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Tr.Jacob, Mimro 176 - On Death and Satan.pdfOf the holy Mor Jacob. Mimro 176. Which is about Death and Satan. Of the Night of the Saturday of the Gospel.
Of the holy Mor Jacob. Mimro 176. Which is about Death and Satan. Of the Night of the Saturday of the Gospel.
Text from: Bedjan v.5 pp.641-658; VHMML MS DIYR 00003, ff.382r-385r.[1]
Of the holy Mor Jacob. Mimro 176. Which is about Death and Satan. Of the Night of the Saturday of the Gospel. (Bedjan v.5 pp.641-658; VHMML MS DIYR 00003, ff.382r-385r)[1]
1. Pour forth in me, Lord, a font of hymns so I may sing to You –
2. not because You are needy, but that I may grow rich from You.
3. With the finger of Your Spirit may my harp resound to speak
4. that I may not be drowned in the sleep of silence that gives birth to thorns.
5. Guard the word in Your mercy so it may burst forth discerningly,
6. and may the fullness that I received from Your teaching not be idle in me.
7. I entered the field of Your sufferings to harvest the sheaf of Your death.
8. Call my thoughts to embrace You in their arms!
9. <642> May my mind, a laborer, work with You, for Your wage is double,
10. and may it hate the world, for also its work is like idleness.[2]
11. Salt my word that it may be tasty to the one who hears it,
12. so that when it is narrated it will not become tasteless, though it is unfashioned.
13. Scatter on my discourses the salt of Your love and refine them,
14. so they may not rot for many generations[3] though they be forgotten.
15. May my word be sweet even after me[4] when it is spoken,
16. and when it is discussed among the learned[5], may it not be denounced.
17. May the wise be conquered by it and not find fault with it,
18. and may debaters also accept it though it is not clever.
19. May the power of Your love cling to simplicity,
20. so it[6] may be blameless[7] to those who criticize it, and irreproachable.
21. When a word is seasoned by passion, its taste is healthy,
22. and if it is repeated ten thousand times, it is [still] irreproachable.
23. May the salt of Jesus season my stories with its flavor,
24. and may the passion of His death be the mark for all my words.
25. By the mediation of simplicity I will cleanse my tongue,
26. and simply will I stretch out my words to give glory.
27. The Cross of the Son is made a tree for the fruit of my word,
28. that from it I might pluck a fruit for His Church, so she may delight in it.
29. The Church hungers for the gift of His murder, for she is gathered by it,
30. and except with His blood the thirst of His sheep is not quenched.
31. <643> Behold! His flock inclines its ear to hear the death
32. of the great Shepherd Whose Cross became the staff for His sheep.
33. His death killed the greedy wolf that tore apart His lambs,
34. and through His passion He protected His flock from persecutors.
35. The death of Jesus distributed life to humanity,
36. and because of this, the story of His murder is beloved when it is spoken.
37. By the death of the Son the captive is freed, she who was driven away,[8]
38. and He gave her[9] the wine of His passion to drink and be consoled by it.
39. He opened His side and washed and purified the filthy woman[10],
40. and He wiped away from her the dust of captivity from which she returned.
41. The Evil One reigned over her freedom and took her captive and went out.
42. He induced and discharged her in the wilderness of images, that she might worship them.
43. He brought and cast her down toward idols of emptiness
44. and enslaved and gave her to serve shadows with toil.
45. He set out altars as stumbling blocks so she would encounter them.
46. He made and raised up for her graven obstacles that would oppress her.
47. The smoke of sacrifices wafted up from all sides
48. so she would be blinded by it as she bowed before idols.
49. The King saw this freedom that was rebellious
50. and it grieved Him, and He sent His Son lovingly.
51. He sent the Mighty One after her footprints[11] gently
52. to go and bring the captive woman from slavery.
53. <644> From where she began, He took the path on which she had been captured
54. to journey in her footsteps and arrive silently.
55. He entered from the ear, the beginning of the path the Evil One trod.[12]
56. He clothed Himself and became weak to go out as a spy to the land.
57. He took a body naturally and became man
58. to silently enter the encampment in the form of a servant.
59. He went out from the womb, the bridge that crosses over to the land of life.
60. He saw the captive who was thrown in the desert of idolatry.
61. He concealed the path from the guards when He entered
62. and rose in the middle, and then the race of Error sensed Him.
63. And He deceived them in the clothing of His body and entered the encampment.
64. He walked and visited her[13] and spoke with her secretly[14].
65. She made a covenant to go out to[15] the wide land of peace
66. and He gave her a meeting place that she might come to the house of His Father with Him.
67. News flew among the captives, and the persecutor gave heed,
68. and he beckoned his hand toward the captors who were following him.
69. They clamored and cried out against the Savior Who was condemned to death.
70. They seized Him, confined Him, judged Him, scorned Him, and led [Him] out and crucified Him.
71. They did not know that He came for this reason – to die –
72. and they were not persuaded that through His murder He would make the Peoples[16] return.
73. They had not learned that even His death was salvation,
74. and again, they had not observed that He set and directed His path toward the grave.[17]
75. <645> For they thought they had even caught Him by force,
76. but salvation was found in Him[18], which they did not perceive.
77. The liars supposed that if they killed Him, His salvation would cease,
78. but they did not understand that, unless He died, He would not save.
79. The entire world owed death, and it was necessary for it to die,
80. and Christ came for many to taste death.
81. He died for all people; therefore all people died in His murder,
82. and in one death, many revived from mortality.
83. He came to die to abolish in His death the cause of death[19],
84. and to make pass from debtors the scourges of judgment by His suffering.
85. For Satan did not understand the path of Jesus,
86. and in craftiness plotted to kill Him.
87. But when the King ascended the Cross, His salvation dawned,
88. and His voice began to raise the captive who had been led astray.[20]
89. He called to the dead, “Rise[21] from the graves and see My salvation!
90. The gospel is upon you, for behold, I have died that you may live!
91. Come, go out, and see the sufferings I bore for you:
92. chains and scourges and the lance and vinegar and crucifixion.
93. Come, go out, Adam, and see my mortification which is for you!
94. Up to death your love has scourged Me, that you may live in Me.
95. See how much the Father loved you, Who sent Me to repair your image,
96. <646> and to undo your sentence in Myself so you may return to Eden.
97. Murdered Abel, awaken and see the lance (with) which I was struck!
98. For behold, I proceed on the path of blood trodden by you.
99. Let the voice of your blood be silent, Abel,[22] for behold! Mine cries out
100. to avenge Mine and yours from the murderers.
101. Honorable Noah, rise from the dirt and see My salvation!
102. For behold, I rose! Do not grieve because you were stripped.[23]
103. Licentious Ham mocked your honor
104. and the children of Shem, behold, took My garments to divide [them][24]!
105. Go out, Abraham, from the grave, and come look at My Cross!
106. And let Isaac come and see My chains on the height of the Wood.
107. Old man Jacob and his son Joseph, Moses and Joshua,
108. awaken and give praise, for the mysteries of your revelations have been completed!”
109. The voice of the Son descended to Sheol, and its walls shook,
110. and the dispersed bones began to vibrate uncustomarily.
111. The joints ran and cleaved to each other quickly.
112. It[25] stretched over the bones overlaid sinews the moth had destroyed.
113. Bodies were woven to be renewed within the earth,
114. and the Maker of the worlds began to repair the bodies that had grown old.
115. Death heard a new commotion in the streets of Sheol,
116. and he was astonished and did not know what to do.
117. <647> The terrified one ran to shut the door before those exiting,
118. but before he reached them, the prison of his darkness was overthrown.
119. The hands of Death grew weak and he stood, shaking.
120. Sheol, who saw him, drew near him to inquire:
121. “What has happened to you Death? Why are you frightened? Who has disturbed you?
122. And your diadem – who has taken the crown of your victory?
123. Who is this Who has scattered all your tricks,
124. and laid fear and fright on all your thoughts?
125. If He is a man, He is not too difficult for you – why do you fear?
126. And if He is bodily, behold! Your authority is set over His shoulder!”
127. Death said, “Up until now His body deceived me,
128. And through His death I was encouraged to approach Him.
129. I did not know that Divinity was hidden in Him,
130. but it is now I learned that He is truly the Son of God.
131. Who among earthly beings can give life to the dead,
132. or who among mortal beings is able to raise the deceased?
133. If He is a man, how is He authoritative over our dominion?
134. For the resurrection is found in Him, which He will use!”
135. Sheol told him, “Do not fear because of this:
136. There are people who gave life to the dead as this One also [does].
137. Behold! Elijah was a man, and so was Elisha,
138. and they gave life to the dead and did not shake your confidence.
139. <648> You have not shown me this countenance except today,
140. and not one of the just have roused you to this degree.”
141. Death said, “That of Elijah was nothing[26],
142. for with supplication he raised the boy, with great labor.
143. He stretched himself over the boy, entreating.
144. He sweat in prayer and then the soul returned to the body.
145. He contracted and humbled himself and shrunk himself to the length of the boy,
146. and in place of the boy, he handed himself to the hands of Death.
147. This labor encountered Elijah who raised the dead [one],
148. and with petition he received the gift – as by grace.
149. Also Elisha thus too prayed and sought,
150. and he supplicated for a long time for the child.
151. He sent the rod in the hands of Gehazi and did not shake me,
152. and I was not frightened to flee from him to any side.
153. He continued seeking but I did not leave the corpse.
154. He depicted the Cross[27] – and then I feared to depart!
155. Little by little I fled from him and left the boy.
156. I tormented him and then I departed from the child.
157. This Jesus did not give life to the dead with labor,
158. for as God He confidently resurrected them!
159. He used an authoritative voice like the Creator
160. and frightened me swiftly to flee from him[28].
161. <649> ‘Come, Lazarus! Come out alone[29]!’ He said to him,
162. and I carried and brought out the living one that was buried to return him.
163. To the daughter of Jairus, He said this: ‘Little girl, rise,’[30]
164. and as if from sleep, she stirred and rose swiftly.
165. To the son of the widow, thus also He said to him:
166. ‘Dead young man, I say to you, rise from there!’[31]
167. At the start of His word He made me[32] flee without supplication,
168. and with one signal He snatched from my hands whomever He wished.
169. Whomever He called was not hindered to remain with me[33],
170. for I was terrified lest He enter me and plunder our dwelling![34]
171. And although thus I did not delay in anything He sought,
172. perhaps He will [still] enter and empty us of our authority!”
173. Sheol said to him, “If He is thus, do not touch Him!
174. These ones who were revived – let them go out to Him while He [stays] there.
175. Let the group that rose swiftly leave
176. so He may not come and on their account[35] destroy our dwelling!
177. Let us not hinder the just who have revived from going out,
178. for when He sees them perhaps He will disregard and pass over us.
179. Do not fight with His will lest He be embittered
180. and come to you with fury and topple your crown.
181. If you, Death, do not touch Him He will not enter here,
182. for without tasting you, no one tramples on your threshold.
183. <650> You! Do not go out and I am confident He will not enter.
184. Stay here and, behold, He [will stay] there between the crucifiers!
185. If He did not drink our cup, how would it be possible
186. for Him to enter and dwell within the gate of the place our authority?”
187. Death said, “What shall I do? For it is not my will,
188. that – behold! – He signals to me to go out toward Him though I was not willing!
189. Behold! His mouth is open to receive my cup by His will,
190. and I am not able to stop Him from drinking, for He commands me![36]
191. If He endures a little on the Cross – behold – He [will] make me go out,
192. for behold, the suffering of His body hastens me not to delay!
193. But if only they made Him come down from the height of the Cross and drew out His nails,
194. perhaps He would turn and not taste me and make my power pass away.
195. If [only] there was one confidant[37] who would do this thing,
196. through advice to incite and bring Him down from the top of the Cross!
197. If [only] there was someone to disturb and advise the crucifiers,
198. they would bring Him down and He would not die and plunder my treasures[38]!”
199. Sheol said to him, “Where, therefore, Evil One, is your companion?
200. Call him to go and disturb them with his deceit.
201. He is accustomed to giving evil advice to whoever listens to him,
202. and it is also easy for him to corrupt natures.[39]
203. He is your associate. Why are you distressed without him?
204. Call him! Let us see what he says concerning Jesus.
205. <651> [Death said to Satan:][40] Are you not convinced that if He dies, you – He will kill you!
206. And me – He will destroy me and empty me of the dead!
207. O Daily-Cunning One, why do you stand in foolishness
208. and [why] do I see you as one who is deprived of intelligence?
209. If there is a way, come! Draw out the nails that are in hands of Jesus!
210. Come, trouble and advise so that they will loose [Him and] He will go without dying.
211. You raised Him up; you bring Him down with your retorts.
212. And as you crucified Him, begin to let Him go if you are able.
213. Sin, your mother, is crucified with Him and bound by Him –
214. Pity your mother and loosen her, [and she will] come down with the Son of Mary!
215. All the wiles that are hidden in you – reveal them today!
216. And perform this [act], and Jesus will come down from the height of the Cross.
217. All the treasure of your craftiness, empty it today,
218. and with pretexts loosen His bonds so He does not bind us.
219. The entire river of bitterness[41], pour forth today
220. and with all means stir this up so Jesus will come down.
221. He is the King of Life, and if He tastes me I myself will be conquered,
222. for you know that all of my victory is yours.
223. Behold! You rob and I bury all generations,
224. and if I am exposed, you will be captured.
225. <652> Behold! You brought Adam to me and how, then,
226. will He not accuse your deceit if He leaves?
227. Between the thief and the concealer is the same bondage[42]
228. and in one moment, the two of them will be conquered if they are captured.
229. For you brought and filled my caves with your spoils,
230. and if He enters into my hands, He will demand all He finds.[43]
231. You are the reason for all the plunder that is gathered by me,
232. and if it is revealed, you will be exposed[44], for you plundered it.
233. If I am victorious, I am not more victorious than you
234. And if I am conquered, the shame is twice.
235. You are yoked with me[45] toward victory and defeat,
236. And our rank is one – whether toward height or depth.
237. Hurry, therefore, and loosen Jesus if you can,
238. For He will expose us if He remains in crucifixion!”
239. Satan saw that the suffering of Jesus made Death suffer,
240. and with pretexts the Deceitful One began (trying) to loosen Him so He would come down.
241. The Mischief-maker approached and gave advice to the People
242. so that they would provoke Him to willingly release Himself.
243. They began crying out, “Save Yourself if You are able,
244. And come down from the Cross, and we will believe in You, that You are God.”
245. Satan cried out in the mouth of the crucifiers as they mocked,
246. <653> “If You come down, it will be known that You are the Son of God.
247. You saved others – save Yourself if You are able,
248. and show Your power as You descend from the Cross alive.”
249. [Jesus said,] “O Satan, why are you rushing for Me to descend now?
250. For unless I fulfill all for which I was sent, I will not come down.”
251. In this manner[46] the Jews[47] cried out so Jesus would come down,
252. so that all creation would not sense His crucifixion.
253. The entire cry of the mockers was from the Evil One,
254. and with the tongue of the Accuser the fools spoke.
255. They made use of the deceitful sound they learned from him
256. and were made like flutes by him so he could sing in them.
257. Through their voices, his own word was heard,
258. and in their mouths, his tune was struck.
259. The Liar saw that the earth quaked and the sun darkened,
260. and the light was extinguished and became darkness, and creation shook.
261. And Sheol[48] clamored and the rocks split and the bones squirmed,
262. and the dead lived and Death feared and Sheol trembled[49].
263. And the Wretched One began [trying] to nullify[50] those things that happened,
264. And he incited the crucifiers at Jesus [to say] “save Yourself.”
265. “What should I do if He does not come down from height of the Cross?
266. For, behold! All creation senses His crucifixion[51].
267. And all the ends (of the earth) are disturbed because of the Sun
268. <654> And also the wise, again, write down the day that darkened.
269. It is taught that the occasion of His death[52] stopped the Sun
270. And it is not possible for the world not to believe in His murder.
271. For if He would come down, [the occasion] would cease and pass away and be as nothing,
272. and each one would hear while [the occasion] is hidden from all the ends [of the earth].
273. The wound is small unless He dies, therefore, bring Him down –
274. unless He wills that He should not come down from the height of the Cross.”
275. The Evil One increasingly stirred the deceitful ones with his weaponry,
276. and filled and threw voices of shame at the King Who was crucified:
277. “Come down from the Wood of Crucifixion if You are able!
278. Perform a wonder and everyone will know that You are God.
279. Break the nails and – behold! – Your mightiness will be known.
280. Come down from the Wood so that even the crucifiers may worship.
281. For Your voice revived others, as it has been heard.
282. Why now in great suffering do You stand?
283. If You have the resurrection, therefore why
284. would You taste death, and the gate of Sheol mock You?”
285. These words the Evil One discharged upon the Mighty One,
286. So that perhaps He would be annoyed and loose Himself in anger.
287. The band of mad dogs encircled the Lion’s Cub[53]
288. and began barking sickly sounds with forceful power.
289. They derided Him so He would loosen Himself, but He did not listen to them.
290. <655> They cried out to Him so He would come down, but He was valiant on His cross.
291. He seized Sin and fixed it with nails and therefore disregarded [them],
292. and He endured shame and abolished Error with His crucifixion.
293. For He was able, if He willed, to do this thing,
294. and it is not because He was weak that He persisted in crucifixion[54].
295. If Samson, who was a Nazarite, bruised the chains[55],
296. how did the Son of God not break His nails?
297. And if the son of barren parents loosed his bonds among his enemies,
298. why was the Son of the Virgin weak among His crucifiers?
299. It is not because He was too deficient to do this thing that He remained on the Cross,
300. but so that He would reach the top of the path, and then turn.
301. He set His face quickly towards the depths of Sheol,
302. and so that He would become a traveler in Sheol, [56]His desire was to die.
303. Unless He descended to the heart of the earth like Jonah,
304. He would not return to call the Peoples to repentance.
305. Unless He dove down[57] and troubled Sheol and plumbed its depths,
306. the Church, the pearl, would not have ascended with Him.
307. Unless He descended to the lowest parts of the earth by His murder,
308. He would not turn around, for He came for this: to probe Sheol.
309. Unless He entered and visited Adam where he was,
310. He would not have ascended to raise his body[58] on the right hand.
311. For it was necessary for Him to come to death as it was to birth,
312. <656> for the entire path, which was for Adam, would be completed by it.[59]
313. And as He visited babies in the womb in His conception,
314. He came to visit also the buried in His pure death.
315. Satan wished to nullify this path,
316. and they called to Jesus so He might come down from the height of the Cross.
317. One lodging remained on His whole path,
318. and the Deceitful One wished to keep Him from it with inducement.
319. For he knew that He would rise from the grave,
320. and if he was able, he would stop Him lest He enter it.
321. The Cunning One saw that the pangs of labor struck Sheol,
322. and he knew that the entrance of Jesus was destroying her.
323. He saw that He cried out in Death, and he trembled and understood
324. that if He died, our entire race would rise with Him.
325. He saw the King Who had one more step remaining –
326. and behold! He was bringing back the captivity of His people to the land of peace.
327. He saw the Eagle Who descended to uproot the nest of Death,
328. and he twisted his ropes and buried his snares to capture Him.
329. He saw the Lion Who entered to rescue the prey of Sheol,
330. and he gathered and called the wretched foxes to stand against Him.
331. The weeds came to mock the Flame,
332. crying out to[60] It, “if You are fire, show Your blaze!”
333. <657> But the Fire was not troubled by the twigs,
334. and It did not yield to the words of the bark.
335. It extinguished Itself, contracted Its strength, and held back Its heat,
336. and though It was able, It did not reign among the deniers.
337. At another side It went and smoldered hotly[61];
338. Death and Sheol burned in It sharply.
339. It fell into the grave to burn the treasures full of colors;
340. therefore It cooled, so that It would not kindle Golgotha.
341. The voices of the mockers came from all sides;
342. the advice of the Evil One gushed and flowed from all mouths.
343. [62]But He, Jesus, like a deaf man did not listen,
344. and like a mute man did not open His mouth at the time of His shame.
345. He became like a man who did not hear the sound of jeers,
346. and rebuke was not in His mouth as He was mocked.
347. And why was He not prepared to answer them,
348. and silently endured His shame without speaking?
349. This is clear, and David sung it spiritually,
350. “For You I longed,” O Father Who sent Me to ignore [them] and save.
351. ‘Because I said, “let them not rejoice concerning Me,”’ and because of this I was silent,
352. and ‘let them not be exalted as I suffer with the shaking of My feet.’
353. For, behold! ‘I am prepared for great suffering,
354. and My illness is before Me,’ and the Cross gazes to bear [Me].
355. <658> For this hour I came, and how, therefore,
356. can I come down now and nullify My salvation, not dying?”
357. The deceivers cried out, shouted, and raged, and Christ was silent.
358. Their voices were muted and did not hinder the Savior.
359. He remained and endured His suffering and completed His path.
360. Blessed is He Who brought back the captivity of the Peoples by His crucifixion!
܀܀܀܀܀
[1] Translated by Aimee Hannoush, August 2025. I checked Bedjan’s text against DIYR 00003, digitized at: https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/122718. The text of this homily is found on the folios labeled 382r-385r on VHMML, though the images are incorrectly ordered online (they seem to be ordered correctly in the original MS).
[2] Reading ܐܝܟ ܒܛܠܢܐ ܗܘ with DIYR00003.
[3] “many generations” lit. “length of generations”
[4] “after me”: ܒܬܪܝ. DIYR00003 has ܒܬܪ without the suffix. They are pronounced the same.
[5] “discussed among the learned”: ܡܬܕܪܫܐ ܒܝܢܬ ܣ̇ܦܪ̈ܐ
[6] “It” is feminine and therefore refers either to the “word” or “simplicity.”
[7] ܙܳܟܝܳܐ can also mean “victorious.”
[8] Throughout the homily, the “captive” (fem.) and other feminine titles like “the filthy woman” who was cleansed represent the Church.
[9] Reading ܝܗܒ ܠܗ̇ with DIYR00003 instead of ܕܝܗܒ ܠܗ̇.
[10] DIYR00003: “weary woman.”
[11] Reading ܥܩܒ̈ܝܗ̇ with DIYR00003 instead of ܥܩܒܗ. They are pronounced the same.
[12] It is a common theme in Syriac tradition that sin entered through the ear (Eve hearing and listening to the word of the serpent). In contrast, Mary’s ear heard and obeyed the word of the angel Gabriel.
[13] I.e., the captive.
[14] “secretly”: ܐܪܙܢܐܝܬ
[15] Reading ܬܦܘܩ with DIYR00003 instead of ܬܦܪܘܩ.
[16] DIYR00003: “His people”
[17] “He set and directed His path toward the grave.” Lit. “His path that He set, He directed toward the grave.”
[18] DIYR00003: “He was glorified in salvation (ܒܦܘܪܩܢܐ ܡܫܬܒܚ ܗܘܐ).”
[19] “cause of death”: ܥܠܬ ܡܘܬܐ
[20] The Son’s voice that raises the dead is His dying cry, a moment of major importance for salvation in Syriac theology and liturgy. In Syriac tradition, it is specifically His dying cry that causes creation to tremble, the dead to rise, and Sheol to crumble. The elements and the resurrecting bodies becomes witnesses to His divinity. (Cf. Matt 27:50-53)
[21] DIYR00003: “Go out”
[22] Gen 4:10-11.
[23] Gen 9:20-23.
[24] Cf. Matt 27:35; Mk 15:24; Lk 23:34; Jn 19:23.
[25] Either “He” or “it.” I am taking the subject as still the voice of the Son.
[26] Cf. 1 Kgs 17:17-24.
[27] Cf. 2 Kgs 4:34-35. Elisha stretched out his hands over the hands of the dead child, which Jacob interprets as a bodily depiction of the Cross. Jacob also says Elisha walked around the room in the form of the Cross. This interpretation is also found in Narsai. See Cyril Aphrem Karim, Symbols of the Cross in the Writings of the Early Syriac Fathers, 84-5.
[28] I am taking the object to be Lazarus, though it can also refer to Christ.
[29] Cf. John 11:43. Perhaps the specification “Come out alone” can be read in light of Jacob’s homily on the three dead whom Jesus raised, where Jacob says regarding the resurrection of Lazarus: “if [Jesus] had called and did not distinguish the dead man by his name, / His voice would have raised all the dead if He willed.” (Bedjan v.2, p.344).
[30] Cf. Mk 5:41; Lk 8:54.
[31] Cf. Lk 7:14.
[32] DIYR00003: “us”
[33] DIYR00003: “I did not hinder to remain with me”
[34] See also Jacob’s homily on the raising of Lazarus. After hearing Jesus call to Lazarus, Death says: “‘If the Voice repeats in Sheol, it would make catastrophes, / and It would make all the dead go out from her and It would empty her. // Get out, Lazarus! Get out! Go with the One Who called you! / May He not enter and capture my captives because of you!’” (Bedjan v.3, p.579).
[35] “their account” lit. “it’s account” (the antecedent being ‘the group’). DIYR00003: “with His entrance.”
[36] “I am not able to stop Him from drinking” lit. “I am not able not to give Him drink”
[37] Bar rozo – “sharer of a secret”
[38] DIYR00003: “our treasure”
[39] “natures”: ܬܩܢ̈ܬܐ
[40] I have translated all the first-person participles for lines 205-238 as masculine, according to the reading of DIYR00003. Bedjan seems to unilaterally change them to feminine, sometimes noting the change in the footnotes and sometimes not. The confusion seems to be that there is no explicit mark that Death is now speaking to Satan; it seems that the feminine Sheol is still speaking. However, a change in speaker makes more sense given: the masculine participles; the fact that these lines follow Sheol’s urging Death speak to Satan; the fact that Satan seems to respond to Death in line 239; and the fact that Death and Satan would otherwise have no direct interaction. I have also added my own section break before this line.
[41] DIYR00003: “of your rebellion”
[42] The same “bondage” or “judgment” (ܫܘܐ ܗܘ ܒܐܣܪܐ). DIYR00003: “the same shame” (ܟܘܐܪܐ).
[43] “all that He finds” or “all that He is able.”
[44] DIYR00003: “you will be captured.”
[45] Reading ܥܡܝ with DIYR00003 instead of ܥܡܝܪ.
[46] Or, ‘with this goal’
[47] DIYR00003: “the crucifiers”
[48] DIYR00003: “the world”
[49] DIYR00003: “was defeated”
[50] “And the Wretched One began [trying] to nullify.” DIYR00003: “And he began seeking to nullify.”
[51] Reading ܗܐ ܪܓܫܐ ܒܗ̇ ܒܪܝܬܐ ܟܠܗ̇ ܒܙܩܢܦܘܬܗ with DIYR00003 instead of ܕܗܐ ܪܓܫܐ ܠܗ̇ ܒܪܝܬܐ ܟܠܗ̇ ܒܙܩܝܦܘܬܐ
[52] “occasion of His death”: ܥܠܬ ܡܘܬܗ
[53] Christ’s title “Lion’s Cub” is taken from Gen 49:9. Jacob often uses it when referring to Christ’s dying cry “roaring” in Sheol. See, for example, his homily on the vigil of Holy Saturday: “The Lion's Cub roared in Sheol and Death heard Him / and the demon trembled and his crown fell in the darkness. // Adam heard the voice of the Son in the womb of Sheol / and rejoiced before Him like John inside the womb.” (Bedjan v.5, p.595).
[54] DIYR00003: “as He was mocked.”
[55] Or: “If Samson bruised the chains because he was a Nazarite.” Cf. Judges 16.
[56] The end of this line, and line 303, are missing from Bedjan. I translate them here from DIYR00003: ܘܕܢܗܘܐ ܗܘܐ ܐܪܚܐ ܒܫܝܘܠ ܪܓܬܗ ܕܢܡܘܬܐ. ܐܠܐ ܢܚܬ ܗܘܐ ܠܠܒܗ̇ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܒܕܡܘܬ ܝܘܡܢ܆ ܠܐ ܗܦܟ ܗܘܐ ܕܢܩܪܐ ܠܥܡ̈ܡܐ ܠܬܝܒܘܬܐ.
[57] There is a play on words here, as “dove down” is ܥܡܕ, the same word meaning “to be baptized.” The baptism parallel is emphasized with the image of Christ diving into Sheol to retrieve the pearl, the Church. Syriac authors commonly talk about Jesus’ baptism as a descent into the Jordan River to retrieve the pearl, the Church.
[58] “His body” could refer either to Jesus’ body (at the Ascension) or to Adam’s body.
[59] “by it” can also mean “by/in Him” (i.e., the entire path would be completed by Christ.).
[60] DIYR00003: “Deceiving”
[61] DIYR00003: “mightily”
[62] Lines 343-354 quote and use Psalm 38:13-17 (Text taken from the Psalm text on the Department of Syriac Studies website):
13 ܐܶܢܳܐ ܕܶܝܢ ܐܰܝܟ ܚܰܪܫܳܐ ܠܳܐ ܫܳܡܰܥ ܗ̱ܘܺܝܬ. ܘܰܐܝܟ ܕܽܘܓܳܐ ܠܳܐ ܦܶܬܚܶܬ ܦܽܘܡܝ̱.14 ܘܰܗܘܺܝܬ ܐܰܝܟ ܓܰܒܪܳܐ ܕܠܳܐ ܫܳܡܰܥ ܘܠܰܝܬ ܡܰܟܣܳܢܽܘܬܳܐ ܒܦܽܘܡܶܗ.15 ܡܶܛܽܠ ܕܠܳܟ ܣܰܟܺܝܬ ܡܳܪܝܳܐ. ܘܰܥܢܰܝܬܳܢܝ̱ ܡܳܪܝܳܐ ܐܰܠܳܗܝ.16 ܡܶܛܽܠ ܕܶܐܡܪܶܬ ܕܠܳܐ ܢܶܚܕܽܘܢ ܠܺܝ. ܘܠܳܐ ܢܶܬܬܪܺܝܡܽܘܢ ܥܠܰܝ ܒܙܰܘܥܬܳܐ ܕܖ̈ܶܓܠܰܝ.17 ܡܶܛܽܠ ܕܶܐܢܳܐ ܠܚܰܫܳܐ ܡܛܰܝܰܒ ܐ̱ܢܳܐ. ܘܟܺܐܒܝ̱ ܠܽܘܩܒܰܠܝ̱ ܗܽܘ ܒܟܽܠܙܒܰܢ.
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