Joshua 15:13

But now, since there is not sufficient time for us to discuss all the things that have been read, we will touch briefly on at least a few, as the Lord shall grant. The beginning of distributing the inheritance which Jesus distributed begins from Caleb. For to this Caleb was given the lot of his portion before his tribe, which is that of the sons of Judah, received it, and it is given to him not in some outermost parts, but in the midst of the sons of Judah; and there was given to him a portion not by lot, but by the command of the Lord, and there is given to him an entire city. What other person was worthy to obtain such an inheritance and to receive such a portion, except Caleb, who alone was preserved safe together with Jesus of Nave out of the six hundred thousand armed men who had gone out from Egypt? It was fitting that he himself should receive the "metropolis." And therefore it is written: "Jesus gave him the city of Arboc, the metropolis of Enac, which is Hebron," in which were the memorials of the fathers. This man therefore, having received "the city of Arboc, which was the metropolis of Enac, which is Hebron, exterminated from there the three sons of Enac." What do you suppose Scripture, wishing to show us, also designated this — that Caleb, having received the portion of his inheritance, "exterminated the three sons of Enac," and described their names, that is, "Susi and Achima and Thalami, the generations of Enac"? Let us see, therefore, what it means that it does not suffice for it to say "the sons of Enac," but it has added also their very names, and above all appended: "these were the generations of Enac." But in what follows it also relates that Caleb, having received the lot of his inheritance, "went up to those who dwelt in Dabir; but the name of Dabir was formerly the city of letters." It must be seen, therefore, what it means that it "was formerly the city of letters" and afterward was made "Dabir."

First, therefore, let us examine why Caleb received the "metropolis," and that one which, first among all the others in the land of promise, is named "metropolis." And "the metropolis of Enac" — "Enac" is interpreted as empty humility or empty answer. Caleb therefore received the "metropolis" of empty humility. It is certain that there are two humilities. One praiseworthy, of which the Savior says: "learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your souls." And of this humility it is said that "everyone who humbles himself shall be exalted," and elsewhere: "humble yourselves therefore under the most mighty hand of God." But there is also another, culpable humility of sinners, such as that which Scripture speaks of concerning unlawful intercourse, that "he humbled" her — as is written of Ammon, that he "humbled" Thamar his sister. There is therefore an empty humility which descends from sin. Of this empty humility, then, Caleb "took the metropolis" — or "cut it off" — "and slew the three sons of Enac," who were the sons of empty humility, and, they being killed, he himself inhabits the city and does the things which are written in what follows. But who are these sons of empty humility, whom "Caleb exterminated"? The first is "Susi," which is interpreted as outside me, that is, outside the holy one, because the son of empty humility is outside the holy one, indeed even outside God. There is another, "Achiman," which is interpreted as my brother outside counsel, as if we were to say, a brother without counsel. For it is certain that all the brothers who are born of empty humility are also outside counsel. The third is "Thalami," which is interpreted as a precipice or a hanging, which designates that there is nothing of stability in him, but that all things are wavering and rushing headlong. These "three sons of Enac," then, Caleb "exterminated and killed," and after them "he went up into Dabir." "The name of Dabir was formerly the city of letters." "Dabir" is interpreted as speech. But "the name of Dabir was formerly the city of letters." Therefore understand as "the city of letters" the whole instrument of the Old Testament — that is, let us understand even this very scripture, which we are now trying to expound, to be "the city of letters," which afterward is made "Dabir," which is speech. For these things, which formerly…