Homilies on the Statues

^6. Come then, and in return for these favours, (I speak of their love and kind feeling), let us give them a provision, and so send them home; and let us again raise the question concerning oaths; that from the minds of all we may pluck up by the roots this evil custom. But first, I desire to put you a little in mind today of the things we spoke of lately.

When the Jews, having been released from Persia, and set free from that tyranny, were returned back to their own county, “I saw,” says one, “a flying sickle, twenty cubits in length, and ten cubits broad.” They heard also the Prophet giving them this instruction, “This is the curse, that goes forth over the face of the whole land, and enters into the house of him that swears falsely; and it shall rest in the midst thereof, and throw down the timber and all the stones.” When we had read this passage, we also enquired then why it was, that it should destroy not the swearer only, but also his house, and we stated this to be the reason; that God will have the punishments of the most grievous sins to remain continually visible; that all may afterwards learn prudence. Inasmuch then as it was necessary that the perjurer when dead should be buried, and committed to the bosom of the earth; in order that his wickedness might not be buried along with him, his house was made a heap, so that all who passed by, beholding it, and learning the reason of the overthrow, might avoid imitating the sin.