Expository Treatise Against the Jews

⁶ And then hear what follows: “Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not.” And surely you have been darkened in the eyes of your soul with a darkness utter and everlasting. For now that the true light has arisen, you wander as in the night, and stumble on places with no roads, and fall headlong, as having forsaken the way that says, “I am the way.” Furthermore, hear this yet more serious word: “And their back do you bend always;”that means, in order that they may be slaves to the nations, not four hundred and thirty years as in Egypt, nor seventy as in Babylon, but bend them to servitude, he says, “always.”

In fine, then, how do you indulge vain hopes, expecting to be delivered from the misery which holds you? For that is somewhat strange. And not unjustly has he imprecated this blindness of eyes upon you. But because you covered the eyes of Christ, (and) thus you beat Him, for this reason, too, you bend your back for servitude always. And whereas you poured out His blood in indignation, hear what your recompense shall be: “Pour out Your indignation upon them, and let Your wrathful anger take hold of them;”and, “Let their habitation be desolate,” to wit, their celebrated temple.