Letter 78: A treatise on the Forty-two Mansions or Halting-places of the Israelites, originally intended for Fabiola but not completed until after her death. Sent to Oceanus along with the preceding letter. These Mansions are made an emblem of the Christian's pilgrimage, the true Hebrew hastening to pass from earth to heaven.
Letter 78: To Fabiola (c. 399 AD)
[A treatise on the forty-two 'stations' or halting-places of the Israelites during the Exodus, originally intended for Fabiola but not completed until after her death. Jerome sent it to Oceanus along with a covering letter. Each station is treated as an emblem of the Christian's pilgrimage through life — the 'true Hebrew' (i.e., the authentic Christian, in Jerome's allegorical reading) hurrying to pass from earth to heaven.]
[The full text of this letter exists only as a summary in the available source.]
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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