Dialogue with Trypho 90.4
Summary: Moses' outstretched hands in the battle against Amalek formed the sign of the cross.
Greek text · Archambault 2:84
Ὅτε ὁ λαός, φημί, ἐπολέμει τῷ Ἀμαλὴκ καὶ ὁ τοῦ Ναυῆ υἱός, ὁ ἐπονομασθεὶς τῷ Ἰησοῦ ὀνόματι, τῆς μάχης ἦρχεν, αὐτὸς Μωσῆς ηὔχετο τῷ θεῷ τὰς χεῖρας ἑκατέρως ἐκπετάσας, Ὢρ δὲ καὶ Ἀαρὼν ὑπεβάσταζον αὐτὰς πανῆμαρ, ἵνα μὴ κοπωθέντος αὐτοῦ χαλασθῶσιν. Εἰ γὰρ ἐνεδεδώκει τι τοῦ σχήματος τούτου τοῦ τὸν σταυρὸν μιμουμένου, ὡς γέγραπται ἐν ταῖς Μωσέως γραφαῖς ὁ λαὸς ἡττᾶτο· εἰ δὲ ἐν τῇ τάξει ἔμενε ταύτῃ, Ἀμαλὴκ ἐνικᾶτο τοσοῦτον, καὶ ἰσχύων διὰ τοῦ σταυροῦ ἴσχυεν.
English · Claude translation
“When the people,” I said, “were fighting against Amalek, and the son of Nun, named with the name of Jesus, led the battle, Moses himself prayed to God stretching out his hands on either side, and Hur and Aaron held them up all day, so that they might not drop when he was tired. For if he gave up any of this posture, which imitated the cross, the people were beaten, as is written in the writings of Moses; but if he remained in this position, Amalek was defeated so much, and he who prevailed prevailed through the cross.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- Compare Barn. 12.2.
Cite this passage
Justin, Dial. 90.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/justin-dialogue/90/4/).
Plain text
Justin, Dial. 90.4 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/justin-dialogue/90/4/).
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