Exegetical Method: Literal and Moral Exposition

Lapide's exegetical approach combining literal and moral exposition, enriched with allegories, typology, and patristic examples. The commentary gathered over twenty years of teaching is woven with "solid and pleasing allegories of the ancient ceremonies, seasoned with choice sayings, examples, and apophthegms of the ancients."

Preliminaries

• Title Page — The work contains "the Literal and Moral Exposition upon the Pentateuch of Moses."

  "Containing the Literal and Moral Exposition upon the Pentateuch of Moses"

• TO THE MOST REVEREND AND MOST ILLUSTRIOUS LORD HENRY FRANCIS VAN DER BURCH, ARCHBISHOP AND DUKE OF CAMBRAI, PRINCE OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, COUNT OF CAMBRAI. — Lapide describes his method: "the variety and breadth of the subject is greater, as also is its accessibility and pleasantness — for much is historical, other parts typological, adorned with beautiful figures and symbols."

  "here the variety and breadth of the subject is greater, as also is its accessibility and pleasantness — for much is historical, other parts typological, adorned with beautiful figures and symbols"

• TO THE MOST REVEREND AND MOST ILLUSTRIOUS LORD HENRY FRANCIS VAN DER BURCH, ARCHBISHOP AND DUKE OF CAMBRAI, PRINCE OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, COUNT OF CAMBRAI. — The commentaries were gathered over twenty years of teaching, woven with allegories and patristic sayings.

  "I have woven in throughout solid and pleasing allegories of the ancient ceremonies, seasoned with choice sayings, examples, and apophthegms of the ancients."

Commentary on the Pentateuch of Moses

• Canons Bearing a Torch Before the Pentateuch — Canon 31: Moses acts as historian, lawgiver, and prophet, requiring corresponding modes of interpretation

  "Moses in the Pentateuch acts first as a historian, second as a lawgiver, third as a prophet"

• Canons Bearing a Torch Before the Pentateuch — Canon 3: Moses uses prolepsis, calling cities by names given later

  "Moses often uses prolepsis or anticipation: for he calls cities and places by the name that was given to them much later."

• Canons Bearing a Torch Before the Pentateuch — Canon 8: Synecdoche is frequent in the Pentateuch

  "In the Pentateuch, synecdoche is frequent."

• Canons Bearing a Torch Before the Pentateuch — Canon 9: Metonymy is frequent -- "hand" for power, "mouth" for word

  ""I raise my hand," that is, with raised hand I call the Lord of heaven as witness and swear by God."

• Canons Bearing a Torch Before the Pentateuch — Canon 10: Catachresis -- "father" for author or inventor, "daughter" for subordinate towns

  "the "father" of something is said to be he who is the author, founder, or inventor of the thing"

• Canons Bearing a Torch Before the Pentateuch — Canon 27: Moses uses Egyptian hieroglyphic method -- symbols and riddles

  "Moses, says Clement (Stromata, book 6), because he was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, from time to time uses their hieroglyphic method"

• Canons Bearing a Torch Before the Pentateuch — Canon 41: Hendiadys -- one thing divided into two

  "hendiadys is not uncommon — a figure by which one thing is divided into two"

Related

• Cornelius a Lapide
• Louvain
• Scripture Interpretation: Authority of the Church and Fathers