܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܦ ܩ‬ 50
ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܽ ‫ܰܘ‬
:‫ܐܗܪܘܢ ܛܥܢ ܦܝܪܡܐ ܘܥܐܠ �ܡܫܟܢ ܰܙܒܢܐ‬
ܳ ܰ ܰ
‫ܡܚ ܶܣܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܠܚܛ ܰܗ�̈ ܽܗܘܢ܀‬ ܰ ‫ܥܛܪ ܶܒ ̈ܣ ܶܡܐ ܰܘ‬ ‫ܘܡ‬
ܳ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶܳ ܽ
:‫ܘܗܘ ܛܪܕ ̱ܗܘܐ �ܡܘܬ ܐ ܕܚܝ� ܡܢ ܡܫܪܝܬܐ‬
ܳ ܳ
‫ܡܚܒ�ܢܐ܀‬ ܰ ‫ܢܫܠܝ ܰܠ‬ ܶ ‫ܟܠܝ ̱ܗܝ ܶܡ‬ܳ ‫ܝܪܡܐ ܰܕܩ ܶܪܒ ܰܘ‬ ܳ ‫ܒܦ‬ ܺ
:‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܓܘ ܶܡ ܶ�ܪܝܢ‬ ܰ ‫ܪܩܗ‬ ܶ ‫ܐܗܪܘܢ ܰܦ‬ܽ ‫ܘܫܐ ܰܘ‬ ܶ ‫ܘܡ‬ ܽ 55

‫ܣ� ܳܢܐ܀‬ ܳ ‫ܡܚ‬ ܳ ‫ܥܒܝܕ ܳܫ ܽܒ‬

ܰ ‫ܘܩܐ ܰܘ‬ ܺ ‫ܗܢܐ‬ ܳ ‫ܗܪܘܢ ܳܟ‬ ܽ ‫ܰܐ‬
ܳ ܺ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܰ
:‫ܟܣܝܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܡܥܛܪ ܒܣܡܐ ܘܡܩܒ� ܠܗ ܢܘܪܐ‬

which is healed by the “fire of the height (i.e. heaven)” (‫ )ܢܘܪܐ ܕܪܘܡܐ‬with-
in Christ. Christ is identified with fire in Ephrem, Hymns on Nativity
22:13–14 (McVey, Ephrem the Syrian, 181–82), and, by extension, the
fiery sanctifying coal (‫ )ܓܡܘܪܬܐ‬of Is 6:5–7 (for further references to
Christ as this sanctifying coal see McVey, Ephrem the Syrian, 374 fn.
371). The positive connotations of the hidden fire perhaps developed
out of the confluence of the prayer of the heart, purity of heart, and the
altar of the heart, as discussed in Brock, “Fire from Heaven: From
Abel’s Sacrifice to the Eucharist.”
 40 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

and the fire within the fire gives a scent before the onlookers.
Where have you seen a fire that burns more than the flame,
60 except here, where the hidden fire has shown its love?
Aaron caused the fire of his heart to smoke in the Holy of Ho-
lies,
and that (fire) rapidly restrained death from the camp. 31

In the Meter of Mor Ephrem

Aaron bore fire and fire
and introduced (them) before God.
65 And God saw his heart
and accepted both (fires). 32
He carried the visible fire in his hand,
and the hidden fire in his mind. 33
And the fire of his heart pleased Him,
70 and the fire of his hands was accepted.
For, if the hidden fire of his mind
had not been pure,
God would not have accepted
the fire that he was carrying (in his hand). 34

ܺܳ ܺ
31
“Rapidly (‫ ]) ܰܩܠܝ�ܝܬ‬Recasting of ‫ ܡܢܫܠܝ‬in 54 above.
32
This quatrain is translated and discussed in Bou Mansour, Le ministère
sacerdotal, 203
33
Cf. the West Syrian Beth Gazzo (Vatican Syriac 68 f. 120a), where
Aaron enters the tabernacle with “fire in his hand and the hidden fire in
his mind” (‫)ܢܘܪܐ ܒܐܝܕܗ ܘܢܘܪܐ ܟܣܝܬܐ ܒܪܥܝܢܗ‬.
34 ܺ
“Carrying” (‫ ])ܛܥܝܢ‬Passive participle with active sense (Nöldeke, Com-
pendious Syriac Grammar, §280).
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪41‬‬

‫ܩܕܡ ܰܚ ܳܙ�̈ܶܐ܀‬
‫ܝܚܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܺܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܢ ܳ‬
‫ܘܪܐ ܳ� ܳ‬ ‫ܽܘܢ ܳ‬
‫ܘܪܐ ܽ‬
‫ܳ‬
‫ܩܕܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܓ ܰܘܙܠܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܳܕ� ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ܽܢ ܳ‬‫ܚܙ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳ‬
‫ܝܟܐ ܶ‬
‫ܘ�ܬ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܰܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܳ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫‪60‬‬
‫ܘܒ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܐ � ܗܪܟܐ ܕܢܘܪܐ ܟܣ‬
‫ܥܛܪ ܐܗܪܘܢ ܶܒܝܬ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬
‫ܘܣ ܳܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܢܘܪܐ ܕ�ܒܗ ܐ‬
‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬
‫ܘܗܝ ܟܠܬ ܡܘܬ ܐ ܡܢ ܡܫܪܝܬܐ ܩܠܝ�ܝܬ܀‬
‫‪71‬‬ ‫ܕܡܪܝ ܰܐ ܶ‬
‫ܦܪܝܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬
‫ܒܢ ܳ‬
‫ܗܪܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܛܥܶܢ ܰܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܽܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܢ ܳ‬
‫ܳ ܳ ܰ‬
‫ܩܕܡ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘܐܥܶܠ ̱ܗܘܐ‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ‬
‫ܚܙ ܐ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ � ܶܒܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫‪65‬‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ‬
‫ܘܠܬ�ܬܝܗܝܢ ܩܒܠ ̱ܗܘܐ‪.‬‬
‫ܝܬܐ ܺܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܥܶܢ ܽܢ ܳ‬
‫ܐܝܕܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܓܠ‬
‫ܝܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬
‫ܥ�ܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܘܪܐ ܟܣ‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫ܦܪܬ ܠܗ ܢܘܪܐ ܕ�ܒܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬
‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬‫ܒܠܬ ܳ ܽܢܘܪܐ ܺܕ ̈ܐܝ ܰܕ ̱‬ ‫‪70‬‬

‫ܟܝܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶܐ ܽܠܘ ܶܓܝܪ � ܰܕ ܳ‬

‫ܝܬܐ ܶܕܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬
‫ܥ�ܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܘܪܐ ܟܣ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܦ� ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬
‫ܘܪܐ ܕܛܥܝܢ ̱ܗܘܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܡܩܒܠ ̱ܗܘܐ ܠ ̇ܗ ܐ�ܗܐ‪.‬‬
 42 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

75 But because of the fire of his mind 35

the fire of his hands was accepted—
Yea, the absolving fire 36
that forgives debts and sins.
Offer up a fire like this,
80 sinners, and receive forgiveness.
The fire of his hands smoked
and the watchers above rejoiced in it.
and the fire of the mind smoked
and the Lord in the height rejoiced in it.
85 Wherever the angel threatened
that he would destroy the camp,
(Aaron) bore the censer filled with fire
and went out and held him back from the people. 37
The angel saw the fire
90 and fled away from its brightness.
He saw the hidden fire there
and was struck with terror at the sight of it.
The fire drove the watcher away
and the spear 38 he was holding turned away.

35
“Fire of his Mind” (‫ܥ�ܢܶܗ‬
ܶ ܳ
ܳ ‫ ]) ܽܢܘܪܐ ܕܪ‬Narsai, On the Confessors (Mingana
II.35 ln. 15–16) refers to the fire of the minds of the “(spiritual) ath-
letes”.
ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ
36
“Absolving fire” (‫ܣ� ܺܢܝܬܐ‬ ‫ ])ܢܘܪܐ ܡܚ‬Aaron is referred to as the “propitia-
tor” (‫ )ܡܚܣܝܢܐ‬in Aphrahat, Demonstrations 23.4 (Lehto, Demonstrations,
487).
37
Num 17:10–15.
38 ܳ ‫ ]) ܽܪ‬In Syriac tradition, the “sharp revolving sword”
“Spear” (‫ܘܡܚܐ‬
ܳ ܰ ܶ
(‫ܕܚܪܒܐ ܕܡܬܗܦܟܐ‬ ܳ ܳ ) of Peshitta Gen 3:24 with which the cherub
ܰ ‫ܫ� ܳܢܐ‬
guarded the way back to paradise becomes a spear or lance (‫ܘܡܚܐ‬ ܳ ‫) ܽܪ‬. For
references and discussion see, Murray, “The Lance which Re-opened
Paradise.” Moreover, the angel wreaking destruction in 2 Sam 24:15–17
wields a spear in Daniel of Salah’s commentary on Psalm 141 (Çiçek,
Pušāq mazmurē, 507, col. 2, lns. 5–15). Daniel of Salah also notes that
the warrior angels unseen by Hezekiah in 2 Chron 32:7–8 carry spears
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪43‬‬

‫ܥ�ܢܶܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܶܕܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܽܛܠ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫‪75‬‬

‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܠܬ ܽܢܘܪܐ ܺܕ ̈ܐܝ ܰܕ ̱‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܰ‬
‫ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬
‫ܣ� ܺܢܝܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܘ ܢܘܪܐ ܡܚ‬
‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ ̈ܶ‬
‫ܕܫܒܩܐ ܚܘܒܐ ܘܚܛܗܐ‪.‬‬
‫ܘܪܐ ܰܩ ܶܪܒܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܕܐܝܟ ܳܗ ܶܕܐ ܽܢ ܳ‬
‫ܘܒܩ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣܒܘ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܚ ܳܛܝ̈ܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫‪80‬‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܶ ܰ‬
‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܛܪܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܬ ܽܢܘܪܐ ܺܕ ̈ܐܝ ܰܕ ̱‬
‫ܝ�ܐ ܰܕ�ܥܶܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܕܝܘ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ܺܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬
‫ܥ�ܢܶܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܶܕܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܪܬ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܶ ܰ‬
‫ܘܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܕܝ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳ‬
‫ܓܙܡ ܰܡ� ܳܟܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܟܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫‪85‬‬
‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬
‫ܫܪܝܬܐ ܰܢܚ ܶܒܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ�ܡ‬
‫ܡ� ܽܢܘܪܐ‪ܳ:‬‬ ‫ܶ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬
‫ܛܥܢ ܦܝܪܡܐ ܕ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܟܠܝ ̱ܗܝ ܡܢ ܥܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬
‫ܘܪܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ̇ܗ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܡ ܰ� ܳܟܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܥܪܩ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܠܗ ܶܡܢ ܺܙ ܳܝܘ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫‪90‬‬
‫ܽ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬
‫ܚܙ ܐ ܬ ܳܡܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܢܘܪܐ ܟܣܝܬܐ‬
‫ܰ‬
‫ܶܘܐܣܬ ܰܪܕ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܡܢ ܚܙܘ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܩܬܗ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶ‬
‫ܝܪܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܥܪ‬
‫�ܒܝܟ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܚܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬
‫ܘܦ ܰܪܕܬ ܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬

‫‪in his commentary on Psalm 91:7 (Çiçek, Pušāq mazmurē, 343, col. 1,‬‬
‫‪ln. 30–col. 2. ln. 4).‬‬
 44 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

95 With the divine command

the priest restrained the plague.
And by means of his incense 39
he would restrain the angel from wreaking havoc.
But when it was time to die,
100 he did not avoid death.
Aaron was standing constantly
between God and the people,
and by means of the will of God
he was made the director of the people. 40

[Eleazar Instructed in his Priestly Duties]

105 Now Eleazar would stand
inside the tabernacle and watch
to learn how he should stand
in the service of God.
And he would watch his father constantly
110 how he would offer up sacrifices,
that he himself might also offer up (sacrifices) like him,
in purity and holiness.
And as the child was being instructed
how he should behave in the rank—

39 ܶ ܶ
“By means of his incense (‫ܒܝܕ ܥܛܪܗ‬ ܰ ).] See also ln. 170. Cf. Aphrahat,
Demonstrations 23.4, where Aaron’s role as protector is explicitly con-
nected to incense (Lehto, Demonstrations, 487). Ephrem also explicitly
says that Aaron held back death “by means of the fragrant incense”
(Hymns on Nisibis 53.13; trans. Brock and Kiraz, Select Poems, 161).
40 ܳ ‫ ]) ܳܦ ܽܩ‬Cf. Jer 20:1, where Pahur the priest is said to be
“Director” (‫ܘܕ ܐ‬
the “director and leader of the House of the Lord” ( ‫ܦܩܘܕܐ ܗܘ ܼܐ ܘܫܠܝܛܐ‬
‫)ܒܒܝܬܗ ܕܡܪܝܐ‬. Bou Mansour summarizes Jacob’s presentation of the
governing function of priestly offices in the Old Testament in Le minis-
tère sacerdotal, 241–43.
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪45‬‬

‫ܽ ܳܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬
‫ܐ� ܽܗܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܦܘܩܕ ܢ ̇ܗ ܕ‬ ‫‪95‬‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬
‫ܟܗܢܐ ܟ� ̱ܗܘܐ �ܡܘܬ�ܐ‪.‬‬
‫ܛܪܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܝܕ ܥܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ� ܳܟܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫ܳܟ� ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܠܗ ܕ� ܰܢܚ ܶܒܠ‪.‬‬
‫ܢܡܘܬ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫ܪܨܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܥܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ‬
‫� ܐܫܬܐܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܡܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫‪100‬‬

‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶܒܝܬ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬

‫ܶ‬ ‫ܗܪܘܢ ܽܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܽ‬
‫�ܫܥ ܳܩܐܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪.‬‬
‫ܐ� ܳܗܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܙܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝܕ ܶܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬
‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܕܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܝܕ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳܦ ܽܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬
‫ܶ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬
‫‪72‬‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܙܪ ܳܩܐܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܐܠ‬ ‫‪105‬‬
‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳܰ‬
‫ܒܓܘ ܡܫܟܢܙܒܢܐ ܘܚܐܪ‪.‬‬
‫ܐܝܟܢ ܢܶ ܽܩܘܡ ̱ܗܘܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܠܦ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܺܕܢ ܰ‬
‫ܫܬܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬
‫ܐ� ܳܗܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܠ�ܬܫܡ‬
‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ‬
‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܚܙ ܐ ̱ܗܘܐ ܟ�ܫܥ �ܒ ̱‬
‫ܐܝܟܢ ܶܕ ̈ܒ ܶܚܐ ܰܡ ܶܣܩ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫‪110‬‬
‫ܳ ܽ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬
‫ܟܘܬܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܐܦ ܗܘ ܢܣܩ ܐ‬
‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܒܕܟܝܘܬ ܐ ܘܩܕܝܫܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬
‫ܬ� ܰܠܦ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܰܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܪܓܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܳܢܐ ܽܢܩܘܡ ܰܥܠ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܰ‬
 46 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

115 And his mind was pure and luminous

and his whole mind was splendid—
he was also perfecting his life of decorum
in the tabernacle.
Now, Aaron his father, would stand
120 wearing the vestments of the priesthood;
the fair raiment of the office—
the fire that came down from on high.
And he would place the crown upon his head 41
and the headcover atop his body. 42
125 And truly he would wear an ephod 43
fastened with whole stones. 44
And bells of gold were upon his clothes, 45
and he was appointed the priest 46 of God.
And he would enter, pardoning sins
130 in the tabernacle, as it is written. 47
God said to Moses,
“I have made you a god to pharaoh. 48
And Aaron your brother will be for you
an interpreter 49 to the numerous people. 50

41
Ex 28:36.
ܳ ܰ ܰ
42
Ex 28:37. “Headcover” (‫ܨܢܦܬܐ‬ ‫ ])ܡ‬This seems preferable to “Head-
dress” (Jewish Study Bible), or “Turban” (NRSV and Antioch Bible). On
this vestment in the Syriac tradition, see Innemée, Ecclesiastical Dress,
80–81.
43
Ex 28:6.
44
Ex 28:12.
45
Ex 28:34.
46 ܳ ܽ
Here and ln. 293 we find the synonym ‫( ܟܘܡܪ ܐ‬kumro) rather than the
ܳ ܳ
usual ‫( ܟܗܢܐ‬kohno). In early Syriac sources, kumro is used either for Pa-
gan priests or as a synonym for kahno. For a full discussion see, Bou
Mansour, Le ministère sacerdotal, 9–15.
ܺ ܰ
47
“As it is written” (‫ ])ܐܝܟ ܰܕܟܬܝܒ‬Shortened for metrical purposes. In 12
ܺ
syllable lines (258 and 481) we find the more usual ‫ܟܡܐ ܰܕܟܬܝܒ‬ܳ ‫ ܰܐ‬.
48
Ex 7:1.
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪47‬‬

‫ܥ�ܢܶܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܫܦܐ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶܢܩܕ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫‪115‬‬

‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ̇ ܰ ܺ ܶ‬
‫ܪܥܝܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܙܗ�ܐ ܟܠܗ ܬ‬
‫ܳ ܽ ܳܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܐܦ ܕܘܒ�ܐ ܕܢܟܦܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬
‫ܒܡܫܟܢ ܙܒܢܐ ܡܫܡ� ̱ܗܘܐ‪.‬‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܰ‬
‫ܘܗܝ ܳܩܐܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܘܐܗܪܘܢ ܐ ܽܒ ̱‬
‫ܳ ܰ̈ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬
‫ܗܢܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒܝܫ ܡܐܢܝ ܟ‬ ‫‪120‬‬
‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬
‫ܫܡܫܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܒܘܫܐ ܦܐ�ܐ ܕܬ‬
‫ܚܬܬ ܶܡܢ ܪ ܳ‬‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬
‫ܘܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܘܪܐ ܕܢ‬
‫ܺ‬
‫ܘܣܝܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܟܠܝ� ܰܥܠ ܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬
‫ܝܫܗ‪:‬‬
‫ܦܬܐ �ܥܶܠ ܶܡܢ ܽܓ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬
‫ܘܫܡܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܨܢ‬
‫ܫܪ ܪܐ‪ܳ:‬‬ ‫�ܒܝܫ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦܕܬ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫‪125‬‬
‫ܺ ̈ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬
‫�ܡܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟܐܦܐ ܬ� ̱ܗܘܐ ܫ�ܡ‬
‫ܘܫܗ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘܙ ̈ܶܓܐ ܰܕܕ ܳ‬
‫ܐ� ܳܗܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܪܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܝܕ ܽܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬
‫ܳ‬
‫ܡܚ ܶܣܐ ܰܚ ̈ܘ ܳܒܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܥܐܶܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬
‫ܒܢܐ ܐܝܟ ܰܕܟܬܝܒ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܡܫܟܢܙ‬ ‫‪130‬‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܶܰ ܰ‬
‫�ܡܘܫܐ ܐܡܪ ܐ�ܗܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܽ‬ ‫ܕܬܟ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬
‫ܠܦܪܥܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬
‫ܗܘܐ ܳܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܘܐܗܪܘܢ ܐ ܽܚܘܟ ܢܶ ܶ‬
‫ܰ‬
‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܓܡ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܬ ܳ‬

‫ܰ‬
‫‪ֶ֔ “Mouth” implying‬פה ‪)] Translating Hebrew‬ܡܬ ܳ‬
‫‪49‬‬
‫ܪܓܡ ܳܢܐ( ”‪“Interpreter‬‬
‫‪mouthpiece. The Syriac translation suggests the idea that, like Joseph‬‬
‫‪in Gen 42:23 (MS 7h5 uses same noun), Moses would speak Egyptian‬‬
‫‪and would thus need to speak to the Hebrews through an interpreter.‬‬
‫‪50‬‬
‫‪Ex 4:16.‬‬
 48 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

135 And when you have come out from Egypt,

then he will serve in the priesthood;
it is right that a man like him,
should serve in the house of Adonai. 51
And he should rightly practice
140 the priesthood that has been entrusted to him.”
And as he stands in the tabernacle,
and his son with him in the holy house,
and he learns the mysteries of priesthood
he is being made perfect in his way of life.
145 His father taught him how
to carry the censer of atonement;
and how to enter and call out
to God in purity of heart.
And while the boy Eleazar
150 was serving in the tabernacle
the common debt 52 was aroused
to require its due from Aaron.
For the moment had arrived
that Aaron would hand over the (liturgical) treasures,
155 and the moment for Eleazar
to enter and stand in his place.
And as Aaron was wearing priesthood
and was standing in the sanctuary,
the contract of Adam was aroused

ܰ
ܰ ‫ ]) ܶܒܝܬ ܐ ܽܕ‬Found regularly in Jacob, as in On the
51
“House of Adonai” (‫ܘܢܝ‬
Star Seen by the Magi (HS I.90.19).
52
“Common debt” (‫ܓ ܳܘܐ‬ܰ ‫ܘܒܬ‬ ܰ ‫ ]) ܰܚ‬Also lns. 164, 255. Cf. Ephrem, Hymns
on Epiphany 13.2; Hymns on the Unleavened Bread 12.1 (Walters 50–51).
Line 276 indicates that the sin is not Aaron’s. See also Sony, “La dette
commune (ḥawbat gawo).” I am grateful to Sebastian Brock for this lat-
ter reference.
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪49‬‬

‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ‬
‫ܢܦܩܬܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܶܡ ܶ�ܪܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܕ‬ ‫‪135‬‬
‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܗܝܕܝܢ ܢܫܡܫ ܟܗܢܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬
‫ܒܪܐ ܰܕܐܝܟ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܳܙ ܶܕܩ‪:‬‬ ‫ܠܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܰ‬
‫ܰܕ ܰܢܫ ܶܡܫ ܶܒܝܬ ܐ ܽܕ ܰܘܢܝ‪.‬‬
‫ܺ‬
‫ܰܘ ܰܢܕ ܰܒܪ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܺܟ ܳܐܢܐܝܬ‪:‬‬
‫ܳ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܥܠܬ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܬܓ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܟܗܢ‬ ‫‪140‬‬
‫ܒܡܫܟ ܰܢܙ ܳ‬‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܩܐܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܒܢܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܒܒܝܬ ܽܩ ܳ‬
‫ܘܕܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܪܗ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬
‫ܳ ܶ ܳܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܗܢܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܠܦ ܐ̱� ܙ ܐ ܕܟ‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܶ‬
‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܫܬܡ� ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܒܕܘܒ� ̱‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬
‫ܘܗܝ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ‬
‫ܐܝܟ ܳܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܠܦܗ ܐ ܽܒ ̱‬ ‫‪145‬‬

‫ܘܣ ܳܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪܡܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܛܥܢ ܺܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܶ ܰ‬

‫ܩܪܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܳܢܐ �ܶ ܽܥܘܠ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬
‫ܟܝܘܬ ܶ� ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ� ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܰ‬
‫‪73‬‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܙܪ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܶܐ ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܰܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܡܫ ܶܡܫ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟ ܰܢܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫‪150‬‬

‫ܘܒܬ ܰܓ ܳܘܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܪܬ ܰܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܬܥ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܺ‬

‫ܗܪܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܠ ̇ܗ ܶܡܢ ܰܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܒܥ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܬܶ ܰ‬
‫ܳ‬
‫ܡܛܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܠܗ ܶܓܝܪ ܶ� ܳܕ ܳܢܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܫܠܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܗܪܘܢ ܰܓܙ̈ܶ ܐ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܕ ܽ‬
‫ܝ� ܳܙܪ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܕ ܢܶܗ ܶܕ ܺܐܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫‪155‬‬
‫ܶ‬
‫ܕ�ܶ ܽܥܘܠ ܽܢܩܘܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܥܠ ܽܕܘܟܬܗ‪.‬‬
‫ܳ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܗܢܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܒܝܫ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳܠ ̇ܗ �ܟ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܘܕܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܩܐܶܡ ܶܒܝܬ ܽܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܽ‬
‫ܛܩܗ ܳܕ ܳܐܕܡ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬܬܥܝܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܺ‬
 50 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

160 to require its due from Aaron.

He who had served the priesthood
for forty years in the tabernacle,
was not able to get loose from
the bond 53 of the common debt.
165 He who had made atonement for the people
and over whom the angel of wrath could not rule, 54
was unable to escape from
the contract that Adam wrote.
He who had driven out death
170 and the angel by means of his incense, 55
was not able to save himself
when the cup of death came upon him.

[God Calls Moses to Lead Aaron to his Death]

When the moment had come
that Aaron should taste death,

53 ܳܳ ܶ
164. “Bond” (‫ ])ܐܫܛܪ ܐ‬This is the usual term for Adam’s document of
debt used elsewhere in the early sources. See, for example, Narsai, fol-
lowing Ephrem and Col 2:14, in On the Epiphany, 248 (McLeod, Narsai,
86–87), where Jesus says, “I am paying for the bond that Adam wrote
in Eden”; and On the Resurrection, 51–54 (McLeod, Narsai, 140–41),
where Satan says, “A bond Adam wrote me in Eden, because he suc-
cumbed to sin.” The same theme is treated more obliquely in Ephrem,
On the Crucifixion 9.2, where “[Christ’s] forgiveness tore up our docu-
ment of debt” (trans. Brock, Luminous Eye, 81); and On the Nativity 5.12,
where Jesus comes to “cancel our bonds (of debt)” (‫ )ܕ ܼܥܛܐ ܫܛ�ܝܢ‬and
̈
Hymns on Virginity 46.10, where we have a “bond of debts” (‫)ܐܫܛܪ ܚܘܒܐ‬
hidden within us. Cf. note to line 13 above.
54
Num 16:46–50.
55 ܶ ܶ ܰ )] A theme found in
Num 16:47. “By means of his incense” (‫ܒܝܕ ܥܛܪܗ‬
the divine office. See Breydy, Le concept du sacerdoce, 37.
‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪51‬‬

‫ܗܪܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܠܗ ܶܡܢ ܰܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܒܥ ܺܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫‪160‬‬

‫ܳܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܗܢܐ ܕܫܡܫ ܟܗܢܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܒܡܫܟܢܙܒܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫ�ܝ̈ܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܒܥܝܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܺ‬
‫ܫܪܐ ܶܡܢܶܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܫܟܚ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ� ܶܐ ܰ‬
‫ܫܛ ܳܪܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬
‫ܘܒܬ ܰܓ ܳܘܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܚ ܰ‬ ‫�‬
‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ ܰܚ ܺܣܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫‪165‬‬
‫ܫܠܛ ܶܒܗ ܰܡ ܰ�ܟ ܽܪ ܳ‬
‫ܘܓܙ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܰ‬
‫ܫܟܚ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܕܢ ܶܡܕ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ� ܶܐ ܰ‬
‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܶܦ ܳ‬
‫ܛܩܐ ܰܕܟܬܒ ܐ ܳܕܡ‪.‬‬
‫ܳܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬
‫�ܡܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܢܐ ܕܛܪܕ ̱ܗܘܐ‬
‫ܛܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܝܕ ܥܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ� ܳܟܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫‪170‬‬
‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬
‫ܟܕ ܦܓܥ ܒܗ ܟܣܗ ܕܡܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܦܫܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܟܚ ܰܢܫܘܙܶܒ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ� ܶܐ ܰ‬
‫ܳ‬
‫ܰܟܕ ܡܛܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܠܗ ܶ� ܳܕ ܳܢܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܰ ܽ ܰ ܳ‬
‫ܘܬ ܐ ܢܶ ܰ‬
‫ܛܥܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܐܗܪܘܢ ܡ‬
 52 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

175 the Lord called out to the son of Amram

and spoke with him, and said to him, 56
“Hear O Moses, I will speak to you,
and do not be sad because of this thing.
Do not be disheartened
180 at the news that befalls your hearing.
Do not let your mind be agitated
nor let distress take over your heart.
And may tears not overflow your eyes
at the sorrowful thing that I will tell you.
185 I do not want to see distress in you
because of this mystery that is between you and me.
And you should not come to despair
or became weak like everyone else.”
Then Moses answered
190 and said to God,
“Whatsoever your majesty desires
I will perform according to your will.”
The compassionate Lord said,
“Behold, I say to you Moses
195 the moment of your brother has come 57
to depart from this world.
The time of your brother has come
that another shall stand in his place.
The time of your brother has come

56
Num 20:23–26.
ܶ ܳ
57
“Has come” (‫ܠܗ‬ ‫])ܡܛܐ‬ Ethical dative, used for verbs of motion or
change of state.
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪53‬‬

‫ܡܪܡ‪:‬‬‫�ܒܪ ܰܥ ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܐ ܶܠܗ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫‪175‬‬

‫ܐܡܪ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܶܠܠ ܰ�ܥ ܶܡܗ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬

‫ܳ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܺ‬
‫ܫܡܥ ܐ ܰܡܪ ܳܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܘ ܡܘܫܐ‬
‫ܟܪܐ ܳܠܟ ܰܥܠ ܳܗܕܐ‪ܶ.‬‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܬܶ ܶ‬
‫ܥ� ܳܢܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬܩ ܰܛܥ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ܢܶ ܰ‬
‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫ܫܡܥܬܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܛ ܳܒܐ ܳܕܢ ܶܦܠ ܒܡ‬ ‫‪180‬‬
‫ܳ ܶ ܰܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬
‫ܪܥܝܬܟ‪:‬‬ ‫� ܬܬܕ ܘܕ ܬ‬
‫ܫܠܛ ܳܥܩܬܐ ܰܥܠ ܶ� ܳܒܟ‪.‬‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬܶ ܰ‬
‫�ܕ�ܢ ܶܕ ̈ܡܥܶܐ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܰܢ ܳ‬
‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܳܠܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳܫܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܪ�ܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫� ܐܚܙ ܐ ܒܟ ܟ‬ ‫‪185‬‬
‫ܳ‬
‫ܕܒܝܬ ܠܝ ܘܠܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܒܗ ܳܢܐ ܐ̱ ܳܪ ܳܙ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܒܪܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܦܣܩ ܰܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܬܐܬ ܐ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬
‫ܝ� ܰܐܝܟ ܽܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܺ ܳ‬
‫�ܢܫ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܬܗܘܐ ܡܚ‬
‫ܳ‬
‫ܗܦܟ ܦܬܓܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶ‬
‫ܽ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬
‫ܐܡܪ � ܳ� ܳܗܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܘܫܐ ܘ‬ ‫‪190‬‬
‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰܽ ܳ‬
‫ܗܘ ܡܐ ܕܨܒܝܐ ܪܒܘܬܟ‪:‬‬
‫ܒ� ܳܢܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܣ ܰܥܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܶܨ ܳ‬
‫‪74‬‬ ‫ܚܡ ܳܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܰܡܪ ܳܡ ܳ‬
‫ܘܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܗܐ ܳܐ ܰܡܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܳܠܟ ܽܡ ܶ‬
‫ܳ‬
‫ܡܛܐ ܶܠܗ ܶ� ܳܕ ܢܶܗ ܰܕ ܽܐܚܘܟ‪:‬‬ ‫‪195‬‬

‫�ܡܐ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܢܶ ܽܦܘܩ ܶܡܢ ܳܥ ܳ‬

‫ܳ‬
‫ܡܛܐ ܶܠܗ ܶ� ܳܕ ܢܶܗ ܰܕ ܽܐܚܘܟ‪:‬‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܕܐ ܺ‬
‫ܚܪ ܳܢܐ ܽܢܩܘܡ ܰܥܠ ܽܕܘܟܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬
‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܡܛܐ ܠܗ �ܕ ܢܗ ܕܐܚܘܟ‪:‬‬
 54 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

200 to take off the vestments of his office.

Now Moses, son of Amram
hear what I will say to you:
rise and lead your brother Aaron away,
and take Eleazar with you.
205 And go up to the particular mountain 58
which I shall tell you. 59
The three of you should gladly
complete the mysteries among yourselves.
Do not weep, O son of Amram,
210 and do not be sad for your brother Aaron.
There is no way that he not will be grieved, 60
for he will drink the cup of death.”
And say to Eleazar,
that his mind should not be troubled
215 when he sees Aaron his father
laid in the grave on the top of the mountain.”

[In the Meter] of Mor Jacob

The Lord called to Moses his servant and spoke with him,
“Arise and lead away your brother Aaron as you have been
commanded.
And lead away with him Eleazar, and he shall go with you.
220 For, he is to go up and put on the holy garments.
And he is also to enter in and to stand in the office of his father,
and I will make him a shepherd to stand over the flock.
And I will establish him as a priest to make atonement for Israel,

ܶ ܽ
58
“Particular mountain” (‫�ܚܕ ܶܡܢ ܛܘ� ܐ‬
ܰ )] Literally, “to one of the moun-
tains,” with the implication of a particular one.
59
Cf. Gen 22:2.
60
Other instances of the double negative occur in lines 242 and 256
below.
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪55‬‬

‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ̈ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫‪200‬‬
‫ܫܡܫܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܢܫܠܚ ܡܐܢܝ ܬ‬
‫ܰ‬
‫ܘܫܐ ܰܒܪ ܥܡܪܡ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܳܫܐ ܽܡ ܶ‬
‫ܐܡܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܳܠܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ ܳܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܰ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܩܘܡ ܽܕܒ ܳ‬
‫ܗܪܘܢ ܐ ܽܚܘܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܪܝ ̱ܗܝ �‬
‫ܝ� ܳܙܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣܒ ܰܥ ܳܡܟ ܶ� ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܽ ܶ‬
‫�ܚܕ ܶܡܢ ܛܘ�ܐ ܰܣܩ ܳܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫‪205‬‬

‫ܐܡܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܳܠܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܗܘ ܰܐ ܳܝܢܐ ܳܕ ܰ‬

‫ܳ ܰ̈ܽ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܝܚܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬܠܬ�ܟܘܢ ܒܚܘ‬
‫ܰܫ ܶܠܡܘ ܐ̱ ܳܪ ܳܙ ܐ ܰܒ ܳܝܢܬܟܘܢ‪.‬‬
‫ܽ‬
‫ܡܪܡ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܟܐ ܳܐܘ ܰܒܪ ܰܥ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ� ܬܶ ܶ‬
‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܰ‬
‫ܗܪܘܢ ܐ ܽܚܘܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ� ܬܟܪܐ �‬ ‫‪210‬‬
‫ܳ ܶ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܺ‬
‫ܕ� ܢܬܬܥܝܩ ܦܘܪܣܐ � ܐܝܬ‪:‬‬
‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬
‫ܕܡܘܬ ܐ ܳܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ�ܟܣܗ‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܺ ܳܳ ܶ‬
‫ܘ�ܠܝ�ܙܪ ܐܡܪ ܠܗ‪:‬‬
‫ܥ�ܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܬܕ ܰܘܕ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܕ� ܢܶ ܰ‬
‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܰ‬
‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ �ܗܪܘܢ ܐ ܽܒ ̱ܽ‬ ‫ܡܐ ܕ‬ ‫‪215‬‬
‫ܒܪܝܫ ܛܘܪܐ‪ܳ.‬‬ ‫ܬܥ ܶܦܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܟܕ ܶܡ ܰ‬
‫ܕܡܪܝ ܰ� ܽ‬
‫ܥܩܘܒ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܘܡ ܶܠܠ ܰ�ܥ ܶܡܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܕܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܰܥ ܶ‬
‫�ܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܪܐ ܶܠܗ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܗܪܘܢ ܰܐ ܽܚܘܟ ܰܐܝܟ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܘܪܝܗܝ � ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬
‫ܐܬܦ ܰܩܕܬ܀‬ ‫ܩܘܡ ܰܘ ܽܕܒ ̱ܶ‬
‫ܰܘ ܽܕܒܘܪ ܰܥ ܶܡܗ � ܺܠ ܳ‬
‫ܝ� ܳܙܪ ܺܘܢ ܰܐܙܠ ܰ�ܥ ܳܡܟ‪:‬‬
‫ܘܕܫܐ܀‬ ‫�ܒܫ ܳܡܐܢܰ̈ܝ ܽܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܗܘ ܶܓܝܪ ܺܐܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܕܢܶ ܰܣܩ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫‪220‬‬
‫ܽ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܺ‬
‫ܘܟܬ ܐ ܽܒ ̱‬
‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܬܘܒ ܐܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܕ�ܶ ܽܥܘܠ ܰܘ ܽܢܩܘܡ ܒܕ‬
‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܗ ܳܥ ܶܒܕ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܳܪ ܳ‬
‫ܪܥܝܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܥܝܐ ܰܕ ܽܢܩܘܡ ܥܠ ܡ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫ܣܪ�ܶܠ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܢܐ ܰܢܚ ܶܣܐ ܰܥܠ ܺ� ܳ‬ ‫ܡܩܝܡ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܳܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܗ ܽܗܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫̱‬
 56 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

and I will clothe with the ephod and the miter of his father Aa-
ron.
225 You, command him these words that I am saying to you:
let him purify himself from all wickedness in a holy manner.
And I will not see in him iniquity and impiety in any form,
and let him not approach the hateful deceit and be defiled by
it.”
These words were spoken by God,
230 and Moses heard all that he said to him with great love.

[Succession of Priesthood from Aaron to Eleazar]

Moses called Aaron his brother and Eleazar,
and he spoke with them the sad and distressing words.
“The path is laid down for you Aaron, and for Eleazar, and for
me,
for the Lord has said to me that we should go up to mount Hor
together.”
235 Moses led Aaron and Eleazar,
and they went off to journey to that mount Hor, as he was
commanded.
They reached and arrived at the top of the mountain just as they
were instructed,
and Moses began to console Aaron his brother.
A brother was saying such words as these to his brother, 61
240 with the great grief and sadness that seized them.
Moses said, “I will reveal to you, my brother, the secret that I
have,
there is truly no way for me not to reveal it.
Like a limb that is attached to its companion are you attached to
me,
and into the midst of Egypt, we entered as one as the Lord has
commanded us.

ܳ ܶܳ ‫ܟܡܐ‬ ܰ
ܳ ‫ ])ܐ‬This is formulaic in
61
“Saying such words as these” (‫ܕܗܠܝܢ ܐ ܰܡܪ‬
Jacob, as in, for example, On the Serpent of Brass 313 (HS I.63; Miller,
“On the Serpent of Brass,” 53).
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪57‬‬

‫ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬
‫�ܘܐ ܰܕܐܗܪܘܢ ܐ ܽܒ ̱‬
‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܗ ܡ�ܒܫ ܐ̱ܢܐ ܦ‬
‫ܶ‬
‫ܰܐܢ̱ܬ ܰܦ ܶܩ ܳܕܝ ̱ܗܝ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ̈ܡ� ܳܕ ܰ‬
‫ܶ‬
‫ܐܡܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܳܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫‪225‬‬
‫ܺ̈ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳܺ‬
‫‪75‬‬ ‫ܝܫܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܶܡܢ ܽܟܠ ܒܝܫܢ ܩܕ‬ ‫ܰܢܕ ܶܟܐ ܰܢ ܶ‬
‫ܣܟܝܡ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܚܕ ܶܡܢ ܶܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܫܥܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܶܒܗ ܰܥ ܳܘ� ܽܘܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܶܐ ܶ‬
‫ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܢܶ ܽ‬
‫ܩܪܘܒ ܶܠܗ ܢܶܟ� ܰܣ ܳܢܝܐ ܘܢܶ�ܛܐܐ ܶܒܗ܀‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ̈ܶ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܶ‬
‫ܬܡ ܰ�ܝ̈ܢ ܶܡܢ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܠܝܢ ܡ� ܐ‬
‫ܰ‬
‫ܘܒܐ ܪ ܳܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܠܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܟܠ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫‪230‬‬
‫ܘܗܝ ܘ� ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ � ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܝ� ܳܙܪ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܗܪܘܢ ܐ ܽܚ‬
‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܽ ̈ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܪ�ܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܡܠܠ�ܥܡܗܘܢ ܡ� ܕܚܫܐ ܘܕܟ‬
‫ܳ ܰ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܽܐ ܳ‬
‫ܦܠܬ ܺܠܝ ܘܠܟ ܐܗܪܘܢ ܘ�ܠܝ�ܙܪ‪:‬‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ܢܶ ܰ‬
‫�ܗܘܪ ܽܛ ܳ‬
‫ܘܪܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܟܚܕܐ ܢܶ ܰܣܩ ܽ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܐ̱ ܰܡܪ ܺܠܝ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܝ� ܳܙܪ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܪܘܢ ܶܘ� ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܰ� ܽ‬ ‫ܕܒܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫‪235‬‬

‫ܐܬܦ ܰܩܕ܀‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘ ܽܗܘܪ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܩܘ ܕܢܶ ܽܪܕܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬
‫ܝ�ܦܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܺܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܐ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܛܘ ܰܥܠ ܺܪܝܫ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܰ ܰ ܰ‬
‫ܡܢܥܘ ܘ‬
‫ܳ ܰ ܽ ܽܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺܪܝ ܡ ܶ‬
‫ܽ‬
‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܰܳܕܢ�ܒܒ ̱ܗܘܐ � ܰܗܪ ܰܘܢ ܐܚ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܟܡܐ ܳܕܗܠܝܢ ܐ ܰܡܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܠܗ ܐ ܳܚܐ � ܽܚ ̱‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳ‬
‫ܰܳ ܰܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܶ‬
‫ܐܚܕܬ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܒܚܫܐ ܪܒܐ ܘܒܟܪ�ܘܬ ܐ ܕ‬ ‫‪240‬‬
‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܰ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬
‫ܘܫܐ ܐܓ� ܳܠܟ ܐܚܝ ܐ̱ܪ ܳܙ ܐ ܕܐܝܬ ܠܝ‪:‬‬‫ܺ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܡ‬
‫ܰ ܺ ܳܺ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬
‫ܝܘܗܝ ܫܪܝܪܐܝܬ ܦܘܪܣܐ � ܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰܘܕ� ܐܓܠ‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟ ܰܗ ܳܕ ܳܡܐ ܰܕܢ ܺܩܝܦ ܰܚ ܶ‬
‫ܒܪܗ ܺܠܝ ܰܢ ܺܩܝܦ ܐܢ̱ܬ‪:‬‬
‫ܦܩܕ ܰܠܢ܀‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܢܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓܘ ܶܡ ܶ�ܪܝܢ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܚܕ ܰܥ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬
 58 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

245 Also, we performed miracles together among the Egyptians,

when I was standing before Pharaoh you aided me.
And when the staff was changed into a snake you threw it down,
when the magicians arose against me, we were as one.
When their staffs had become dragons and were nearby,
250 we did not separate from each other among the Egyptians.
Death has come and will now separate us from each other,
but the commandment of the Lord will be fulfilled by us accord-
ing to his will.
You have repaid me valuable recompenses, Aaron, as is fitting,
and you have performed with me brotherly love that is without
blemish.
255 And now, Aaron, the common debt has unexpectedly come upon
you,
and there is no way that you cannot drink the cup of death.
That bond that Adam bequeathed has now arrived, 62
and a brother is not able to redeem his brother, just as it is writ-
ten.
So now, Aaron, do not be sad that the end has come, 63
260 and do not let there be one thought of mournfulness in you.
See that you do not become a stranger to the Lord for the sake
of grief,
for, there are none born who do not taste the cup of death.
Adam tasted it, and now it is handed down through all genera-
tions,
do not be sad, for your son is appointed priest in your stead.

62 ܶ ܳܶ
“Arrived” (‫ ])ܐܬ ܐ ܠܗ‬Ethical dative, used for verbs of motion or change
of state.
63 ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ
“Don’t be sad” (‫ ])� ܬܟܪ ܐ ܠܟ‬Cf. Ephrem, Hymns on Paradise 5.13–14,
where Ephrem is surprised by those who cry in the face of death. This
theme is treated in Wickes, “The Poetry of Grief in Jacob’s Memre on
Cain and Abel.”
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪59‬‬

‫ܣܥ ܰܪܢܢ ܶܒܝܬ ܶܡ ܳ���ܶܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܚܕܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡ� ܳܬ ܐ ܰܐܝܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܐܦ ܬܶ ܳ‬ ‫‪245‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܟܕ ܳܩܐܶܡ ̱ܗ ܺܘܝܬ ܽܠ ܰ‬
‫ܪܥܘܢ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܰ� ܰܕܪܬܢܝ܀‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܦ‬
‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬
‫ܪܡܝܬܝ ̱ܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܐܫܬܚܠܦ ܚܘܛܪܐ �ܚܘ�ܐ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܐ‬
‫‪76‬‬ ‫ܗܘ ܰܝܢܢ܀‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠܝ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܚܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܟܕ ܰܚ ܳ� ܶܫܐ ܳܩܡܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܽܠ ܰ‬
‫ܝܒܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ܰܬ ܺ� ̈�ܢܶܐ ܰܩ ܺܪ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܛ� ܽܝܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܽܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܒܪܗ ܶܒܝܬ ܶܡ ܳ���ܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܩܢܢ ܰܚܕ ܶܡܢ ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ� ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫‪250‬‬
‫ܘܗܐ ܳܦ ܶܪܫ ܰܠܢ ܰܚܕ ܶܡܢ ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬
‫ܒܪܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܐܬ ܐ ܡ‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܪ�ܐ ܢܫܬܡ� ܒܢ ܐܝܟ ܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܘܩܕܢ ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬
‫ܒ�ܢܗ܀‬
‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܽ ̈ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬
‫ܟܡܐ ܳܕܘ�‪:‬‬ ‫ܦܪܥܬܢܝ ܐܗܪܘܢ ܚܘܒ� ܛܒܐ ܐ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܡܠܝܬ ܶ� ܰܐܕܝ ܽܚܘ ܳܒܐ ܰܕ ܳܐܚܐ ܕܠܝܬ ܒܗ ܡܘܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܥܠܝܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܪܨܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܬ ܰܓ ܳܘܐ ܥܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܪܘܢ ܰܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܰܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫‪255‬‬
‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܺ‬
‫ܘܪܣܐ � ܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܘܕ� ܬܫܬܐ ܟܣܗ ܕܡܘܬ ܐ ܦ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬
‫ܐܪܦܝ ܐ ܳܕܡ ܳܗܐ ܐܬ ܐ ܶܠܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘ ܐܫܛܪܐ ܕ‬
‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܘܗܝ � ܡ� ܐ ܦܪܩ ܐܟܡܐ ܕܟܬܝܒ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳܐܚܐ � ܽܚ‬
‫ܳ‬
‫ܟܪܐ ܳܠܟ ܰܕܡܛܐ ܶܩ ܳ� ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܪܘܢ ܳ� ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܫܐ ܰܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܝܪܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘ� ܢܗܘܐ ܒܟ ܚܕ ܪܥ�ܢܐ ܕܟܡ‬ ‫‪260‬‬
‫ܳ ܳ ܶܰ ܳ ܳ‬
‫ܘܟܪܝ �ܡܪ�ܐ ܒܥܠܬ ܥܩܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙܝ ܳ� ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬
‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܠܝܬ ܺܒ ܺ‬
‫ܝ� ̈� ܶܕܐ ܕ� ܛܥܶܡ ܶܠܗ �ܟܣܗ ܕܡܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܺ‬
‫ܬ� ܰܒܠ ܰ�ܥܠ ܽܟܠ ܳܕ �ܝܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܡܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܐ ܳܕܡ ܰܛ ܶ‬
‫ܚ� ܰܦܝܟ܀‬ ‫ܗܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܪܟ ܳܩܐܶܡ ܳܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܪܐ ܳܠܟ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ܬܶ ܶ‬
 60 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

265 The Lord wants the young man to enter and to take your place;
he said to me that Eleazar will serve as priest instead of you.”
Then the Lord signaled Moses, 64 saying to him,
“Why are you waiting—approach and disrobe Aaron your broth-
er.
Remove from him the holy garments of the priesthood office
270 and with them clothe Eleazar, the priest I have chosen.
Remove from him the holy order of the sons of Levi,
and strip your brother naked—he goes towards death.
Your father Adam stood naked among the trees,
now you, strip him of the priesthood and let him depart. 65
275 He came into the world holy, without blemish,
and because he has not sinned against me, I will lead him away
holy.”
Moses came towards his brother as he had been commanded,
and Aaron saw him coming towards him and bowed his head.
Aaron the priest had allowed that he should have stripped off
himself
280 the vestments of the priest, and then he would go to the New
World.
Moses approached and placed his hands upon his head,
and removed the crown of glory and gave it to his son.
He removed the well-loved miter from him, that he used to
wear, 66
and he gave it to his son, that he might enter and perform his
service.

64
“The Lord summoned” (‫ܪܡܙ‬ ܳ ‫ ]) ܳܡ‬Here and line 309 the Lord sum-
ܰ ‫ܪ�ܐ‬
mons Moses with a gesture in order to push the narrative forward. In-
herent in the line is a poignant sense of Moses’s reluctance to see his
brother die. ܳ ܽ ܽ
65
“Strip him of the priesthood” (‫ܗܝ ܶܡܢ ܟܘܡܪܘܬ ܐ‬
ܰ ‫ ]) ܰܐ‬Interesting iden-
̱ ‫ܫ� ܳܚܝ‬
tity of priesthood and priestly robes.
66
Ex 28:40.
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪61‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܕ�ܶ ܽܥܘܠ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬

‫�ܒܘܟ ܽܕܘܟܬܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܨܒܐ ܶܒܗ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫‪265‬‬
‫ܶ‬
‫ܚ� ܰܦܝܟ܀‬ ‫ܢܟ ܶܗܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܙܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܗܘ ܐ ܰܡܪ ܺܠܝ ܶܕ ܺܐܠ ܳ‬
‫ܳ‬
‫ܘܫܐ ܰܟܕ ܐ ܰܡܪ ܶܠܗ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܡܙ ܶܠܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶ‬
‫ܰ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܘܒ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡܘܢ ܳܩܐܶܡ ܰܐܢܬ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬
‫ܗܪܘܢ ܐ ܽܚܘܟ܀‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܚܝ ̱ܗܝ �‬ ‫̱‬
‫ܽ ̈ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܘܡܪܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܪܺܝܡ ܶܡܢܶܗ �ܒܘܫܝ ܩܘܕܫܐ ܕܒܝܬ ܟ‬
‫‪77‬‬ ‫ܓܒܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܗܢܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܙܪ ܳܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ�ܒܫ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܶ� ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫‪270‬‬

‫ܟܣܐ ܰܕܒܢ̈ܝ ܶ� ܺܘܝ‪:‬‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐܪܺܝܡ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܶܛ ܳ‬
‫ܳ‬
‫ܘܩܒܠ ܰܡܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܫܠܚ ܰ� ܽܚܘܟ ܳܐ ܙܶܠ ܽ�ܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܛܠ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬
‫ܘܥ‬
‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫ܰܥܪܛܠ ܳܩܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܐ ܽܒܘܟ ܐ ܳܕܡ ܶܒܝܬ ܐ�̈ ܳ�ܢܶܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܶܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܐܢ̱ܬ ܰܐ ܰ‬
‫ܫܪܝ ̱ܗܝ ܐ ܙܠ܀‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܚܝ ̱ܗܝ ܡܢ ܟܘܡܪ‬
‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳܺ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬
‫ܡܟܬܡ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ܶ�ܠܗ �ܥ�ܡܐ ܩܕܝܫܐܝܬ ܟܕ �‬ ‫‪275‬‬
‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܺ ܳܺ‬
‫ܝܫܐܝܬ ܳܕ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܶܠܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܕ� ܚܛܐ ܠܝ ܩܕ‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܩܪܒ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫ܘܗܝ ܐܝܟ ܕܐܬܦܩܕ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܶܠܘܩܒܠ ܐܚ ̱‬
‫ܝܫܗ܀‬ ‫ܐܪܟܢ ܺܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܠܗ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫�ܩ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܪܘܢ ܳܕܐܬ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܙܝܗܝ ܰܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬
‫̱‬
‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬
‫ܗܢܐ ܢܶܫܐ ܰܠܚ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ� ̱ܗܒ ̱ܗܘܐ ܢܦܫܗ ܐܗܪܘܢ ܟ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܳܐ ܙܶܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶ‬‫ܗܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܡܐܢܰ̈ܝ ܳܟ ܳ‬
‫�ܡܐ ܰܚܕܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫‪280‬‬
‫ܘܗܝ �ܥܶܠ ܶܡܢ ܺܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫ܝܫܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܪܡܝ ܐ ̈ܝ ܰܕ ̱‬ ‫ܩܪܒ ̱ܗܘܐ ܡܘܫܐ ܘ‬
‫ܶܶ ܺ ܳ‬
‫ܒܪܗ܀‬ ‫ܗܒܗ ܰܠ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܽ‬ ‫ܩܦܠ ܡܢܗ ܟܠ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܐܪܺܝܡ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܰܟ ܳ‬
‫ܪܚܝܡܬܐ ܳܗܝ ܰܕܬ� ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܘܐ ܺ‬
‫ܰ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬
‫ܫܡܫܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܒܪܗ ܕ�ܶ ܽܥܘܠ ܢܶ ܽܩܘܡ ܥܠ�ܬ‬ ‫ܗܒ ̇ܗ ܰܠ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬
 62 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

285 He removed from him the ephod and the headcover that he
wore,
and put them on Eleazar in the presence of his father.
Aaron stood and was looking at him who was stripping him,
and he was not put out that he was removing his holy garments.
He was stripped and was naked of his priesthood,
290 and the young man approached and received the mysteries of
the house of God.
And Aaron stood and was gazing at his son then,
dressed in his long garments and standing there resplendent like
a Levite.
He was looking at a young priest, and a noble priest, 67
and he rejoiced in his presence, and his heart was glad that he
stood in his place.
295 He was wearing the crown and the ephod and the miter with the
headcover,
and he wore the stole as well as the sash atop all of it. 68
And the waistband and the golden bells that were set in it,
also, the twelve pomegranates that depicted a great mystery. 69
He was adorned like a bridegroom for the banqueting hall,

67
“Noble priest” (‫ܗ�ܐ‬
ܳ ܽ
ܳ ‫ ])ܟܘܡܪܐ ܰܙ‬Cf. line 36. On the collocation of ‫ ܟܗܢܐ‬and
‫ ܟܘܡܪܐ‬see, Bou Mansour, Le ministère sacerdotal, 13.
68
Certain items of the priestly vestments as described inܳ Ex 28 and 39
are
ܶ
ܳ omitted.
ܶ What remains in this text are the ephod (‫)ܦܕܬ ܐ‬, the stole
ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ
(�‫)ܐܤܛ‬, and the sash (‫)ܗܡ�ܢܐ‬, and the waistband (‫ )ܦܪ ܙܘܡܐ‬with golden
ܳ ‫ ) ܰܙ ̈ܶܓܐ ܰܕܕ‬and pomegranates (‫ܘܡܢܶܐ‬
bells (‫ܗܒܐ‬ ܳ �ܽ ). The head is adorned with a
ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ‫ ) ܰܟ‬and a crown (�‫ܝ‬ ܳ ܺ
headcover (‫)ܡܨܢܦܬܐ‬, a miter (‫�ܘܐ‬ ܳ ܽ ܳ ̈ܰ ܳ ‫)ܟܠ‬. Together these
are the “vestments ܶ of the priesthood” (‫)ܡܐܢܝ ܟܗܢܘܬ ܐ‬, the “vestments of
ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ ‫�ܒ ̈ܘ ܰܫܝ ܽܩ‬
his office” (‫ܫܡܫܬܗ‬ ‫) ܳܡܐܢ̈ܝ ܬ‬, the “holy garments”
ܳ ܽ ܽ (‫ܘܕܫܐ‬
ܽ ), or “the
holy garments of the priesthood office” (‫ܫܝ ܩܘܕܫܐ ܕܒܝܬ ܟܘܡܪܘܬ ܐ‬ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܰ ‫�ܒ ̈ܘ‬
ܽ ).
69
Ex 28:31–34.
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪63‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܺ ܶܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬
‫�ܒܝܫ ܐܦ ܰܡ ܰܨܢܦܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܪܝܡ ܡܢܗ ܦܕܬ ܐ ܕ‬ ‫‪285‬‬
‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܶܽ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܰ ܰ‬
‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܐ�ܒܫ ܐܢܘܢ �ܠܝ�ܙܪ ܩܘܕܡܬ ܐܒ ̱‬ ‫ܘ‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳܰ‬
‫ܩܐܡ ܐܗܪܘܢ ܚܐܪ ̱ܗܘܐ ܒܗ ܕܡܫܠܚ ܠܗ‪:‬‬
‫�ܒ ̈ܘܫܝ ܩܘܕܫܐ܀‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪܝܡ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܬܥܝܩ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬
‫̱‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܶܡ ܺ‬
‫ܶ ܽ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܠܚ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬
‫ܘܡܪܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܥܪܛܠ ܡܢ ܟ‬ ‫ܐ‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶܒܠ ܐ̱ ܳ� ܙܶ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬
‫ܕܒܝܬ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܒ ܛ ܳ‬ ‫‪290‬‬

‫‪78‬‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ‪:‬‬‫ܒܪܗ ܳܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܐܰܪ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܒܗ ܰܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܪܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܐܶܡ ܰܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬

‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫̱‬
‫ܰ‬
‫�ܒܝܫ ܰܢܚܬܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܰܘ ܶܙܗܐ ܳܩܐܡ ܐܝܟ ܶ� ܳܘ ܳ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܰܕ ܺ‬
‫ܘܡܪܐ ܰܙ ܳ‬
‫ܗ�ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܢܐ ܰܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܚܐܰܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܒܗ ܳ‬
‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܨܝܚ ܶ� ܶܒܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܠܗ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫�ܩ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܕܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܚ�ܦ ̱‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܕܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬
‫�ܘܐ ܰܥܡ ܰܡ ܰܨܢܦܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒܝܫ ̱ܗܘܐ ܟܠܝ� ܘܦ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫‪295‬‬
‫ܡ� ܳܢܐ �ܥܶܠ ܶܡܢ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܤܛ� ܳܐܦ ܶܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ ܳ‬
‫�ܗܘܢ܀‬ ‫ܘ�ܒܝܫ ܐ‬
‫ܣܕ ܺܝܪܝܢ ܶܒܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܘܙ ̈ܓܐ ܰܕܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܦܪ ܽܙ ܳ‬‫ܰܘ ܳ‬
‫ܥܣܪ ܳܕܨ ܺܝܪܝܢ ܐ̱ ܳܪ ܳܙ ܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܬܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܢܶܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܐܦ ܽ� ܳ‬
‫ܽ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬
‫�ܒܝܬ ܶܡܫܬܘܬ ܐ ܐ�ܛ ܰܒܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܡܘܬ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܒ ܽ‬
 64 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

300 this young man who would become the priest for the tabernacle.
And while both brothers were standing on the top of the moun-
tain,
Aaron was stripped, like Adam, among the trees.
And Eleazar was clothed in the priesthood of the house of God,
and Moses stood and held back his tender feelings lest he should
have wept. 70
305 And who is it who has a heart of stone and would not weep 71
when he looked and saw Aaron stripped and draw near to
death?
Who could have seen him stripped and standing without the
priesthood,
and not bring forth streams of tears from his eyes?

[In the Meter] of Mor Ephrem

[Farewell, Blessing, and Burial]

The Lord signaled to the son of Amram
310 saying, “Why are you standing about, O Moses.
Approach and bid farewell to your brother
and let him go to his mansion. 72
For an angel is now standing
and watching you, for the moment you release him.
315 And unless you bid him farewell,
the angel cannot lead him away.
Unless you release him, O Moses,
death has no authority over him.
Approach now, Moses, and close his (eyes)—

70
Note use of present tense to catch the feeling of this moment.
71 ܳ ܺ ܶ
“Heart of stone” (‫ ])� ܳܒܐ ܕܟܐܦܐ‬Metaphor from Ez 11.19 (and 36:26)
taken up by Ephrem, as in Hymns on Faith 81.14 (Wickes, Hymns on
Faith, 379) and, in comparison with the stone of Ex 17.6, Hymns on
Faith 84.5 (Wickes, Hymns on Faith, 388). This line achieves greater
pathos with the metaphor.
72
Jn 14:2.
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪65‬‬

‫ܒܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܫܟܢ ܰܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳܟ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܕܢܶ ܶ‬‫ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܰܛ ܳ‬ ‫‪300‬‬
‫ܬ� ܽܝܗܘܢ ܰܥܠ ܺܪܝܫ ܽܛ ܳ‬
‫ܘܪܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܐ ̈ܶܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܳܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫̱‬
‫ܕܡܘܬ ܐ ܳܕܡ ܶܒܝܬ ܐ�̈ ܳ�ܢܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܫܠܝܚ ܐܗܪܘܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬
‫ܶ ܺ ܳܳ ܺ ܽ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬
‫ܕܒܝܬ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܐܠܝ�ܙܪ �ܒܝܫ ܟܘܡܪܘܬ ܐ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܶܟܣ ܰ� ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܽ ܶ ܳ‬
‫ܘܗܝ ܕ� ܢܒܟܐ ̱ܗܘܐ܀‬ ‫ܚܡ ̱‬ ‫ܘܩܐܡ ܡܘܫܐ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܽܢܘ ܺܕܐܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܶ� ܳܒܐ ܺܕܟ ܳ‬
‫ܐܦܐ ܘ� ܳܒ ܶܟܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫‪305‬‬

‫ܢܡܘܬ܀‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶܪܒ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܠܝܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܪܘܢ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܕܚܐܰܪ ܳܚ ܶܙ ܐ ܰ� ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬

‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙܝܗܝ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܰܕ ܳ‬
‫ܗܢܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܫܠܝܚ ܘܩܐܡ ܡܢ ܟ‬ ‫̱‬
‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܘ� ܰܡܝܬܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܬ ̈ܦܐ ܶܕܕ ̈ܡܥܶܐ ܶܡܢ ܳܒ ̈ܒܬܗ܀‬
‫ܳܡܪܝ ܰܐ ܶ‬
‫ܦܪܝܡ‪.‬‬
‫�ܒܪ ܰܥ ܰ‬
‫ܡܪܡ‪:‬‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܡܙ ܶܠܗ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܘܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܡܘܢ ܳܩܐܶܡ ܰܐܢ̱ܬ ܳܐܘ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫‪310‬‬
‫ܳ ܳ ܽܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬
‫ܩܪܘܒ ܰܗܒ ܶܠܗ ܫ�ܡܐ �ܚܘܟ‪:‬‬
‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬
‫ܝܘܗܝ ܐ ܙܶܠ � ܳܘ ܢܶܗ‪.‬‬
‫̱‬ ‫ܫܪ‬
‫ܶ ܰ‬
‫ܳܕܗܐ ܶܓܝܪ ܳܩܐܡ ܰܡ� ܳܟܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܰ‬
‫ܘܚܐܪ ܳܠܟ ܕ� ܰܡܬܝ ܬܫܪ ̱‬
‫ܝܘܗܝ‪.‬‬
‫‪79‬‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܒܬ ܶܠܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܳܐ� ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫‪315‬‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫� ܳܕ ܰܒܪ ܶܠܗ ܰܡ� ܳܟܐ‪.‬‬
‫ܘܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܘܗܝ ܳܐܘ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳ� ܬܶ ܶ‬
‫ܫܪ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܰ‬
‫� ܶܡܫܬ ܰܠܛ ܶܒܗ ܰܡܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬
‫ܘܥ ܶܡ ܳܨܝ ̱ܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܘܒ ܳܠܟ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬
 66 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

320 for you have tarried a long time on the mountain—

lest the people make an idol
to worship it, as is their habit.” 73
Moses said to God,
“How can I approach and shut his eyes,
325 for he stands and is speaking with me;
how is he able to have his eyes shut?”
The Lord said to Moses,
“You only need to bid him farewell,
and the angel will come immediately
330 and take his soul from his body.”
While the son of Amram was standing
and speaking with God,
the young man approached his father
and he lowered his head and bowed down to him.
335 And as (Moses) was saying these things
Eleazar was with his father,
saying, “Bestow blessings on me my father,
and then you may leave me.”
Then his father opened his mouth
340 and lifted his eyes to heaven
and with tears and sighs
he offered up a prayer to God.
“May the God before whom I have stood
in purity and holiness,

73
Ex 32:1.
‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪67‬‬

‫ܘܚܪܬ ܰܥܠ ܽܛ ܳ‬
‫ܘܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܣ ܺܓܝ ܰܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫‪320‬‬

‫ܟܪܐ‪:‬‬‫ܦܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܥܒܕ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‬ ‫ܳܕ� ܢܶ ܶ‬
‫ܥ� ܳܕܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܓܘܕ ܶܠܗ ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܢܶ ܽ‬
‫ܳܰ ܽ ܶ ܰ‬
‫ܘܫܐ � ܳ� ܳܗܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܡ‬
‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܶ‬
‫ܝܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܟܢ ܐܩܪܘܒ ܐܥܡܨ ̱‬
‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ ܰ�ܥܡܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܕܩܐܶܡ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫‪325‬‬

‫ܬܥ ܰܡܨ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܟܢ ܰܡ ܳܨ�ܐ ܕܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܰ‬

‫ܘܫܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܐ ܰܡܪ ܶܠܗ ܳܡ ܳ‬
‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ ܰܒ ܽ‬
‫�ܚܘܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܐܢ̱ܬ ܰܗܒ ܶܠܗ ܳ‬
‫ܶ ܳ ܳܶ ܰ‬
‫ܚܕܐ ܐܬ ܐ ܰܡ� ܳܟܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܡ‬
‫ܓܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܶܡܢ ܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳܘܢ ܶܣܒ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫‪330‬‬

‫ܡܪܡ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܳܩܐܶܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܒܪ ܰܥ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬

‫ܰ‬
‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ ܰ�ܥܡ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬
‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܶܨܝܕ ܐ ܽܒ ̱‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܒ ܰܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬
‫ܣܓܕ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܫܗ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܪܟܢ ܺܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܶ‬
‫ܳ‬
‫ܐܟܡܐ ܳܕܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܐ ܰܡܪ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫‪335‬‬

‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬
‫ܰ‬
‫ܝ� ܳܙܪ ܶܨܝܕ ܳ ܐ ܽܒ ̱‬ ‫ܶܐ ܺܠ ܳ‬
‫ܽ ܳ ܳ‬
‫ܘ�ܟܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܫ ܶܟܢ ܺܠܝ ܐܒܝ ܒ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬
‫ܘܟܢ ܐ ܙܶܠ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܶܡܢ ܶ� ܰܐܕܝ‪.‬‬
‫ܰ ܽ ܶ ܰ‬
‫ܘܡܗ ܐ ܽܒ ̱‬
‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܦܬܚ ܦ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶ‬
‫ܘܗܝ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘܬ� ܰ� ̈� ܰܢ ̱‬ ‫‪340‬‬
‫ܰ ܶ̈ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ‬
‫ܒܚܢ̈ ܳܓܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܒܕܡܥܐ ܘ‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܨܠܘܬ ܐ ܰܩ ܶܪܒ �� ܳܗܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܕܡ ̱‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܳܕܩ ܶܡܬ ܽܩ ܰ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܘܩ ܺܕ ܽܝܫܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܕܟܝ‬
 68 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

345 may He bless your youth my son,

and grant you tender mercies in the presence of the people.
May the Son, who is ready to become a child
and to save the ages with his grace,
grant you a way of life
350 that leads to godliness.
May the Mighty One, who by means of his divine will
everything came into existence,
grant you a mind
that God is pleased with.
355 May the Judge who will come and judge
his creation at the end of times,
grant you at every moment
to serve in his presence honorably.
May that one who conferred the priesthood on me—
360 and I stood in his presence honorably—
enable you to make atonement for
the sins and the debts of the camp.
And may He receive from your hands
the pure and holy incense,
365 and the offering of faith
that is offered in purity.
May the Lord who gave the priesthood
to the high priest Melchizedek, 74
grant you perfection 75

74
Melchizedek is also referred to as a ‫( ܟܘܡܪܐ‬kumro) in Jacob’s works,
unlike Ephrem and Aphrahat (Bou Mansour, Le ministère sacerdotal, 14).
75 ܳ
“Perfection” (‫ ]) ܽܫܘܡ� ܳܝܐ‬On this term see, Bou Mansour, Le ministère
sacerdotal, 202 n. 33.
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪69‬‬

‫ܽ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬
‫�ܝܘܬܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘ ܢܒܪܟ ܒܪܝ ܛ‬ ‫‪345‬‬
‫ܳ‬
‫ܩܕܡ ܥܡܐ‪.‬‬‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܒ� ܶ‬ ‫ܬܠܟ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ܳ‬
‫ܗܘܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܝܕ ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺ‬
‫�ܕܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܪܐ ܕ‬
‫ܰ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ܽ‬
‫ܦܪܘܩ ܥ�ܡܐ ܒܛܝܒܘܬܗ‪.‬‬
‫ܽ ܶ ܶ‬
‫ܘܒ ܶ�ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬܠ ܳ�ܠܟ ܽܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘ ܢ‬
‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܕܡܪܥܝܢ ��ܗܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫‪350‬‬

‫ܡܙܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܝܕ ܶܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܓܢ̱ ܳܒ ܳܪܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬

‫ܗܘ ܳ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ̱ ܳܬ ܐ ܽܟܠ ܶܡ ܶܕܡ ܰܠ ܳ‬
‫ܬܠ ܳ�ܠܟ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܶ‬
‫ܥ� ܳܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘ ܢ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬
‫ܕܡܬܪܥܐ ܒܗ ܐ�ܗܐ‪.‬‬
‫ܶ ܶ‬
‫ܰܕ ܳ� ܳܢܐ ܳܕܐܬ ܐ ܳܕܐܢ‪:‬‬ ‫‪355‬‬
‫ܰܰ ܰ̈ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ‬
‫��ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܚܪܬ ܙܒܢܐ ܒ‬
‫ܽ ܶ ܶ‬
‫‪80‬‬ ‫ܒܟܠ ܶ� ܳܕܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬܠ ܳ�ܠܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘ ܢ‬
‫ܰ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܬܫ ܶܡܫ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܘܗܝ ܙܗ�ܐܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܕܡ‬
‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܺ ̱ܳ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܗܘ ܕܫܟܢ ܠܝ ܟܗܢܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܰ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶܡܬ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܘܗܝ ܙܗ�ܐܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܕܡ ̱‬ ‫‪360‬‬
‫ܬܠ ܳ�ܠܟ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܶ‬
‫ܬܚ ܶܣܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘ ܢ‬
‫ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬
‫ܚܛܗܐ ܘܚܘܒܐ ܕܡܫܪܝܬܐ‪.‬‬
‫ܺ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ‬
‫ܡܩ ܶܒܠ ܶܡܢ ܐ ̈ܝ ܰܕܝܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ܶ‬
‫ܝܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ܺܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܶ ܳ‬
‫ܽ ܳܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬
‫ܝܡ ܽܢܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܩܘܪܒܢܐ ܕܗ‬ ‫‪365‬‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܟܝܘܬ ܐ ܶܡܬܩܪܒ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܒܕ‬
‫ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܳܡܪ�ܐ ܕ� ̱ܗܒ ܠܗ ܟܗܢܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܗܢܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܙܕܩ ܳܟ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܬܠ ܳ�ܠܟ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܶ‬
‫ܘܡ� ܳܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܗܘ ܢ‬
 70 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

370 in the rank that you have received today.

The power that heavenly beings put on
in the ministration of light and spirit,
may you be made (similarly) glorious in the ministration
and triumph against all evils. 76
375 May the Good One who is full of blessings
and his tender mercies are immeasurable,
open the door of his tender mercies
and answer your requests.
May the Just one who is full of joyful things—
380 and the just ones are always awaiting him—
grant you joyful times
that you may rejoice in them all your days.
May the Levites listen to you
and may they be guided by means of your will.
385 And may the people be respectful in your presence
and not resist the word of your mouth.
From you will the sons of Israel
receive the laws and the commandments.
And in every generation of the eternities
390 may the news of your priesthood go forth.
And may the Lord be a companion to you,
and a guardian in every season.
And may he entrust the priesthood to you
that you may give pleasure to his godliness.

76
This quatrain lacks the balance of those preceding and following,
suggesting a problem in transmission.
‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪71‬‬

‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܓܐ ܰܕܩ ܶܒܠܬ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܒܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫‪370‬‬

‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܘܗܝ ܥܶ ܳ�ܝ̈ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܫ ̱‬ ‫ܕܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܚܝ� ܰ‬
‫ܘܪܐ ܽܘܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬܐ ܽܕܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ‬
‫ܘܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܬܫܡ‬
‫ܶܰܶ ܳ̇ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬
‫ܬܙܕܗܐ ܒܗ ܒܬܫܡܫܬܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܶ ܶ ܽ ܶ ܺ̈ܳ ܳ‬
‫ܘܬܙܟܐ �ܟ�ܗܝܢ ܒܝܫܬܐ‪.‬‬
‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫‪375‬‬
‫ܘ�ܟܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܛܒܐ ܕܡ� ܒ‬
‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫�� ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬
‫ܘܗܝ ܟܝ� � ܐܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܚܡ‬
‫ܚܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰܕ� ܶ‬ ‫ܦܬܚ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܰ‬
‫ܗܘ ܢ‬
‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܳ ܳ‬
‫ܘܢܦܢܐ ܠܟ ܫܐܠܬܟ‪.‬‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫ܺܟ ܳܐܢܐ ܰܕܡ� ܰܚ ̈ܕ ܳܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܡܣ ܶܟܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟܐܢ̈ܶܐ ܶܠܗ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫‪380‬‬
‫ܽ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ̈ܳ ܳ‬
‫ܗܘ ܢܬܠ�ܠܟ ܚܕܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫̈‬
‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܝܘܡܝܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܗܘܢ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܕܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܕܬܶ ܶ‬
‫ܳ ܶ ܰ‬
‫ܡܥܘܢ ܶ� ܳܘ�̈ܶܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܫܬ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܟ ܢ‬
‫ܽ‬
‫ܒܝܕ ܪܡܙܟ ܢܬܕܒܪܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬
‫ܘܕܡܝܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܚܠ ܰ�ܥ ܳܡܐ ܶܡܢ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫‪385‬‬

‫ܘܡܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܨܘܢ ܶܡ ܰܠܬ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܢܶ ܽ‬

‫ܣܒܝܢ ܳܢ ܽܡ ̈ܘ ܶܣܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶܡ ܳܢܟ ܳܢ ܺ‬
‫ܒܢ̈ܝ ܺ� ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ̈ ܳܶ ܰ‬
‫ܣܪ�ܶܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܦܘܩܕ ܢܐ‬
‫ܰ ܽ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ‬
‫ܘܒܟ�ܗܘܢ ܕ � ܐ ܕܥ�ܡܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܶܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܗܢܘܬܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܶ ܽܦܘܩ ܛܒ ̇ܗ ܕܟ‬ ‫‪390‬‬

‫ܘ�ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܶܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳܠܟ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ܶ‬

‫�� ܳܕܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳܢܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬
‫ܽ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܘܗܘ ܢܓܥܠ�ܠܟ ܟܗܢܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ‬
‫ܝܚܐ � ܳ� ܽܗܘܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܡܢ‬
 72 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

395 May he be to you a good hope, 77

even God, the Lord of All.
And may He direct all your thoughts,
that they may not be separated from converse with him.
May God be to you
400 a director and a ruler;
by the word of his mouth shall you be led
and you shall not turn aside from his commandments.
You are his laborer now,
do not cease from his labor.
405 See that you do not turn aside from his way
and become like a stranger.
May the prayers of Aaron your father
be with you, O good Levite,
and guard your footsteps
410 in the presence of the Ark of God. 78
May the Holy One, whose door is open
to all who call on Him in love,
receive your blessings my son
and your prayers and your petitions.
415 May the One who is in heaven and on earth
that is on high and down below,
grant you that you may please him
with works and righteousness.
May the divine Mediator 79

ܳ ܳ
77
“A good hope” (‫ ]) ܰܣܒܪ ܐ ܛ ܳܒܐ‬Early collocation for the hope founded in
God and Christ. See, Wisdom of Solomon 12:19; Lk 2:14 and 2 Thes
2:16, and Ephrem, Hymns on Nativity 23.6 (McVey 188) following Lk
2:14. Used more obliquely in Bardaisan, Book of the Laws of Countries
20.15 (Drijvers 20–21).
78 ܳ ܽܳ
“Ark of God” (‫ ])ܐ ܪܘܢܶܗ ܰܕܐ� ܳܗܐ‬1 Sam. 14:18; 2 Sam. 6:3, 4, 7, 10; 2 Sam
7:2; Ephrem, Sermones II.III.801. Usually, Ark of the Lord (‫ )ܐܪܘܢܗ ܕܡܪܝܐ‬in
the OT.
ܳ ܺ
79
“Mediator” (‫ ])ܬܠܝܬ ܳ�ܐ‬Lit. “third party.” For use in Ephrem, see Mur-
ray, Symbols, 162 n.1. I am grateful to Sebastian Brock for this refer-
ence.
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪73‬‬

‫ܗܘܐ ܳܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܒܪܐ ܳܛ ܳܒܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܣ ܳ‬ ‫‪395‬‬

‫ܰ‬
‫ܽܗܘ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܳܡ ܶܪ ܽܟܠ‪.‬‬
‫�ܗܘܢ ܽܚ ̈ܘ ܳܫ ܰܒܝܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܬܪܘܨ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ܽ‬
‫ܢ�ܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܫܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܥܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܕ� ܽ‬
‫‪81‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳܠܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽܗܘ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬
‫ܒܪ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܕܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܦ ܽܩ ܳ‬ ‫‪400‬‬

‫ܬܕ ܰܒܪ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܡ ܰܠܬ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬

‫ܤܛܐ ܶܡܢ ܽܦ ̈ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ‬
‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܢ ̱‬ ‫ܘ� ܬ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܰ‬
‫ܦ�ܚܗ ܐܝܬܝܟ ܗܫܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܳ ܶ ܰ‬
‫� ܬܒܛܠ ܶܡܢ ܽܦܘ�ܚܢܗ‪.‬‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܘܪܚܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܤܛܐ ܶܡܢ ܽܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬
‫ܚܙܝ � ܬ‬ ‫‪405‬‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ‬
‫ܘܬܗܘܐ ܠܟ ܐܝܟ ܢܘܟܪ�ܐ‪.‬‬
‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܰ‬
‫ܐܗܪܘܢ ܐ ܽܒܘܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܨ�ܘܬܗ ܕ‬
‫ܶ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳܳ‬
‫ܢܗܘ�ܢ ܠܟ ܠܘ�ܐ ܛܒܐ‪.‬‬
‫ܶ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ‬
‫�ܟܬܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܗܢܝܢ ܢܛ�ܢ ܗ‬
‫ܐ� ܳܗܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܳܐ ܽܪܘܢܶܗ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫‪410‬‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬
‫ܝܫܐ ܰܕܦܬܝܚ ܬܪܥܶܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰܩ ܺܕ ܳ‬
‫ܘܒܐ ܳܩ ܶܪܐ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܠ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬
‫ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬
‫ܘ�ܟܬܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽܗܘ ܰܢܩ ܶܒܠ ܒܪܝ ܒ‬
‫ܰ ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬
‫ܘܒ ̈� ܳܘܬܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܨ�ܘܬܟ‬
‫ܐܪܥ ܳ� ܳܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳ� ܳܢܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫‪415‬‬
‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬
‫ܘܗܝ‪.‬‬‫ܘܡܩܐ ܶ ܐܝܬ ̱‬ ‫ܕܒܪܘܡܐ ܘܥ‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫ܽܗܘ ܢܶܬܠ�ܠܟ ܕܬܫܦܪ ܠܗ‪:‬‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ‬
‫ܥܒ ̈ܕܐ ܰܕܙ ܺܕ ܽܝܩܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒ‬
‫ܺ ܳܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܬܠܝܬ� ̇ܗ ܕܐ�ܗܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬
 74 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

420 be your guardian,

and always protect you
both day and night.”
Aaron prayed for these things
for the young man Eleazar,
425 and God heard his prayer
just as his mind desired.
Moses drew near to his brother
just as God had commanded him
and he embraced him lovingly and said to him,
430 “Go! May the Lord be with you.”

[In the Meter] of Mor Jacob and of Mor Balai

Moses says, “Go in peace
O true brother who has been with me.” 80
Aaron says, “Stay in peace
O brother who did not harbor anger for his brother.”
435 Moses says, “Go in peace
O beloved priest of the house of God.”
Aaron says, “Stay in peace
O beloved brother who loved his Lord.”
Moses says, “Go in peace
440 O priest who sent up perfect offerings.” 81
Aaron says, “Stay in peace
O brother who performed all the great miracles.”

80
Compare this exchange of farewells with the farewell of the soul to
the body enacted by Jacob in On the Hour of Death 53–60 (Akhrass and
Syryany II.394–95; translated in Muehlberger, Moment of Reckoning,
86–87). The passage is the model for a dialogue between the departed
priest and the remaining clergy in the funeral service for priests (see,
for example, Samuel, Book of the Order for the Burial of the Clergy, 121–
24). I am grateful to Sebastian Brock for this latter observation.
81
In so doing, Aaron seems to fulfil the essential role of the priest (Bou
Mansour, Le ministère sacerdotal, 220).
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪75‬‬

‫ܘܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳܠܟ ܳܢ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܗܘ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫‪420‬‬

‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰܺ ܳܺ‬
‫ܘܢܢܛܪܟ ܐܡܝܢܐܝܬ‪:‬‬
‫ܺ ̈ܳ ܶ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬
‫ܒܐ�ܡܡܐ ܘ�ܝ�ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬
‫ܗܪܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܨ ܺܠܝ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܐ ܽ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ̱ܶ‬
‫ܥܠ ܛ�ܝܐ ܐܠܝ�ܙܪ‪.‬‬
‫ܰ ܰ ܰܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ‬
‫ܨܠܘܬܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܫܡܥ ܐ�ܗܐ‬ ‫‪425‬‬

‫ܝܟ ܳܢܐ ܰܕܪ ܓ ܶܪܥ�ܢܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܰ‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܒ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫ܘܫ ܰܐ ܶܨܝܕ ܐ ܽܚ ̱‬
‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬
‫ܦܩܕ ܶܠܗ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܐܝܟ ܰܕ ܰ‬
‫ܐܡܪ ܶܠܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܩܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܥ ܳܡܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܙܶܠ ܢܶ ܶ‬
‫ܗܘܐ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫‪430‬‬

‫ܕܡܪܝ ܰܒ ܰܠܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܡܪܝ ܰ� ܽ‬

‫ܥܩܘܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܘܫܐ ܙܶܠ ܰܒ ܳ‬
‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‬ ‫ܳܐ ܰܡܪ ܽܡ ܶ‬
‫ܰܳ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܘܫܬܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬
‫ܗܘܐ ܶ� ܰܐܕܝ܀‬ ‫ܐܚܐ ܕܩ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬
‫ܐ ܰܡܪ ܐܗܪܘܢ ܦܘܫ ܰܒܫ� ܳܡܐ‬
‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬
‫ܘܗܝ܀‬ ‫ܐ ܳܚܐ ܕ� ܢܛܪ ܐܟܬܐ � ܽܚ ̱‬
‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܙܶܠ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܐ ܰܡܪ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫‪435‬‬
‫ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬
‫ܕܒܝܬ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫ܟܗܢܐ ܪܚܝܡܐ‬
‫ܫ�ܡܐܳ‬ ‫ܗܪܘܢ ܽܦܘܫ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܐ ܰܡܪ ܰܐ ܽ‬
‫ܚܡܗ ܳܡ ܶܪܗ܀‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܰܕܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳܚܐ ܺ‬
‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܙܶܠ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܐ ܰܡܪ ܽܡ ܶ‬
‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܶ ̈ ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫‪440‬‬
‫�ܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܟܗܢܐ ܕܐܣܩ ܕܒܚܐ ܫ‬
‫‪82‬‬
‫ܗܪܘܢ ܽܦܘܫ ܰܒܫ� ܳܡܐ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܐ ܰܡܪ ܰܐ ܽ‬
‫ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳܚܐ ܰܕ ܰ‬
‫�ܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܣܥܪ ܽܟܠ�ܓܒ‬
 76 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

Moses says, “Go in peace

O priest who fully performed the will of the Lord.”
445 Aaron says, “Stay in peace
O brother who brought down manna to the people.”
Moses says, “Go in peace
O priest who made atonement for the sins of the people.”
Aaron says, “Stay in peace
450 Moses, who divided the great sea.”
Moses says, “Go in peace,
may you be united (with me) by all these things.”

[In the Meter] of Mor Jacob

As soon as Moses had kissed Aaron as he had been commanded,
his soul departed swiftly from within his body.
455 The Lord commanded the soul, and she left her companion,
the Lord commanded the little bird and it took flight out of its
nest. 82
The Lord commanded the dove it left flying and changed its lo-
cation, 83
but the body remained upon the dust which is its companion.
Aaron died on mount Hor, just as it is written, 84
460 and a new priest stood in his place to administer his office.
Moses and Eleazar stood grief stricken,
then a wondrous sign was seen on the top of the mountain.
Now Aaron lay in the presence of his brother and his son,
but they were careful that distress was not also found in them.

82 ܳ
“The little bird” (‫ ])ܨܶܦܪ ܐ‬A metaphor for the soul. On the “Winged
Soul” in early Christian thought see most recently Miller, In the Eye of
the Animal, 19–21.
83 ܳ �ܰ )] As a metaphor for the soul. Jacob of Serug’s On the
“The dove” (‫ܘܢܐ‬
Hour of Death, 26 says that, “the soul is a lovely dove sheltered inside
[the body]” (trans., Muehlberger, Moment of Reckoning, 83).
ܺ ܰ ܳ ܰ
84
Num 20:28. “As it is written” (‫ ])ܐܟܡܐ ܕܟܬܝܒ‬In R4 we find “As you
have heard,” suggesting this recension was used in a liturgical context
after the passage in Numbers had been read.
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪77‬‬

‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܙܶܠ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܐ ܰܡܪ ܽܡ ܶ‬

‫ܒܝܢ ܳܡ ܶܪܗ܀‬ ‫ܕܫ ܺ‬
‫ܡܠܝ ܶܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܟ ܳ‬
‫ܗܪܘܢ ܽܦܘܫ ܰܒ ܳ‬
‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‬ ‫ܳܐ ܰܡܪ ܰܐ ܽ‬ ‫‪445‬‬

‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܐܚܬ ܰܡ ܳܢܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳܚܐ ܰܕ ܶ‬

‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܙܶܠ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܐ ܰܡܪ ܽܡ ܶ‬
‫ܕܥ ܳܡܐ܀‬ ‫ܚܛ ̈ܶܗܐ ܰ‬‫ܳ‬
‫ܕܚ ܺܣܝ‬ ‫ܗܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܟ ܳ‬
‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‬‫ܗܪܘܢ ܽܦܘܫ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܐ ܰܡܪ ܰܐ ܽ‬
‫ܕܦ ܶܠܓ ܰ� ܳܡܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫‪450‬‬

‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܙܶܠ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܐ ܰܡܪ ܽܡ ܶ‬

‫ܒܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܽܟ ܶ‬
‫�ܗܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܠܝ ܰܢ ܺܩܝܦ ̱ܗ ܰܘܝܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬
‫ܕܡܪܝ ܰ� ܽ‬
‫ܥܩܘܒ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܗܪܘܢ ܰܐܝܟ ܶܕ ܰ‬
‫ܐܬܦ ܰܩܕ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܰ� ܽ‬ ‫ܫܩܗ ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܕܐ ܰܕܢ ܶ‬‫ܶܡ ܳ‬
‫ܳܺ‬ ‫ܦܫܗ ܶܡܢ ܰܓܘ ܰܦ ܶ‬
‫ܓܪܗ ܰܩ ܺܠܝ�ܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܰܫ ܰܢܝܬ ܰܢ ܶ‬
‫ܘܓ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ܰܢܝܬ ܶܡܢ ܰܒܪ ܰܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܳܡ ܳ‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫‪455‬‬

‫ܩܠܬ ܶܓ ܳܦܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܓܘ ܶܩ ܳܢ ̇ܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܪܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ܳܠ ̇ܗ �ܨܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫�ܦܬ ܰܐ ܳ‬
‫ܬܪ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܚܬ ܰܫ ܰܢܝܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܦܩܕ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬
‫ܟܢܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܘܦܫ ܠܗ ܦܓܪܐ ܥܠ ܕܚܝܚܐ ܗܘ ܒܪ‬
‫ܳ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܽ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬
‫ܺܡܝܬ ̱ܗܘܐ ܐܗܪܘܢ ܥܠ ܗܘܪ ܛܘܪܐ ܐܟܡܐ ܕܟܬܝܒ‪:‬‬
‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܳܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܡ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳ ܰ‬
‫ܗܢܐ ܰܚܕܬ ܐ ܰܢܫ ܶܡܫ ܽܕܘܟܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܚ�ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ̱‬ ‫‪460‬‬

‫ܒܚ ܳܫܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܙܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܶܘ ܺܐܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܩܡ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽܡ ܶ‬

‫ܬܚ ܰܙ�ܬ ̱ܗ ܳܘܬ܀‬
‫ܶ‬
‫ܗܪ ܐ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫ܘܪܐ ܐܬ ܐ ܕܬ ܳ‬‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܺܪܝܫ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܩܕܡ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܽ ܽ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬
‫�ܕܗ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܘܕܡܬ ܐ ܽܚ‬ ‫ܘܣܝܡ ̱ܗܘܐ ܐܗܪܘܢ ܩ‬
‫ܰ ܺ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬
‫ܪ�ܘܬ ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܙܗܝܪܝܢ ̱ܗܘܘ ܕ� ܬܗܘܐ ܒܗܘܢ ܐܦ ܟ‬
 78 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

465 What brother, who saw his brother laid in the grave
would not weep because they were separated from each other.
Moses did not allow grief to rule over him,
because he knew that God has another world.
The young man Eleazar was standing and staring at his father
470 and when he was about to weep, he suppressed his tender
feelings and his grief was stayed.
The perfect men kept that commandment that the Lord com-
manded,
and as they were commanded so did they fully perform on the
top of that mountain.
Aaron was dead, and they stood to perform their duties accord-
ing to the law,
and the Lord came with them to accompany Aaron the priest.
475 And while they were standing, companies of watchers 85
came suddenly from heaven and started singing songs of the
spirit.
They had opened their mouth to lift in praise—for an earthly
creature—
wondrous voices with their spiritual halleluiahs.
The praise of the angels was mingled with that of the earthly
men,

85 ܺ ܶ̈ ܽ )] A collocation found also in

“Companies of watchers” (‫ܓܘܕܐ ܕܥܝ�ܶܐ‬
Narsai, On the Departed and the Resurrection (Patriarchal Press
1.751.13), and in Jacob of Sarug, The Sunday of Resurrection I (HS
2.614 ln. 19), but not in Ephrem.
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪79‬‬

‫ܰ ܳ ܰܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬
‫ܬܥ ܶܦܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܟܕ ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ � ܽܚ ̱‬ ‫ܐܝܢܐ ܐܚܐ ܕ‬ ‫‪465‬‬
‫ܶ‬
‫ܪܫܝܢ ܰܚܕ ܡܢ ܰܚܒܪܗ܀‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ� ܳܒ ܶܟܐ ܶܠܗ ܟܕ ܡܬܦ ܺ‬
‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܽ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫�ܥܩܬܐ ܕܬܫܬ ܰܠܛ ܶܒܗ‪:‬‬ ‫� ܰ� ̱ܗܒ ܡܘܫܐ ܐܬܪ ܐ‬
‫ܺ ܺ ܰ‬
‫‪83‬‬ ‫ܚܪ ܳܢܐ ܐܝܬ � ܳ� ܳܗܐ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܐ‬ ‫ܕܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܝ ܰܕܥ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܒ ܳ‬
‫ܘܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܒ ̱‬ ‫ܘܚܐܰܪ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܙܪ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܶܐ ܺܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܩܐܶܡ ܰܛ ܳ‬
‫ܚܡܘܗܝ ܳܘܢܚ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܒܟܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܳܕܗܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬
‫ܒܠܗ܀‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܬܟܣ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ � ܰ ̱ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫‪470‬‬
‫ܰ ܽ ܳܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬
‫ܪ�ܐ ܢܛܪܘ ܬ ܺܡܝ̈ ܶܡܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܗܘ ܦܘܩܕ ܢܐ ܕܦܩܕ ܡ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܺ ܽ‬
‫ܕܐܝܟ ܕܐܬܦܩܕܘ ܗܟܢ ܫܡܠܝܘ ܥܠ ܪܝܫ ܛܘܪܐ܀‬
‫ܡܫܘܢ ܰܐܝܟ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬
‫ܘܣܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܩܡܘ ܰܕ ܰܢܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܪܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܺܡܝܬ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܐ ܽ‬
‫̱‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬
‫ܝܘܗܝ �ܗܪܘܢ ܟܗܢܐ܀‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܕܥܡܗܘܢ ܢ�ܘ ̱‬ ‫ܘ‬
‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬
‫ܘܚܐ ܰܫ ܺܪܝܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܙܡܝ�ܬ ܐ ܕܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢ ܗ ܰܘܘ ܰܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ ܳܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫‪475‬‬
‫ܽ ̈ ܶ ܺ ܶ ̱ܰ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳܺ‬
‫ܓܘܕ ܐ ܕܥܝ�ܐ ܐ̱ܬܝ ܡܢ ܪܘܡܐ ܩܠܝ�ܝܬ܀‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܗܘܢ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܦܬܚܘ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܽܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܡܫ ܳܒ ܽܚܘ ܰܥܠ�ܥܦܪ ܢܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܘܚ ܳ�ܝܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫ܒܗ ̈ܘ ܳܠ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܪܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܩ ܰܠ ̈ܝ ܬܶ ܳ‬
‫ܝ�ܐ ܰܥܡ ܰܕ ܳ‬
‫ܐ��ܢܶܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܚܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰܠܛ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܰ‬
 80 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

480 and the wondrous voices made a joyful noise there for the
Levite. 86
And when that ministration of heavenly beings came to an end,
the new priest, only just made, prayed, and completed the ser-
vice.
That Levite was accompanied with great honor
and the Lord, Moses, and the young man, together with the spir-
itual beings buried him.
485 Earthly and spiritual ones prepared him and buried him,
and the Divine Will went out over the angels to ascend.
They had trodden down flaming streets upon the top of the
mountain,
because they accompanied Aaron the priest there so particular-
ly.
The fiery companies spent the whole day on the mountain, 87

86
“Made a joyful noise” (‫ ]) ܰ� ܶܒܒܘ‬The angelic “shout of joy” or “joyful
noise” is doubtless inspired by Job 38:7. This joyful noise is made by
angels elsewhere in Jacob’s corpus. For example, by the “sons of heav-
ܰ
ܳ ‫ܒܢ̈ܝ ܰܪ‬
en” (‫ܘܡܐ‬ ) at the Nativity in Jacob’s On the Nativity of Our Redeemer
1029 (Kollamparampil 124; cf. Narsai, On the Nativity 204; and Ephrem,
Hymns on Nativity 6.9, 24), and by the angels in Jacob’s On the Fashion-
ing of Creation, Day 1 201, 226, 466, 482 (Mathews, The First Day, 30,
32, 56, 58). The congregation are also encouraged to let their joyful
ܳ
noise be like “the companies of Michael” (‫ܕܒܝܬ ܺܡܝܟ ܻܐܝܠ‬ ܶ ‫ ) ܽܓ ̈ܘ ܶܕܐ‬in Jacob’s
On the Lord’s Prayer 444 (Reed 60, who renders the nominal form “exul-
tation”). This same “shout of joy” is also made at the return of the
prodigal son (On the Prodigal Son; HS I.294), and by the children on
Palm Sunday (On the Sunday of Hosannas 62, 195; cf. Ephrem, Hymns
on Nativity 6.22). Interestingly, Jacob adds this verb in his citation of
Zech 9:9 a few lines later in the homily (On the Sunday of Hosannas 74;
Kollamparampil 12).
87 ܳ ̈ ܽ )] A rare collocation also found in Nar-
“Fiery companies” (‫ܓܘ ܰܕܝ ܽܢܘܪ ܐ‬
sai, For Any Saints Day (Diarbekir 70 [CCM 578] f. 110b ln. 2).
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪81‬‬

‫ܗܪܐ ܰܥܠ ܶ� ܳܘ ܳ�ܐ܀‬ ‫ܘ� ܶܒܒܘ ܰܬ ܳܡܢ ܳ ̈ܩ ܶ� ܕܬܶ ܳ‬‫ܰ‬ ‫‪480‬‬

‫ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫ܫܡ ܳ�ܢ̈ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܡܬ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܳܗܝ ܬܫܡܫܬܐ ܕ‬ ‫ܕܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ ܳܡܐ ܶ‬
‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬
‫ܢܫܠܝ܀‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܕܬ ܐ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܨ ܺܠܝ ܘܫܠܡ ܟܗܢܐ ܚ‬
‫ܘܒܚܐ ܰܪ ܳܒܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܒܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ� ܺܘܝ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܗܘ ܶ� ܳܘ ܳ�ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܰ‬
‫�ܝܐ ܰܥܡ ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܰ‬
‫ܘܚܢܶܐ܀‬ ‫ܘܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܪܗ ܡܪ�ܐ ܘܡܘܫܐ‬
‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫‪485‬‬
‫ܘܗܝ ܐ�ܥ�ܝܐ ܘܫܡ�ܢܐ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܒܪ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܦܝ‬
‫ܬܥ ܳ� ܽܝܘ܀‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܐ ܰܥܠ ܰܡ ܰ� ̈ܶܟܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬
‫ܝܬܐ ܰܥܠ ܺܪܝܫ ܽܛ ܳ‬
‫ܘܪܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܰ ܽ̈ܶ ܰ ܶ ܺ ܳ‬
‫ܰܕܪܫܘ ̱ܗܘܘ ܫܘܩܐ ܕܫ�ܗܒ‬
‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܰܳ ܳܽ ܳܺ‬
‫ܘܫܐܝܬ܀‬ ‫ܕ�ܗܪܘܢ ܟܗܢܐ �ܘܝܘ ܬܡܢ ܦܪ‬
‫ܘܪܐ ܽܓ ̈ܘ ܰܕܝ ܽܢܘܪܐ‪ܳ:‬‬ ‫ܗܘܝ ܰܥܠ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܰ ̈‬ ‫ܰ� ܳ‬
 82 HOMILY ON AARON THE PRIEST

490 and the whole day was set on fire with the flame.
The angels marveled at the death of Aaron atop the mountain,
at how much his Lord magnified and honored the day of his
death.
The Lord, who came and reconciled the height and the depth
with his blood,
make peace for your church on whose behalf you died, and to
you be the glory.
The memra on Aaron the Priest is finished.
 ‫‪TEXT AND TRANSLATION‬‬ ‫‪83‬‬

‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܶܡ ܰ‬
‫ܬܢ ܰ‬
‫‪84‬‬ ‫�ܗ ܺܒܝܬܐ܀‬ ‫ܒܪܫ ̱ܗܘܐ ܒܫ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳ‬‫ܰ‬ ‫‪490‬‬
‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܬܗܪܘ ܰܡ� ̈ܟܐ ܰܥܠ ܺܪܝܫ ܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫ܒܡܘܬܗ ܰܕ ܽ‬
‫ܐܗܪܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬
‫ܘܪܐ‪:‬‬
‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܰܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬
‫ܕܡܘܬܗ܀‬ ‫ܕܟܡܐ ܐܣܓܝ ܘ�ܩܪ ܡܪܗ �ܘܡܐ‬
‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܕܡܗ ܰܪ ܳ‬
‫ܘܫܝܶܢ ܰܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬
‫ܐܬ ܐ ܰ‬
‫ܘܡܐ ܘܥܘܡܩܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܪ�ܐ ܕ‬
‫ܰ ܰ ̈ܶ ̇ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰܶ ܺ ܳ‬
‫ܫܝܢ �ܥܕܬܟ ܕܡܝܬܬ ܥܠ ܐܦܝܗ ܘܠܟ ܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ܀‬

‫ܕܥܠ ܰܐ ܽ‬
‫ܗܪܘܢ ܳܟ ܳ‬
‫ܗܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬
‫ܫܠܡ ܰ‬