Bible with Ordinary Gloss and Nicholas of Lyra

5

Three species of food.

And they did. Joshua. After the circumcision of the Gospel, he immediately celebrates the Passover in the place of revelation, because the Lamb is sacrificed who takes away the sin of the world, and with the manna of the typical law failing, the people first eat the bread of the body of Christ, which the uncorrupted earth of the promise, i.e., the Virgin Mary, brought forth, whose grain falling into the earth brought forth much fruit. Note the order: after we cross through the floods of the washing with Jesus Christ as our leader, we are signified by spiritual circumcision through faith; then finally we celebrate the Passover, i.e., we believe that Christ was sacrificed for the salvation of the world, and believing, we are fed by the bread of the Lord, the Paschal bread. a ¶ And they ate. Adam. When the people went out from the land of Egypt, they carried leavened dough in their garments. When that had failed, manna was given to them. When, however, they came to the holy land, and took the fruits, whatever of palms, the manna failed them, and they began to eat of the fruits of the land. Three types of food are generally described. The first is that which we consume leaving from the land of Egypt, but this suffices only for the bread of the journey. After this, however, manna succeeds. The third, however, we take from the holy land, which we carry with us from Egypt. This learning is a small scholar's matter, or perhaps one of the liberal arts which can help somewhat. In the desert, i.e., in the state of this life, we use manna, while we are educated by the instruction of the divine law. Those, however, who merit to enter the land of promise, i.e., to obtain the promises of Christ, will eat the fruit from the region of palms. For they will truly find the fruit of the palm, who, having defeated the enemy, will arrive at the promises. For however much we may understand in the divine letters, there will be much more sublime things that we will see, not in an enigma, but face to face 1 Cor. 13; because "neither has eye seen, nor ear heard, what God has prepared for those who love Him" Ibid 2. If, however, the law is accepted according to the letter, the sons of Israel are found to have received a worse food (for manna was received from heaven out of promise) when they were using better things; for as the foods of Egypt failed, a better food succeeded, i.e., manna. How is it thought that when a better food ceases, a worse one succeeded? b ¶ And he saw a man standing, etc. Adam. It happened when he was at Jericho, looking with his eyes, he saw a man standing against him, and a drawn sword was in his hand. And Joshua approaching, said to him: "Are you ours, or our adversaries'?" Those looking with their eyes see the prince of the army standing, and before they had not looked; and so then when he was about to see the prince of the army of the Lord, whom he had not seen as a common man, but understood him to be something standing. He is not certain whether it is a divine vision, or a contrary one that is seen; therefore he says: "Are you ours, or our adversaries'?" But he said: "I am the prince of the army of the Lord, now I have arrived." When Joshua heard this, he worshipped and said: "What does my Lord say to his servant?" Josue 4 Joshua teaches the same as the Apostle: "Do not believe every spirit, but test if it is from God." Therefore Joshua recognized not only that he is from God, but that he is God. For he would not have worshipped if he had not recognized him as God. For who else is the prince of the army of the Lord but Christ? For what is the army of heaven, whether angels, or archangels, or virtues, or dominations? Always all things were made through him, and they fight under him as prince, who is the prince of the beginning, he bestows lordship upon the princes, who says: "Have authority over ten cities, etc. Who, having received the kingdom, returned." c ¶ Joshua fell prone, etc. One can ask whether he prostrated himself to an angel when he said "Lord," or rather because he understood him to be God, understanding from whom he had been sent, he saw the Lord himself, and prostrated himself to him. d ¶ Loose, he says, your footwear, etc. Isidore. Jesus is in Jericho. Still, the enemies hold the city and it is not yet captured, and yet it is said to Joshua: "Loose your footwear, for the place in which you stand is holy ground." How is Jericho holy ground which is held by enemies? But perhaps wherever the prince of the virtue of the Lord comes, he sanctifies the place. I dare more and say: where Moses stood by himself, the place was not holy, but the presence of the Lord who was with him had sanctified the place. Therefore it is said to him: "The place in which you stand is holy ground," etc. We, however, if we approach God by life and merits

we are rendered worthy that God may stand by us, he will say to us, that we should loose from our feet if there is any mortal chain in them. For these are the feet that Jesus washed, which unless he washes, we will not have a part with him. If we absolve from our soul and senses every bond of mortal guilt, immediately God willingly adheres to us and stands by us.
L

Job 15

a Post the second circumcision and healing.
After the second circumcision and healing, they did the phase on the fourteenth day of the month toward evening in the fields of Jericho, and they ate of the fruits of the land on the next day, and unleavened breads, and parched corn of the same year. ¶ because when that which is perfect comes, that which is in part will be evacuated. And the manna failed after they ate of the fruits of the land; nor did the sons of Israel use that food anymore, but they ate of the fruits of the present year of the land of Canaan. a Aug. 70. in Jericho. Not in this city, but which was not yet captured, but in the field nearby it. When Joshua was in the field of Jericho, he lifted his eyes, and saw a man standing and a sword drawn in his hand; and he went to him and said: "Are you ours, or our adversaries'?" Who answered: "Not at all, but I am the prince of the army of the Lord, and now I come." Joshua fell prone to the earth, and worshipping, said: "What does my lord say to his servant?" i.e., that he understood him to be God. "Loose," he says, "your footwear from your feet. For the place in which you stand is holy." Joshua did as he had been commanded.

¶ did the phase, i.e., the sacrifice of the Paschal lamb. a ¶ Fourteenth day of the month, i.e., of the first. b ¶ Toward evening; here was the day and hour of this sacrifice, according to what is held in Exodus 12. c ¶ And unleavened breads. For they ought to use such breads for seven days, as is held in the same place. d ¶ And parched corn of the same year. In the Hebrew it is said: and parched grain. For in the Paschal solemnity, an offering was made from new grains threshed from the sheaf for purification, as was said, Leviticus 4, and of such, they could eat after the first fruits had been offered. e ¶ And the manna failed, because it was not given by God except in supplementation of failing provisions, as is evident in Exodus 16. f ¶ When Joshua was. Here is proposed a proper encouragement through the apparition of the angel to Joshua himself who was the leader of the people, when it is said: g ¶ And he saw a man standing, i.e., an angel in the appearance of a man. h ¶ Drawn sword, i.e., prepared for punishment. h ¶ Are you ours, or our adversaries'? He was still ignorant that he was an angel. i ¶ Who answered: Not at all. Supply: I am of the adversaries. m ¶ But I am the prince of the army of the Lord. The army of the just is here called the army of the Lord, because by whom he was sent to do vengeance for the iniquities of the inhabitants of the land of Canaan. n ¶ And now I come. To your aid. But the Hebrews say that this was Michael, and it is reasonable, in that it was said to Daniel, Daniel 10: "No one is my helper in all these except Michael your prince," and this angel appearing is noted as the prince of the army of Israel. o ¶ Joshua fell. To pay him reverence, since he recognized him as an angel. p ¶ Worshipping, said: with the adoration of dulia. q ¶ What does my Lord say to his servant. As if to say: I am prepared to obey. r ¶ Loose your footwear, etc. As it was said to Moses in the apparition made to him in the bush, as is had in Exodus 3. s ¶ The place in which you stand is holy, because of the apparition of the angel, since it was made there.

Morally

¶ f When Joshua was in the field of Jericho, he lifted his eyes and saw a man standing, etc. This was an angel appearing in the appearance of a man, and he signifies Jesus Christ, who was a man perfect in the status of his reception, of standing and knowledge. Jeremiah 31: "The Lord has created a new thing upon the earth: a woman will surround a man." i Holding a sword, i.e., the sentence of judgment irrefragable. Job 5: "He has given all judgment to the Son." m I am the prince of the army of the Lord, i.e., of the Christian people. For he is the prince not only of all men, but also of the angels, but he is especially said to be the prince of the Christian people as being named from him. n And now I come. For this apparition was made after the circumcision of the people and the celebration of the phase, to signify that to men spiritually circumcised and fortified by the sacrament of the Eucharist, Christ appears through special illuminations and comforts them against the temptations of demons.
¶ In chapter 5 of Joshua where it is said in the postil: and it is said otherwise that this circumcision is solemn, called second with respect to that which Abraham performed, as is had in Genesis 17.

Addition.
This exposition does not sound holy. For in that general circumcision which Abraham performed with all the males of his house, no son of Israel was circumcised: nor even Isaac, he was not yet born, nor even conceived, as is evident in that chapter of Genesis 17. But in the circumcision performed by Joshua, it is said that he does it, chapter 3, and fulfills it: "Circumcise the second time the sons of Israel." It is necessary that "second" refers to some general or solemn circumcision which had been performed in Israel, not to that of Abraham, in which no son of Israel was circumcised. And therefore the opinion of the Hebrews in this place is to be held, at least in part, if not in whole. For the evidence of which, it must be noted that the sons of Israel being in Egypt