Desirable things of the temple; sanctuary means the temple
Desirable things of Jerusalem, then, must be understood as the things in the temple, and the things laid away in the holy of holies for the priestly liturgy, and the things otherwise believed to be divine by being stored in the temple—for example the golden lampstand and the rest. For those from the people, persuaded that these are stored in the temple unto the glory of God, preferred them above all, themselves wanting rather to suffer something hard from the enemies than for any of these to become subject to the enemies. And “sanctuary” (Lamentations 1:10) is a custom for those from the circumcision to call the temple.
Greek
Klagel. Jerem. 1, 10. Ἐπιθυμήματα τοίνυν τῆς Ἱερουσαλὴμ νοητέον τὰ ἐν τῷ ναῷ, καὶ τὰ ἅγια τῶν ἁγίων ἀποκείμενα εἰς τὴν ἱερατικὴ λειτουργίαν ευετα, καὶ τὰ ἄλλως παρὰ τὸ ἐναποκεῖσθαι τῷ ναῷ θεῖα εἶναι πεπιστευμένα, οἶον τὴν λυχνίαν τὴν χρυσῆν καὶ τὰ λοιπά. πεπει- σμένοι γὰρ οἱ ἀπὸ τοῦ λαοῦ ταῦτα εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ ἐναποκεῖσθαι τῷ ναῷ, πάντων προέκρινον αὐτὰ ἐπιθυμοῦντες αὐτοί τι παθεῖν μᾶλλον ὑπὸ τῶν πολεμίων χαλεπὸν ἢ τούτων ὑποχείριόν τι γενέσθαι τοῖο ἐχθροῖς. τὸ δὲ ἁγίασμα ἕθος τοῖς ἐκ περιτομῆς τὸν ναὸν καλεῖν.
About this text
Origen, Fragments on Lamentations.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.