Moralia in Job 118

Verses 14, 15. — A messenger came to Job, saying: The oxen were plowing, and the asses were feeding beside them, and the Sabeans rushed in, and took all, and struck the servants with the sword, and I alone escaped to bring you word. 49. The simple, cleaving to the more perfect, are fed by their understanding. — What else do we take by the oxen under a figure, than those who work well; what else by the asses, than certain ones simply verdant? Which are well reported to feed beside the oxen; because the minds of the simple, even when they cannot grasp lofty things, are the nearer for this, that they believe their brethren's good things to be their own through charity; and since they know not how to envy the understandings of others, they as it were divide themselves not at all in the pasture.

Together, therefore, the asses refresh themselves with the oxen, because the slower, joined to the prudent, are fed by their intelligence. But the Sabeans are interpreted 'those who take captive.' And who else are designated by the name of those who take captive, if not the unclean spirits, who lead captive into unbelief all whom they subject to themselves? Who also strike the servants with the sword, because they gravely wound with the darts of their temptation those whom youthful constancy does not yet keep free or robust. Who indeed begin good things well, but in the very tenderness of their beginning are laid low by the unclean spirits who take them captive. Whom the enemy strikes with the sword, because he pierces them through with despair of eternity. 50.

Prophecy, while the rest perish, remains forever. — But what is this, that a messenger came, saying: I alone escaped? Who is this messenger, who, while the others perish, alone escapes, if not the prophetic word, which, while all the evils it foretold come to pass, as it were sound returns alone to the Lord? For while it is recognized to have spoken truly of the ruin of the lost, it is as it were shown to have lived among the dead. Hence it is that to bring Rebecca into marriage with Isaac a servant is sent (Gen. 24:9), because, namely, prophecy, interposed, serves to betroth the Church to the Lord.

When the Sabeans therefore rushed in, only the servant who might bring word escaped, because, while the malignant spirits led the minds of the weak into captivity, the sentence of prophecy prevailed; which, foretelling that same captivity, says: Therefore my people are led away captive, because they had no knowledge (Isa. 5:13). Prophecy therefore is as it were saved, while the captivity which it foretold is shown. There follows: