For which Aquila
substitutes: "Since thou art the Lord in the hearts of this people, which
sees thee, O Lord, face to face." And Symmachus: "Since thou art, O
Lord."
And it is said in
Exodus: "And Moses, and Aaron, and Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the
elders of Israel went up, and saw the place where the God of Israel
stood." Instead of which Aquila says: "And they saw the God of
Israel." And Symmachus: "And they saw in a vision the God of Israel."
From the text: "No
man has seen God at any time," perhaps it might be thought that the above
quotation contradicts the Saviour's words, as implying that the invisible is
visible. But if they be understood, like our former quotations, of the Word of
God, Who was seen by the fathers "in many ways and in sundry
manners," no contradiction is involved.
The God of Israel here
seen is shewn to be the same Being Who was seen by Israel, when a man wrestled
with Him, Who first changed his name from Jacob to Israel, saying: "Thou
hast power with God," and when, also, Jacob appreciating His divine power
called the place of the struggle the Sight of God, saying: "I have seen
God face to face, and my life is preserved." I showed in the proper place
that this was no other than the Word of God.