Joshua 8:12

When these things have been heard, it is likely that the hearers will say: what is this to me? What does it profit me if I come to know that those who inhabited Ai were conquered, as though similar or even more powerful wars had not been waged or are not being waged? Was this the care of the Holy Spirit, that, leaving aside the destructions of so many and so great and noble cities, the battle of the city of Ai should be written and consigned to the sacred volumes? Perhaps what we are doing is rash, in that we attempt to explain places of Holy Scripture so lofty and so difficult; but if you aid us with your prayers, we shall not only escape the fault of audacity, but also God the Father of the Word, embracing our devotion, "will give a word for the opening of our mouth," whereby both you may be edified and we may appear not undevout. Praying, therefore, and attentive in mind, listen. First, because of our sins we were conquered, and those who inhabited Ai slew a great many of us. Ai is interpreted "Chaos." But we know that Chaos is the place or dwelling of the contrary powers, whose king and prince is the devil. Coming against him, Jesus divides the people into two parts, and some indeed he stations in the front, others in the rear, who may come unexpectedly upon the backs of the enemy. And see whether that is not the first part of the people, of which he says: "I have not come except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel," and of which the Apostle says: "but grace and peace to every man who works good, to the Jew first, then also to the Greek," that is, to the Gentile who comes after. This, then, is the people who is stationed in front and, as it were, flees with Jesus. But the latter people is the one which is gathered from the nations, and which, coming unexpectedly — for who would have hoped that the nations would be saved? — cuts down the adversaries the more fiercely from behind; and thus each people lays low and conquers the throng of demons enclosed in the middle.