The Ancient Witnesses

Chapter 4: The Unfolding of Time, Part 1 • 141

“The Sabbath rest commandment can be matched to the plague of gnats,” said Augustine, “since they swarm restlessly and without ceasing; “The command against adultery I pair with the death of cattle, since they reproduce by instinct alone, and mate whenever, and with as many mates as they like; “The command not to murder seems to me related to the plague of boils on the flesh, as an outward symptom of the soul inflamed with hatred; “The command not to steal matches the plague of crops; “The command against false witness is like the plague of locusts, whose biting teeth devour; “Coveting the wife of one’s neighbor is like the plague of darkness, since seducing another man’s wife is thick darkness; “And the commandment to honor father and mother is like the plague of dog flies since dogs reproduce without concern about their pedigree and since puppies are born blind and thereby fail to recognize their mother and father! “That leaves only the command not to covet anything else belonging to one’s neighbor, and the plague of the death of the first born. We have already mentioned stealing, but what is more valuable that one’s first born? So, as the Egyptians coveted, they lost their most valued possession—their own first born.” “All this is speculative,” Augustine concluded, “but I have compared the commandments to the plagues to encourage you to guard your own treasures in God’s commandment. Do this, and you will be like God’s chosen people among the wicked Egyptians, continually