Chapter 30

¹ But since earlier, in the prologue, we have already explained that the two elders are referred to as a type of the two peoples—that from the circumcision and that from the nations—who are also forever plotters against the Church, let us look at the very words of Daniel and learn that in nothing does the Scripture deceive us.

² For in saying to the first, “O you who have grown old in evil days, now have your sins come home, which you committed of old, giving unjust judgments and condemning the innocent while acquitting the guilty, since the Lord says, ‘You shall not slay the innocent and the righteous,’” he spoke to him as to one learned in the law and as to one who loved the law.

³ But to the other he did not speak so; rather he said to him, “O seed of Canaan and not of Judah.” Calling him a Canaanite, he showed him to be, as it were, a Gentile, speaking to him as to one uncircumcised: “So lust deceived you, and beauty perverted your heart? So you did to the daughters of Israel, and they, being afraid, kept company with you; but a daughter of Judah did not endure your indecency. Now then, if indeed you saw this woman, tell me: under what tree did you see them keeping company with each other?” And he said: “Under a holm oak.” And Daniel said: “Rightly have you too lied against your own head; for the angel of God is about to saw you in two, that he may utterly destroy you.”