Homilies on Leviticus: 1-16

Concerning the son of an Israelite woman and an Egyptian father
who "naming the name, cursed," ^1.and concerning the judgment of
God brought on him.

THE HISTORY was read to us which, although the narrative appears clear, nevertheless unless we follow very carefully its contents which is according to the letter, its interior sense will with difficulty be opened to us. This, then, is the text of the Scripture, which must be discussed: "And a son of an Israelite woman departed, and this one was the son of an Egyptian among the sons of Israel. And they quarreled in the camp, this one, who was from the Israelites, and an Israelite man. And naming the name, the son of the Israelite woman cursed; and they brought him to Moses, and the name of his mother was Salomith, a daughter of Dabri, from the tribe of Dan. And they put him into prison so that they could judge him by the precept of the Lord. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Cast that one who cursed outside the camp, and all who shall have heard him will place their hands on his head and the entire congregation will stone him.' " ^2.

(2) Let us see first, therefore, what is the literal meaning of what we have proposed, and, although it appears clear, we shall still attempt to place it more clearly before your eyes. Therefore, let us take one who rejoices in the nobility of an Israelite name from his father and mother, and another from his mother alone and not also from his father and, as it were, noble in part and in part not from his father, which certainly appears better, but from his mother's part which is inferior.

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