Epistle of Barnabas 12

Moses Stretched Out His Arms and Israel Prevailed

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The Cross Foreshown in the Prophets

12:1Again, in a similar way, He specifies the cross through another prophet who says: “When will these things be fulfilled? The Lord says: When a tree is bent down and rises, and when blood drips from a tree.” Again you have the cross and the One who was to be crucified.

12:2Again He speaks to Moses when Israel is being attacked by foreigners, to remind them in battle that they had been handed over to death because of their sins. The Spirit speaks into Moses’ heart, telling him to make a figure of the cross and of the One who was to suffer: “Unless they hope in Him,” He says, “they will be attacked forever.” Moses therefore piles one weapon upon another in the midst of the fight, and, standing higher than everyone, stretches out his hands. In this way Israel again prevailed. Then, whenever he lowered them, they were put to death.

12:3Why? So that they might know they cannot be saved unless they hope in Him.

12:4Again He says through another prophet: “All the day I stretched out My hands toward a disobedient people who contradict My righteous way.”

The Serpent Lifted Up by Moses

12:5Again Moses makes a figure of Jesus, showing that He must suffer, and that the One they will think they have destroyed will Himself give life. This was a sign when Israel was falling, for the Lord made every serpent bite them and they died, since the transgression occurred in Eve through the serpent. It was to convict them that because of their transgression they would be handed over to the affliction of death.

12:6Although Moses himself had commanded, “You shall have neither a cast image nor a carved image as a god for yourselves,” he himself makes one to show a figure of Jesus. Moses therefore makes a bronze serpent, sets it up conspicuously and summons the people by proclamation.

12:7They gathered in one place and begged Moses to offer a plea for their healing. Moses said to them: “Whenever one of you is bitten, let that person come to the serpent set upon the wood and hope, believing that though it is dead it can give life; and immediately that person will be saved.” They did so. Again, in these things you have the glory of Jesus, because all things are in Him and for Him.

12:8What does Moses again say to Joshua son of Nun, who was a prophet, having given him this name so that all the people might listen to him alone? For the Father reveals everything concerning His Son Jesus.

12:9Moses therefore says to Joshua son of Nun, having given him this name when he sent him to spy out the land: “Take a book in your hands and write what the Lord says: that in the last days the Son of God will uproot the entire house of Amalek.”

See Again Jesus, the Son of Nun

12:10See again Jesus, the Son of God, not a human son, yet revealed in flesh through a figure. Since they were going to say that Christ is David’s son, David himself prophesies, fearing and understanding the sinners’ deception: “The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

12:11Again Isaiah speaks in this way: “The Lord said to my anointed Lord, whose right hand I grasped, that nations should obey before Him, and I will break the strength of kings.” See how David calls Him Lord and does not call Him son.

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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.