Preface to Origen on Numbers

Addressed to Ursacius. Written in the year 410. [a]

My dear brother, I might rightly address you in the words of the blessed master: “You do well, dearest Donatus, to remind me of this.” For I well remember my promise to collect everything Adamantius wrote in his old age on the Law of Moses and to translate it into Latin for the use of our people. But, as he says, the season was not a fit season for keeping my promise; it was full of storm and confusion. How can the pen move freely when a man is in fear of the enemy’s missiles, when he has the ruin of cities and countryside before his eyes, when he has to flee from the dangers of the sea, and there is no safety even in exile? As you saw yourself, the barbarian was within sight of us. He had set fire to the city of Rhegium, and our only protection against him was the very narrow sea that separates the soil of Italy from Sicily. In such a position, what leisure could there be for writing, and especially for translating, a work in which one’s duty is not to develop one’s own opinions but to express those of another? [c]

However, when there was a quiet night, and our minds were relieved of the fear of an attack by the enemy, and we had at least a little leisure for thought, I set to work, as a comfort in our troubles and to lighten the burden of our wanderings. I gathered into one and arranged everything Origen had written on the book of Numbers, whether as homilies or in the writings called Excerpts, and translated it into the Roman tongue. You urged me to do this, Ursacius, and helped me with all your might. Indeed, you were so eager that you thought the young man who served as secretary too slow at his work. I want to point out to you, however, my brother, that the aim of this way of studying Scripture is not to deal with each clause separately, as is done in commentaries, but to open up a path for the understanding, so that the reader may not be made careless but, as it is written, may “stir up his own spirit” and draw out the meaning, and when he has heard the good word, may add to it by his own wisdom.

In this way I have tried to give all the explanations you wanted. And now, of all the writings I have found on the Law, only the short comments on Deuteronomy are missing. These, if God wills and if he restores my eyesight, I hope to add to the body of the work. Indeed, my very loving son Pinianus, whose truly Christian company I have joined in their flight because I delight in their chaste way of life, asks still other tasks of me. But join your prayers, you and he together, that the Lord may be present with us, give peace in our time, show mercy to those who are in trouble, and make our work fruitful for building up the reader.