Homilies on Genesis and Exodus

Homily XII

HOMILY XII On Rebecca's pregnancy and giving birth E SHOULD PRAY THE FATHER OF THE WORD during each individual reading "when Moses is read,"l that he might fulfill even in us that which is written in the Psalms: "Open my eyes and I will consider the wondrous things of your Law."2 For unless he himself opens our eyes, how shall we be able to see these great mysteries which are fashioned in the patriarchs, which are pictured now in terms of wells, now in marriages, now in births, now even in barrenness? For the present text reports that "Isaac asked for Rebecca his wife, because she was barren; and God heard him and she conceived. "And the children," the text says, "leaped in her womb."3 First of all consider why it is that many holy women in the Scriptures are related to have been barren, as Sara herself, and 10 now Rebecca.4 But also Rachel, Israel's beloved, was barren.s Anna also, the mother of Samuel, is recorded to have been barren.6 But also in the Gospels Elizabeth is related to have been barren.7 But in all these instances this term is used because after sterility they all gave birth to a holy person. So, therefore, also this present Rebecca is said to have been barren but "~saac prayed," the text says, "the Lord for her, and he heard him and she conceived. And the children leaped in her womb."8 Behold, what did this barrenness conceive? The I 2 Cor 3.15. 2 Ps 118.18. 3 Gn 25.21-22. 4 Cf. Gn 11.30. 5 Cf. Gn 29.31. 6 Cf. I Sm 1.2. 7 Cf. Lk 1.7. 8 Gn 25.21-22. 176 GENESIS HOMILY XII 177 sons of the barren woman leap before they are born. And she who had despaired of offspring bears nations and peoples in her womb. For thus the text says: "Rebecca departed to inquire of the Lord, and the Lord said to her: 'Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples are divided out of your womb.' "9 It would be tedious if we wished now to examine the leaping of the children while they still remained in the womb. It would be tedious if we should mention the interpretations and enigmas which the Apostle wrote about these matters, what mysteries , what reasons they contain; why it is said ofthem, "before the children are born or do anything good or evil in this world": 10 "One people shall overcome the other and the elder shall serve the younger";ll why, before they proceeded from their mother's womb, it is said by the prophet: "I have loved Jacob, but have hated Esau."l2 These matters surpass both my ability to speak and your ability to hear. (2) Now, meanwhile, let us see what the statement means: "Rebecca departed to inquire of the Lord."l3 "She departed." Where did she go? Did she depart from that place where the Lord was not to that place where he was? This, indeed, appears to be indicated when it is said: "She departed to inquire of the Lord." Is not the Lord everywhere? Did he not say himself: "I fill heaven and earth, says the Lord?"14 Where, then, did Rebecca go? I think that she did not depart from one place to another, but she passed over from one life to another, from one deed to another, from good things to better; she proceeded from profitable things to more profitable; she hastened from holy things to holier. For it is absurd ifwe suppose Rebecca who had been educated in the house of wise Abraham by her most learned husband Isaac, to have been so ignorant and uninstructed that she thought the Lord was enclosed within some 9 Gn 25.22-23. 10 Cf. Rom 9. I I. I I Gn 25.23. 12 Mal 1.2-3; Rom 9.13. 13 Gn 25.22. 14 Jer 23.24. 178 ORIGEN place, and she might go there to inquire what the leaping ofthe children in her womb might mean. But do you wish to see that this has become customary with the saints, so that when they have seen that anything is shown them by God, they say that they either depart or pass over? When Moses had seen the bush...