But when He says, 'And after these things God shall remove the men far off,' He hints either at the complete well-being of all, or at the prosperity that came to the two tribes after the deportation of the ten.
And having had the enjoyment of victory over the barbarian army and the marvellous triumph, they again increased into a multitude and into length of days, no war troubling them.
And that you may learn that He says these things concerning the two tribes, He added that 'Upon it there is the Tithe' — calling 'Tithe' that which is above the ten, the surplus beyond the ten, which were the two tribes.
For just as that unpleasant fruit, once fallen from its casing, so also shall these be objects of mockery and reproach, having fallen from their city and having all been stripped bare of that former glory.
Yet the evils shall not be incurable, he says, nor without end; but its seed shall be holy, and a 'pillar' — that is, firm, fixed, immovable, awaiting the change of circumstances.
For they shall indeed fall from prosperity, yet they themselves shall not undergo utter destruction, but shall remain and stand firm, until they recover once more their former manner of life and return to their former holiness.