{"slug":"dsc-10","id":"syriac:dsc:dsc-10","title":"Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","author":"Aphrahat","genre":"other","date":"337 CE","tradition":"syriac","coverage":"not-located","coverage_claim":{"status":"not-located","text":"No English translation was located by an automated check of the source corpus and one library catalogue. That is not evidence that none exists: the check matches English title words, so works catalogued under a Latin or original-language title are missed."},"publication":{"status":"machine-draft","reviewed_by":null,"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","generated":"2026-11-15T04:53:19Z","cost_usd":0.005611},"source":{"registry_id":"syriac:dsc:dsc-10","work_id":"dsc-10","edition":"syriac","language":"","license":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"},"stats":{"passages":8,"english_words":2841,"coptic_letters":0,"commentary_units":45,"commentary_kinds":8,"derived_notes":0,"ambiguities":15,"work_notes":5,"external_links":4,"timeline":5},"summary":{"work":"dsc-10","abstract":"Aphrahat's Demonstration 10, 'On Shepherds,' is a mid-4th-century Syriac homiletic work that uses the shepherd metaphor to frame ecclesiastical authority. Drawing on biblical typology—Moses, David, Joseph, and Amos—Aphrahat presents pastoral care as a model for spiritual leadership. Written during the Sasanian persecution of Christians, the text reflects a non-polemical, pastoral tone characteristic of a Persian sage rather than a bishop. The Syriac term rāʿyā (shepherd) carries dual connotations of care and governance. The work survives in 5th–6th-century manuscripts and was later incorporated into East Syriac liturgical and monastic traditions, influencing rules on leadership.","historical_context":"Composed around 337 CE in the Sasanian Empire, likely in the region of Adiabene (modern northern Iraq), Demonstration 10 belongs to a series of 23 homilies by Aphrahat, known as the 'Persian Sage.' The work emerges during the Sasanian persecution of Christians under Shapur II (c. 339–379), which shaped Aphrahat's cautious, pastoral approach. Written in Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic, the text reflects the theological and ascetic concerns of the early Syriac church, which was not yet fully aligned with Greek Nicene orthodoxy. The earliest complete manuscript witnesses date to the 5th–6th centuries, with possible scribal glosses affecting key terms. The demonstration was later used in East Syriac liturgy and monastic rules, indicating its enduring influence on Syriac Christian thought on leadership.","significance":"Demonstration 10 is a key witness to early Syriac Christian conceptions of ecclesiastical authority, rooted in biblical typology rather than institutional hierarchy. It provides insight into the non-polemical, pastoral theology of the Persian church under persecution. The work's later liturgical and monastic reception shows its lasting impact on Syriac traditions of spiritual leadership, linking pastoral care to governance in a way that influenced later East Syriac monastic rules.","timeline":[{"date":"c. 337 CE","event":"Aphrahat composes Demonstration 10, 'On Shepherds,' during the Sasanian persecution of Christians."},{"date":"4th century","event":"Aphrahat writes as a Persian sage, shaping a non-polemical, pastoral tone."},{"date":"5th–6th century","event":"Earliest complete manuscript witnesses of the Syriac text, with possible scribal additions or glosses."},{"date":"Late antique period","event":"Demonstration 10 incorporated into East Syriac liturgical tradition for readings on pastoral themes."},{"date":"Medieval period","event":"The work influences East Syriac monastic rules on leadership, reflecting its enduring authority."}],"relations":[{"work":"Demonstrations (Aphrahat)","relation":"Part of a series of 23 homilies by the same author.","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"On the Pastoral Care (Gregory the Great)","relation":"Later Western parallel on pastoral leadership, though independent.","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Rule of the Master (East Syriac)","relation":"Influenced by Aphrahat's shepherd metaphor in monastic leadership.","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Syriac Bible (Peshitta)","relation":"Source of biblical typology for shepherds (Moses, David, etc.).","key":"","label":null,"url":null}],"external_links":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"Demonstration 10: On Shepherds (edition)","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10","reason":"Primary source edition of the work."},{"key":"wikipedia:Aphrahat","label":"Aphrahat (Wikipedia)","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphrahat","reason":"Overview of the author and his context."},{"key":"wikipedia:Shapur II","label":"Shapur II (Wikipedia)","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shapur_II","reason":"Historical context of Sasanian persecution."},{"key":"wikipedia:Syriac Christianity","label":"Syriac Christianity (Wikipedia)","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriac_Christianity","reason":"Broader religious and linguistic context."}],"cautions":["The exact date of 337 CE is traditional but not securely attested; the work is generally placed in the mid-4th century.","Aphrahat's status as a 'Persian sage' rather than a bishop is inferred from the text's tone and lack of ecclesiastical titles, but his exact role is unknown.","The earliest complete manuscript witnesses are from the 5th–6th centuries, and scribal additions or glosses may affect key terms like rāʿyā.","The edition lacks a critical apparatus for variant readings, so textual decisions should be checked against manuscript sigla."],"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","cost_usd":0.000494,"generated":"2026-11-15T01:16:31Z"},"checks":{"work":"dsc-10","status":"pass","blocking":[],"warnings":[],"stats":{"passages":8,"translated":8,"commentary_passages":8,"commentary_units":45,"english_words":2841,"source_letters":6911,"commentary_kinds":8},"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor"},"work_notes":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Aphrahat uses the shepherd metaphor to frame ecclesiastical authority, drawing on biblical typology of Moses and David. The register is homiletic and exhortatory, typical of the Demonstrations.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"dating","kind":"chronology","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The Demonstration is dated to the mid-4th century, during the Sasanian persecution of Christians. Aphrahat writes as a Persian sage, not a bishop, which shapes his non-polemical, pastoral tone.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"transmission","kind":"transmission","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text survives in multiple manuscripts, but the earliest complete witness is from the 5th–6th century. Scribal additions or glosses may affect the reading of key terms like rāʿyā.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This demonstration was later incorporated into the Syriac liturgical tradition for readings on pastoral themes, influencing East Syriac monastic rules on leadership.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The edition does not include a critical apparatus for variant readings. Readers should consult manuscript sigla for textual decisions, especially where the shepherd metaphor intersects with Christological titles.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"derived_work_notes":[{"kind":"coverage","severity":"info","text":"No English translation was located by an automated check of the source corpus and one library catalogue. That is not evidence that none exists: the check matches English title words, so works catalogued under a Latin or original-language title are missed."},{"kind":"limit","severity":"caution","text":"The English is a machine draft produced passage by passage from the transcribed Coptic; no human has verified it. The commentary is model-written and cites only keys the pipeline could resolve."},{"kind":"register","severity":"info","text":"Register: other in classical Syriac; the English keeps the liturgical formulae and the vocatives rather than normalising them."},{"kind":"structure","severity":"info","text":"Passages: 8 narrative."},{"kind":"source","severity":"info","text":"Source edition: syriac — CC BY 4.0"}],"derived_structure":{"narrative":8},"term_index":[],"citations":{"ed:dsc-10":{"label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}},"segments":[{"i":1,"ref":"p1","source":"ܬܚܘܝܬܐ ܕܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ\nܝܬܒܝܢ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ ܒܪܫܗ ܕܓܙܪܐ܂ ܘܝܗܒܝܢ ܠܗ ܠܥܢܐ ܡܐܟܘܠܬܐ ܕܚ̈ܝܐ܂ ܡܢ ܕܫܗܪ ܘܥܡܠ ܥܠ ܐ̈ܦܝ ܥܢܗ܂ ܒܛܝܠ ܠܗ ܥܠܝܗ ܥܠ ܡܪܥܝܬܗ܂ ܘܬܠܡܝܕܗ ܗܘ ܕܪܥܝܢ ܛܒܐ܂ ܕܝܗܒ ܢܦܫܗ ܥܠ ܐ̈ܦܝ ܥܢܗ܂ ܘܡܢ ܕܠܐ ܡܗܦܟ ܠܓܙܪܗ ܫܦܝܪ܂ ܠܐܓܝܪܐ ܡܬܕܡܐ܂ ܕܠܐ ܒܛܝܠ ܠܗ ܥܠܝܗ ܥܠ ܥܢܐ܂ ܐܬܕܡܘ ܐܘ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ܂ ܠܗ̈ܢܘܢ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ ܟܐ̈ܢܐ ܩܕܡ̈ܝܐ܂ ܪܥܐ ܝܥܩܘܒ ܥܢܗ ܕܠܒܢ܂ ܘܢܛܪ ܘܥܡܠ ܘܫܗܪ ܘܢܣܒ ܐܓܪܐ܂ ܐܡܪ ܓܝܪ ܝܥܩܘܒ ܠܠܒܢ܂ ܕܗܐ ܥܣܪܝܢ ܠܝ ܫܢ̈ܝܢ ܥܡܟ܂ ܥܢܟ ܘܓܙܪ̈ܝܟ ܠܐ ܓܙܝܬ܂ ܘܕܟܪ̈ܐ ܕܥܢܟ ܠܐ ܐܟܠܬ܂ ܕܬܒܝܪܐ ܠܐ ܐܝܬܝܬ ܠܟ܂ ܕܡܢ ܐܝ̈ܕܝ ܬܒܥ ܗܘܝܬ ܠܗ܂ ܒܐܝܡܡܐ ܐܟܠܢܝ ܫܘܒܐ܂ ܘܓܠܝܕܐ ܒܠܠܝܐ܂ ܦܪܕܬ ܫܢܬܝ ܡܢ ܥܝ̈ܢܝ܂ ܚܙܘ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ ܠܪܥܝܐ ܗܢܐ܂ ܟܡܐ ܒܛܝܠ ܗܘܐ ܠܗ ܥܠ ܡܪܥܝܬܗ܂ ܥܝܪ ܗܘܐ ܒܠܠܝܐ ܠܡܛܪ܂ ܘܫܗܪ ܗܘܐ ܘܥܡܠ ܒܐܝܡܡܐ ܠܡܪܥܐ܂ ܝܥܩܘܒ ܪܥܝܐ ܘܝܘܣܦ ܪܥܝܐ܂ ܘܐܚ̈ܘܗܝ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ܂ ܡܘܫܐ ܪܥܝܐ܂ ܘܐܦ ܕܘܝܕ ܪܥܝܐ܂ ܘܥܡܘܣ ܪܥܝܐ܂ ܗܠܝܢ ܟܠܗܘܢ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ܂ ܕܪܥܘ ܥܢܐ ܘܕܒܪܘ ܫܦܝܪ܀ ܘܠܡܢܐ ܕܝܢ ܚܒܝܒܝ ܗܠܝܢ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ܂ ܠܘܩܕܡ ܥܢܐ ܪܥܝܢ ܗܘܘ܂ ܘܗܝܕܝܢ ܡܬܓܒܝܢ ܗܘܘ ܕܢܪܥܘܢ ܒ̈ܢܝ ܐܢܫܐ܂ ܐܠܐ ܡܛܠ ܕܢܐܠܦܘܢ܂ ܐܝܟܢܐ ܒܛܝܠ ܠܗ ܠܪܥܝܐ ܥܠ ܥܢܗ܂ ܘܫܗܪ ܘܥܡܠ ܥܠ ܐ̈ܦܝ ܥܢܗ܂ ܘܡܐ ܕܐܝܠܦܘ ܙܢ̈ܝ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ܂ ܡܬܓܒܝܢ ܗܘܘ ܠܡܕܒܪܢܘܬܐ܂ ܪܥܐ ܝܥܩܘܒ ܥܢܗ ܕܠܒܢ܂ ܘܥܡܠ ܘܫܗܪ ܘܕܒܪ ܫܦܝܪ܂ ܘܗܝܕܝܢ ܪܥܐ ܘܕܒܪ ܫܦܝܪ ܠܒܢܘ̈ܗܝ܂ ܘܐܠܦ ܐܢܘܢ ܛܘܦܣܐ ܕܪܥܝܘܬܐ܂ ܘܝܘܣܦ ܪܥܐ ܗܘܐ ܥܡ ܐ̈ܚܘܗܝ ܥܢܐ܂ ܘܒܡܨܪܝܢ ܗܘܐ ܡܕܒܪܢܐ ܠܥܡܐ ܣܓܝܐܐ܂ ܘܗܦܟ ܐܢܘܢ ܐܝܟ ܪܥܝܐ ܛܒܐ ܠܓܙܪܗ܂ ܘܡܘܫܐ ܪܥܐ ܥܢܐ ܕܝܬܪܘܢ ܚܡܘܗܝ܂ ܘܐܬܓܒܝ ܡܢ ܥܢܐ ܕܢܪܥܐ ܠܥܡܗ܂ ܘܐܝܟ ܪܥܝܐ ܛܒܐ ܕܒܪ ܐܢܘܢ܂","english":"Demonstration on Shepherds\n\nThe shepherds sit at the head of the flock, and they give to it the food of life. He who watches and toils over the face of his flock, he is diligent over it, over his pasture. And his disciple is the one who shepherds well, who gives himself over the face of his flock. And he who does not turn to his flock well, is like a hireling who is not diligent over the flock. Behold, O shepherds, the examples of the faithful shepherds of old. Jacob shepherded the flock of Laban, and he guarded, toiled, watched, and received a reward. For Jacob said to Laban: \"Behold, I have served you for twenty years. Your flock and your goats I did not shear, and the rams of your flock I did not eat. I did not bring you a broken one. For I used to seek after it with my hands. By day the wolf devoured them, and by night the cold. I separated my service from my wages.\" See, O shepherds, this shepherd, how diligent he was over his pasture. He was awake by night to guard, and he watched and toiled by day to shepherd. Jacob the shepherd, and Joseph the shepherd, and his brothers the shepherds. Moses the shepherd, and also David the shepherd, and Amos the shepherd. All these are shepherds who shepherded the flock and led it well. And why, my beloved, were these shepherds? Before they shepherded the flock, they were shepherds, and then they were chosen to shepherd the people of men. But because they learned how a shepherd is diligent over his flock, and watches and toils over the face of his flock, and when they learned the ways of shepherds, they were chosen for leadership. Jacob shepherded the flock of Laban, and toiled, watched, and led well, and then he shepherded and led his sons well, and taught them the pattern of shepherding. And Joseph was a shepherd with his brothers of the flock, and in Egypt he was a governor over many people, and he turned out to be like a good shepherd to his flock. And Moses shepherded the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, and was chosen from the flock to shepherd his people, and like a good shepherd he led them.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The term 'shepherds' is used both literally for biblical figures and metaphorically for spiritual leaders, a key theme in Aphrahat's demonstration.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"Jacob's speech to Laban","severity":"info","text":"Aphrahat paraphrases Jacob's words to Laban (Genesis 30:31–33), emphasizing his diligence as a shepherd, which serves as a model for pastoral care.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"hireling","severity":"info","text":"The contrast between a faithful shepherd and a hireling reflects early Syriac monastic ideals, where spiritual leadership is a vocation, not a paid position.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"list of biblical shepherds","severity":"info","text":"Aphrahat lists Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, and Amos as exemplary shepherds, establishing a typological pattern that links pastoral care to leadership.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"Joseph in Egypt","severity":"info","text":"Joseph's transition from shepherd to governor in Egypt parallels the idea that faithful shepherding of flocks prepares one for leadership of people.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'ܡܢ ܕܫܗܪ ܘܥܡܠ' could be read as 'he who watches and toils' or 'he who is awake and works'; the translation opts for the former.","The reference to 'Amos the shepherd' may allude to the prophet Amos (Amos 1:1) or a different figure; the context suggests the prophet."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":2,"ref":"p2","source":"ܫܩܝܠ ܗܘܐ ܡܘܫܐ ܚܘܛܪܗ ܥܠ ܟܬܦܗ܂ ܘܐܙܠ ܒܪܫܗ ܕܥܡܐ ܕܡܕܒܪ ܗܘܐ܂ ܘܪܥܐ ܐܢܘܢ ܐܪܒܥܝܢ ܫܢ̈ܝܢ܂ ܘܫܗܪ ܘܥܡܠ ܥܠ ܐ̈ܦܝ ܥܢܗ܂ ܘܪܥܝܐ ܚܦܝܛܐ ܘܛܒܐ܂ ܟܕ ܨܒܐ ܡܪܗ ܕܢܥܛܐ ܐܢܘܢ܂ ܡܛܠ ܚܛܗ̈ܝܗܘܢ ܕܣܓܕܘ ܠܥܓܠܐ܂ ܨܠܝ ܡܘܫܐ ܘܒܥܐ ܡܢ ܡܪܗ ܘܐܡܪ܂ ܕܐܘ ܫܒܘܩ ܠܥܡܐ ܚܛܗ̈ܝܗܘܢ܂ ܘܐܠܐ ܥܛܝܢܝ ܡܢ ܣܦܪܟ ܕܟܬܒܬ܂ ܗܢܘ ܪܥܝܐ ܟܫܝܪܐ܂ ܕܢܦܫܗ ܐܫܠܡ ܥܠ ܐ̈ܦܝ ܥܢܗ܂ ܗܘ ܡܕܒܪܢܐ ܢܨܝܚܐ܂ ܕܝܗܒ ܢܦܫܗ ܥܠ ܐ̈ܦܝ ܥܢܗ܂ ܘܗܢܘ ܐܒܐ ܡܪܚܡܢܐ܂ ܕܪܚܦ ܥܠ ܒܢܘ̈ܗܝ ܘܪܒܝ ܐܢܘܢ܂ ܘܐܠܦ ܡܘܫܐ ܪܒܐ ܥܠܢܐ ܚܟܝܡܐ܂ ܕܝܕܥ ܠܡܗܦܟܘ ܓܙܪܐ܂ ܠܝܫܘܥ ܒܪܢܘܢ ܓܒܪܐ ܕܪܘܚܐ܂ ܕܕܒܪ ܓܙܪܐ ܡܫܪܝܬܐ ܟܠܗ ܕܐܝܣܪܝܠ܂ ܚܪܒ ܡ̈ܠܟܐ ܘܟܒܫ ܐܪܥܐ܂ ܘܝܗܒ ܠܗܘܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܒܝܬ ܡܪܥܝܬܐ܂ ܘܦܠܓ ܡܪܒܥܐ ܕܝܪ̈ܐ/ܘܕܝܪܐ/ ܠܥܢܗ܂ ܪܥܐ ܬܘܒ ܕܘܝܕ ܥܢܐ ܕܐܒܘܗܝ܂ ܘܡܢ ܥܢܐ ܐܬܕܒܪ ܠܡܪܥܐ ܠܥܡܗ܂ ܘܪܥܐ ܐܢܘܢ ܒܬܡܝܡܘܬܐ ܕܠܒܗ܂ ܘܒܣܘܟܠܐ ܕܐܝ̈ܕܘܗܝ ܕܒܪ ܐܢܘܢ܂ ܘܟܕ ܡܢܝܗܝ ܕܘܝܕ ܠܓܙܪܐ ܕܥܢܗ܂ ܣܠܩ ܒܗܘܢ ܪܘܓܙܐ܂ ܘܫܪܝܘ ܡܬܚܪܒܝܢ܂ ܗܝܕܝܢ ܐܫܠܡ ܕܘܝܕ ܢܦܫܗ ܥܠ ܐ̈ܦܝ ܥܢܗ܂ ܟܕ ܡܨܠܐ ܗܘܐ ܘܐܡܪ܂ ܡܪܝܐ ܐܠܗܐ܂ ܐܢܐ ܚܛܝܬ ܕܡܢܝܬ ܠܐܝܣܪܝܠ܂ ܬܗܘܐ ܐܝܕܟ ܒܝ ܘܒܒܝܬ ܐܒܝ܂ ܗܠܝܢ ܥܢܐ ܬܡܝܡ̈ܬܐ ܡܢܐ ܚ̈ܛܝ܂ ܘܐܦ ܟܠܗܘܢ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ ܟܫܝܪ̈ܐ܂ ܗܟܢܐ ܝܗܒܝܢ ܗܘܘ ܢܦܫܗܘܢ ܥܠ ܐ̈ܦܝ ܥܢܗܘܢ܀ ܘܐܝܠܝܢ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ ܕܠܐ ܐܬܒܛܠ ܠܗܘܢ ܥܠ ܥܢܐ ܗܠܝܢ ܐܢܘܢ ܐܓܝܪ̈ܐ܂ ܕܢܦܫܗܘܢ ܒܠܚܘܕ ܪܥܝܢ ܗܘܘ܂ ܡܛܠ`ܗܢܐ ܩܪܐ ܠܗܘܢ ܢܒܝܐ܂ ܘܐܡܪ ܠܗܘܢ܂ ܐܘ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ ܕܡܘܒܕܝܢ ܘܡܒܕܪܝܢ ܥܢܐ ܕܡܪܥܝܬܝ܂ ܫܡܥܘ ܦܬܓܡܗ ܕܡܪܝܐ܂ ܗܟܢܐ ܐܡܪ ܡܪܝܐ܂ ܗܐ ܣܥܪ ܐܢܐ ܠܥܢܝ܂ ܐܝܟ ܕܣܥܪ ܪܥܝܐ ܠܓܙܪܗ ܒܝܘܡܐ ܕܙܝܩܐ܂ ܘܬܒܥ ܐܢܐ ܠܥܢܝ ܡܢ ܐܝ̈ܕܝܟܘܢ܂ ܐܘ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ ܣܟ̈ܠܐ܂","english":"Moses took his staff upon his shoulder and went at the head of the people whom he led. And he shepherded them for forty years, and he watched and toiled over the face of his flock, a diligent and good shepherd. When the Lord of the flock desired to destroy them because of their sins, for they worshipped the calf, Moses prayed and entreated from his Lord and said, Either forgive the people their sins, or erase me from your book which you have written. That shepherd is worthy who gave himself over the face of his flock; that leader is victorious who gave himself over the face of his flock; and that father is compassionate who hovered over his sons and raised them. And Moses taught the great, wise, superior one who knew how to turn the divisions, to Joshua son of Nun, a man of spirit, who led the divisions of the whole camp of Israel. He destroyed kings and conquered the land, and gave them the land of the pasture, and divided the quarters of the dwellings to his flock. Again David shepherded the flock of his father, and with the flock he was led to pasture his people. And he shepherded them with the integrity of his heart, and with the skill of his hands he led them. And when David brought the divisions of his flock, wrath rose up among them, and they began to be destroyed. Then David gave himself over the face of his flock, as he was praying and saying, Lord God, I have sinned in that I brought destruction to Israel; let your hand be upon me and upon my father’s house. These are faithful flocks with sinners, and also all worthy shepherds. Thus they gave themselves over the face of their flocks. And those shepherds who did not toil over the flock, these are hirelings who shepherded only themselves. Because of this the prophet called to them and said to them, O shepherds who destroy and scatter the flock of my pasture, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord, Behold, I tend my flock as a shepherd tends his flock on a day of storm, and I demand my flock from your hands, O foolish shepherds.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܪܥܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac verb ܪܥܐ (rʿā) means 'to shepherd' and is used throughout the passage to describe Moses, David, and other leaders. It carries the dual sense of pastoral care and governance, central to Aphrahat's allegory.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"Exodus 32","severity":"info","text":"The reference to the people worshipping the calf and Moses' intercessory prayer alludes to Exodus 32, where Moses pleads with God after the golden calf incident. Aphrahat adapts the narrative to emphasize the shepherd's self-sacrifice.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"Joshua 1–12","severity":"info","text":"The mention of Joshua (ܝܫܘܥ ܒܪܢܘܢ) leading the divisions of Israel and conquering kings echoes the book of Joshua, particularly the conquest of Canaan. Aphrahat presents Joshua as a model shepherd-warrior.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"2 Samuel 24","severity":"info","text":"David's prayer, 'Lord God, I have sinned in that I brought destruction to Israel; let your hand be upon me and upon my father’s house,' is not a direct biblical quotation but reflects themes from 2 Samuel 24 and David's penitential psalms, adapted by Aphrahat.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"hireling (ܐܓܝܪ̈ܐ)","severity":"info","text":"The contrast between faithful shepherds and hirelings (ܐܓܝܪ̈ܐ) reflects a common trope in early Syriac literature, drawing on biblical and pastoral imagery to critique mercenary or negligent leaders.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"narrative sequence","severity":"info","text":"The passage follows a tripartite structure: Moses as exemplary shepherd, Joshua as successor, and David as repentant shepherd, culminating in a prophetic warning against hirelings. This builds a typological argument for virtuous leadership.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'erase me from your book' (ܥܛܝܢܝ ܡܢ ܣܦܪܟ) is ambiguous: it may refer to the Book of Life or to the Torah, reflecting Moses' role as lawgiver.","The identity of 'the prophet' who calls to the shepherds is unspecified; it may be a reference to a biblical prophet (e.g., Ezekiel 34) or a generic prophetic voice."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":3,"ref":"p3","source":"ܥܡܪܐ ܕܥܢܐ ܠܒܫܝܢ ܐܢܬܘܢ܂ ܘܒܣܪܐ ܕܫܡ̈ܝܢܬܐ ܐܟܠܝܢ ܐܢܬܘܢ܂ ܘܥܢܐ ܠܐ ܪܥܝܢ ܐܢܬܘܢ܂ ܕܡܪܥܐ ܠܐ ܐܣܝܬܘܢ܂ ܘܕܬܒܝܪܐ ܠܐ ܥܨܒܬܘܢ܂ ܕܟܪܝܗܐ ܠܐ ܚܝܠܬܘܢ܂ ܘܕܐܒܝܕܐ ܘܕܡܒܕܪܐ ܠܐ ܟܢܫܬܘܢ܂ ܘܥܫܝ̈ܢܬܐ ܘܫܡ̈ܝܢܬܐ ܠܐ ܢܛܪܬܘܢ܂ ܐܠܐ ܒܩܛܝܪܐ ܫܥܒܕܬܘܢ ܐܢܝܢ܂ ܘܪܥܝܐ ܛܒܐ ܪܥܝܢ ܐܢܬܘܢ܂ ܘܡܕܡ ܕܝܬܪ ܕܝܫܝܢ ܐܢܬܘܢ ܒܪ̈ܓܠܝܟܘܢ܂ ܘܡܝܐ ܒܣܝ̈ܡܐ ܫܬܝܢ ܐܢܬܘܢ܂ ܘܡܕܡ ܕܝܬܪ ܕܠܚܝܢ ܐܢܬܘܢ ܒܪ̈ܓܠܝܟܘܢ܂ ܘܥܢܝ ܪܥܝ ܕܘܫܐ ܕܕܫ ܪ̈ܓܠܝܟܘܢ܂ ܘܐܫܬܝ ܡܝܐ ܕܕܠܚ ܪ̈ܓܠܝܟܘܢ܂ ܗܠܝܢ ܐܢܘܢ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ ܝܥ̈ܢܐ ܘܫ̈ܦܠܐ ܘܐܓܝܪ̈ܐ܂ ܕܠܐ ܪܥܘ ܥܢܐ ܘܕܒܪܘ ܫܦܝܪ܂ ܘܠܐ ܦܨܝܘ ܐܢܝܢ ܡܢ ܕܐ̈ܒܐ܂ ܡܐ ܕܐܬܐ ܕܝܢ ܪܥܝܐ ܪܒܐ܂ ܩܪܐ ܪܒ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ ܘܣܥܪ ܥܢܗ܂ ܘܦܩܕ ܓܙܪܗ܂ ܘܡܝܬܐ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ ܗܢܘܢ܂ ܘܥܒܕ ܥܡܗܘܢ ܚܘܫܒܢܐ܂ ܘܡܚܝܒ ܠܗܘܢ ܒܥܒ̈ܕܝܗܘܢ܂ ܘܥܝܠܝܢ ܕܪܥܘ ܥܢܐ ܫܦܝܪ܂ ܡܚܕܐ ܠܗܘܢ ܪܒ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ܂ ܘܡܘܪܬ ܠܗܘܢ ܚܝ̈ܐ ܘܢܝܚܐ܂ ܐܘ ܪܥܝܐ ܒܘܪܐ ܘܣܟܠܐ܂ ܕܫܒܩܬ ܥܢܝ ܥܠ ܐܝܕܟ ܕܝܡܝܢܐ ܘܥܠ ܥܝܢܟ ܕܝܡܝܢܐ܂ ܥܠ ܕܐܡܪܬ ܥܠܝܗ ܥܠ ܥܢܐ܂ ܕܡܝܬܐ ܬܡܘܬ܂ ܘܕܐܒܕܐ ܬܐܒܕ܂ ܘܐܝܕܐ ܕܡܫܬܚܪܐ ܗܝ ܬܐܟܘܠ ܒܣܪܐ ܕܚܒܪ̈ܬܗ܂ ܡܛܠ ܗܢܐ܂ ܗܐ ܡܥܘܪ ܐܢܐ ܥܝܢܟ ܕܝܡܝܢܐ܂ ܘܡܘܒܫ ܐܢܐ ܕܪܥܟ ܕܝܡܝܢܐ܂ ܥܝܢܟ ܕܒܫܘܚܕܐ ܚܪܬ ܬܣܡܐ܂ ܘܐܝܕܟ ܕܠܐ ܕܒܪܬ ܒܟܢܘܬܐ ܬܣܬܪܚ܂ ܘܐܢܬܝܢ ܠܡ ܥܢܝ ܥܢܐ ܕܡܪܥܝܬܝ܂ ܒܢ̈ܝ ܐܢܫܐ ܐܢܬܝܢ܂ ܘܐܢܐ ܐܢܐ ܡܪܝܐ ܐܠܗܟܝܢ܂ ܗܐ ܡܢ ܗܫܐ ܐܪܥܝܟܝܢ܂ ܒܝܬ ܪܥܝܐ ܛܒܐ ܘܫܡܝܢܐ܀ ܘܪܥܝܐ ܛܒܐ ܝܗܒ ܢܦܫܗ ܥܠ ܐ̈ܦܝ ܥܢܗ܂ ܘܬܘܒ ܐܡܪ܂ ܕܐܝܬ ܠܝ ܥܪ̈ܒܐ ܐܚܪ̈ܢܐ܂ ܘܐܦ ܠܗܘܢ ܘܠܐ ܠܝ ܠܡܝܬܝܘ ܐܢܘܢ ܠܟܐ܂ ܘܬܗܘܐ ܥܢܐ ܟܠܗ ܚܕܐ܂ ܘܚܕ ܪܥܝܐ܂ ܘܐܒܝ ܡܛܠ ܗܢܐ ܪܚܡ ܠܝ܂ ܕܢܦܫܝ ܝܗܒ ܐܢܐ ܥܠ ܐ̈ܦܝܗ ܕܥܢܐ܂ ܘܬܘܒ ܐܡܪ܂","english":"The flock ate the flesh of the birds, and the birds ate the flesh of the flock, and the flock was not shepherded, the sick were not healed, the broken were not bound, the weak were not strengthened, the lost and the scattered were not sought out, and the hard and the bitter were not guarded, but you enslaved them with a rod, and you shepherded them, a good shepherd. And what remained of the milk you trampled under your feet, and you drank the sweet water, and what remained of the bread you trampled under your feet, and the shepherd of the flock trod upon the pasture which your feet had trodden, and drank the water which your feet had muddied. These were the shepherds, the wicked, the lowly, and the hirelings, who did not shepherd the flock and lead it well, and did not free it from the wolves. But when the great Shepherd came, he called the chief of the shepherds and sheared his flock, and commanded its shearers, and those shepherds were dead, and he made an account with them, and condemned them for their deeds. And those who shepherded the flock well, the chief of the shepherds rejoiced over them, and granted them life and rest. Or you, a foolish and ignorant shepherd, who abandoned the flock upon your hand which is defiled and upon your eye which is defiled, concerning which you said over the flock, \"The dead shall die, and the lost shall be lost, and the hand which is left shall eat the flesh of its companions.\" Because of this, behold, I have blinded your eye which is defiled, and I have withered your arm which is defiled. Your eye which looked upon a bribe shall be blinded, and your hand which did not lead with righteousness shall be withered. And you said to me, \"My flock, the flock which I shepherded, has come to me in fire.\" And I said, \"I am the Lord your God. Behold, from now on I will shepherd you in the house of a good and faithful shepherd.\" And the good shepherd gave himself for the sake of his flock, and again he said, \"I have other sheep, and even them I have not brought to you, and the whole flock shall be one, and one shepherd.\" And my father, because of this, loved me, that I gave myself for the sake of the flock. And again he said,","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The plural ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ (rāʿwātā) can mean 'shepherds' or 'pastorates'; here it refers to the shepherds themselves, as the context of judgment and condemnation indicates.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܪܥܝܐ ܛܒܐ ܝܗܒ ܢܦܫܗ ܥܠ ܐ̈ܦܝ ܥܢܗ","severity":"info","text":"The image of the good shepherd giving himself for the flock echoes John 10:11 and the broader Johannine good shepherd discourse, though the phrasing is Aphrahat's own.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܩܛܝܪܐ ܫܥܒܕܬܘܢ","severity":"info","text":"The 'rod' (ܩܛܝܪܐ) is a symbol of coercive authority, contrasting with the ideal shepherd's care; this reflects contemporary critiques of harsh ecclesiastical or monastic leadership.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"passage","severity":"info","text":"This passage shifts from a series of negative exempla (bad shepherds) to the intervention of the 'great Shepherd' (Christ), then to a direct address to a foolish shepherd, and finally to the good shepherd's self-sacrifice.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܐܒܝ ܡܛܠ ܗܢܐ ܪܚܡ ܠܝ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'my father, because of this, loved me' parallels the self-offering language of the good shepherd and may allude to the binding of Isaac or to Christ's sacrificial love.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of the 'foolish shepherd' addressed directly is ambiguous; it may be a specific contemporary figure or a generic type.","The phrase 'the hand which is left shall eat the flesh of its companions' is obscure; it may refer to cannibalism in extreme distress or to a proverbial expression of betrayal."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":4,"ref":"p4","source":"ܕܐܢܐ ܐܢܐ ܬܪܥܗ ܕܥܢܐ܂ ܘܒܝ ܟܠ ܕܥܐܠ ܢܚܐ܂ ܘܢܥܘܠ ܘܢܦܘܩ܂ ܘܪܥܝܐ ܢܫܟܚ܂ ܐܬܕܡܘ ܐܘ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ ܠܗܢܐ ܪܥܝܐ ܚܦܝܛܐ܂ ܪܫܐ ܕܟܠܗ ܡܪܥܝܬܐ܂ ܕܟܡܐ ܐܬܒܛܠ ܠܗ ܥܠ ܓܙܪܗ܂ ܘܩܪܒ ܪ̈ܚܝܩܬܐ܂ ܘܐܦܢܝ ܛܥܝ̈ܬܐ܂ ܘܣܥܪ ܟܪ̈ܝܗܬܐ܂ ܘܚܝܠ ܡܚ̈ܝܠܬܐ܂ ܘܥܨܒ ܬܒܝܪ̈ܬܐ܂ ܘܢܛܪ ܫܡ̈ܝܢܬܐ܂ ܢܦܫܗ ܐܫܠܡ ܥܠ ܐ̈ܦܝܗ ܕܥܢܐ܂ ܘܓܒܐ ܘܐܠܦ ܥ̈ܠܢܐ ܢܨܝ̈ܚܐ܂ ܘܐܫܠܡ ܥܢܐ ܒܐܝ̈ܕܝܗܘܢ܂ ܘܐܫܠܛ ܐܢܘܢ ܥܠ ܟܘܠܗ ܡܪܥܝܬܗ܂ ܐܡܪ ܠܗ ܓܝܪ ܠܫܡܥܘܢ ܟܐܦܐ܂ ܪܥܝ ܠܝ ܥܢܝ ܘܐܡܪ̈ܝ ܘܢܩ̈ܘܬܝ܂ ܘܪܥܐ ܫܡܥܘܢ /ܥܢܗ/ ܘܫܠܡ ܙܒܢܗ܂ ܘܐܫܠܡ ܠܟܘܢ ܡܪܥܝܬܐ ܘܐܙܠ܂ ܪܥܘ ܘܐܦ ܐܢܬܘܢ ܘܕܒܪܘ ܫܦܝܪ܂ ܪܥܝܐ ܓܝܪ ܕܒܛܝܠ ܠܗ ܥܠ ܥܢܗ܂ ܦܘܠܚܢܐ ܐܚܪܢܐ ܠܐ ܦܠܚ ܥܡܗ܂ ܠܐ ܟܪܡܐ ܣܐܡ܂ ܐܦܠܐ ܓܢ̈ܐ ܢܨܒ܂ ܘܐܦ ܒܥܣ̈ܩܝ ܥܠܡܐ ܗܢܐ ܠܐ ܢܦܠ܂ ܠܐ ܡܡܬܘܡ ܚܙܝܢ ܪܥܝܐ܂ ܕܫܒܩ ܥܢܗ ܒܕܒܪܐ ܘܗܘܐ ܬܓܪܐ܂ ܘܐܦ ܠܐ ܕܐܛܥܝ ܡܪܥܝܬܗ܂ ܘܗܘܐ ܐܟܪܐ܂ ܐܢ ܕܝܢ ܫܒܩ ܓܙܪܗ ܘܦܠܚ ܗܠܝܢ܂ ܡܪܥܝܬܗ ܐܫܠܡ ܒܝܕ ܕܐܒ̈ܐ܀ ܘܥܗܕ ܚܒܝܒܝ ܕܟܬܒܬ ܠܟ ܥܠ ܐܒ̈ܗܬܢ ܩܕܡ̈ܝܐ܂ ܕܙ̈ܢܝ ܥܢܐ ܝܠܦܝܢ ܗܘܘ ܠܘܩܕܡ܂ ܘܡܢܗ ܢܣܒܝܢ ܗܘܘ ܢܣܝܘܢܐ ܕܒܛܝܠܘܬܐ܂ ܘܗܝܕܝܢ ܡܬܓܒܝܢ ܗܘܘ ܠܡܕܒܪܢܘܬܐ܂ ܕܢܐܠܦܘܢ ܘܢܚܙܘܢ܂ ܟܡܐ ܒܛܝܠ ܠܗ ܠܪܥܝܐ ܥܠ ܡܪܥܝܬܗ܂ ܘܐܝܟ ܕܠܥܢܐ ܡܕܒܪܝܢ ܗܘܘ ܒܛܝܠܐܝܬ܂ ܗܟܢܐ ܐܦ ܒܗܕܐ ܡܕܒܪܢܘܬܐ ܢܫܬܠܡܘܢ܂ ܝܘܣܦ ܓܝܪ ܐܬܓܒܝ ܡܢ ܥܢܐ܂ ܕܢܕܒܪ ܠܡܨܪ̈ܝܐ ܒܙܒܢܐ ܕܐܘܠܨܢܐ܂ ܘܡܘܫܐ ܐܬܓܒܝ ܡܢ ܥܢܐ܂ ܕܢܕܒܪ ܠܥܡܗ ܘܢܪܥܐ ܐܢܘܢ܂ ܘܕܘܝܕ ܐܬܕܒܪ ܡܢ ܒܣܬܪ ܥܢܐ܂ ܕܢܗܘܐ ܡܠܟܐ ܥܠ ܐܝܣܪܝܠ܂ ܘܥܡܘܣ ܕܒܪܗ ܡܪܗ ܡܢ ܒܣܬܪ ܥܢܐ܂ ܘܥܒܕܗ ܢܒܝܐ ܥܠ ܥܡܗ܂ ܘܐܦ ܐܠܝܫܥ ܐܬܕܒܪ ܡܢ ܒܬܪ ܦܕܢܐ܂ ܕܢܗܘܐ ܢܒܝܐ ܒܐܝܣܪܝܠ܂ ܠܐ ܗܦܟ ܡܘܫܐ ܠܘܬ ܥܢܗ܂ ܘܠܐ ܫܒܩ ܡܪܥܝܬܐ ܕܥܫܬܠܡܬ ܠܗ܂","english":"The door of the flock was opened, and all who entered were beasts, and they went in and out, and the shepherd was found. The shepherds were compared to this diligent shepherd, the head of the whole pasturage, how much he toiled over his flock, and brought near the distant ones, and turned back the straying ones, and tended the sick ones, and strengthened the weak ones, and bound the broken ones, and guarded the scattered ones. He gave himself over for the sake of the flock, and chose and taught the excellent lambs, and entrusted the flock into their hands, and gave them authority over his whole pasturage. For he said to Simon Cephas: Shepherd my sheep and my lambs and my kids. And Simon shepherded his flock and completed his sacrifice, and entrusted the pasturage to you and went. Shepherd also you, and lead well. For a shepherd who toils over his flock does no other work with it; he does not plant a vineyard, nor does he press grapes, nor does he involve himself in the troubles of this world. Never is a shepherd seen who left his flock in the desert and became a merchant, nor one who neglected his pasturage and became a farmer. But if he left his flock and worked at these things, he entrusted his pasturage to the hands of wolves. And remember, my beloved, that I wrote to you about the former fathers, that they used to learn the tending of the flock first, and from it they would take the help of diligence, and then they would be chosen for leadership, so that they might learn and see how much the shepherd toils over his pasturage, and just as they used to lead the flock diligently, so also in this leadership they would be perfected. For Joseph was chosen from the flock to lead the Egyptians in the time of distress, and Moses was chosen from the flock to lead his people and to shepherd them, and David was led from behind the flock to be king over Israel, and Amos his Lord took him from behind the flock and made him a prophet over his people, and also Elisha was led from behind the plough to be a prophet in Israel. Moses did not return to his flock, nor did he abandon the pasturage that was entrusted to him.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܪܥܝܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term rāʿyā (shepherd) is used throughout as a metaphor for ecclesiastical leadership, echoing the pastoral imagery of the New Testament.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܡܪ ܠܗ ܓܝܪ ܠܫܡܥܘܢ ܟܐܦܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'he said to Simon Cephas: Shepherd my sheep' alludes to John 21:15–17, where Jesus entrusts Peter with pastoral care.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܥܗܕ ܚܒܝܒܝ ܕܟܬܒܬ ܠܟ ܥܠ ܐܒ̈ܗܬܢ ܩܕܡ̈ܝܐ","severity":"info","text":"Aphrahat refers to his earlier discussion of 'former fathers' (abbāhātā qadmāyē), likely a prior demonstration or oral teaching, linking pastoral training to leadership.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ܝܘܣܦ ܓܝܪ ܐܬܓܒܝ ܡܢ ܥܢܐ","severity":"info","text":"The examples of Joseph, Moses, David, Amos, and Elisha, all chosen from shepherding or humble origins, parallel the biblical typology of leaders emerging from pastoral roles.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"narrative","severity":"info","text":"This passage shifts from allegorical description to direct exhortation, culminating in a series of biblical exempla that reinforce the ideal of the dedicated shepherd.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܫܠܡ ܙܒܢܗ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'completed his sacrifice' (wa-šlam zebḥēh) is ambiguous: it may refer to Peter's martyrdom or to the completion of his pastoral mission; the text does not specify.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'completed his sacrifice' could denote Peter's martyrdom or the fulfillment of his pastoral duty; the text does not clarify.","The identity of 'the former fathers' is not specified, though likely referring to biblical patriarchs or earlier Christian leaders."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":5,"ref":"p5","source":"ܘܠܐ ܗܦܟ ܕܘܝܕ ܠܘܬ ܥܢܐ ܕܐܒܘܗܝ܂ ܐܠܐ ܕܒܪ ܠܥܡܗ ܒܬܡܝܡܘܬܐ ܕܠܒܗ܂ ܘܠܐ ܗܦܟ ܥܡܘܣ ܠܡܪܥܐ ܥܢܐ܂ ܘܠܡܠܩܛ ܩܝ̈ܣܐ܂ ܐܠܐ ܢܒܝܘܬܗ ܕܒܪ ܘܫܠܡ܂ ܘܠܐ ܗܦܟ ܐܠܝܫܥ ܠܘܬ ܦܕܢܗ܂ ܐܠܐ ܫܡܫ ܠܐܠܝܐ ܘܡܠܝ ܕܘܟܬܗ܂ ܘܥܠܢܐ ܕܗܘܐ ܠܗ܂ ܥܠ ܕܪܚܡ ܩܘܪ̈ܝܐ ܘܬܐܓܘܪܬܐ܂ ܘܟܪ̈ܡܐ ܘܙܝ̈ܬܐ ܘܦܘܠܚܢܐ܂ ܠܐ ܨܒܐ ܕܢܗܘܐ ܠܗ ܬܠܡܝܕܐ܂ ܘܠܐ ܐܫܠܡ ܒܐܝܕܗ ܡܪܥܝܬܐ܀ ܒܥܐ ܐܢܐ ܡܢܟܘܢ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ܂ ܕܠܐ ܬܩܝܡܘܢ ܒܡܪܥܝܬܐ܂ ܥ̈ܠܢܐ ܣܟ̈ܠܐ ܘܒܘܪ̈ܐ܂ ܘܐܦܠܐ ܝܥ̈ܢܐ ܘܪ̈ܚܡܝ ܩܢ̈ܝܢܐ܂ ܟܠ ܡܢ ܕܪܥܐ ܥܢܐ܂ ܢܐܟܘܠ ܡܢ ܚܠܒܗ܂ ܘܡܢ ܕܕܒܪ ܦܕܢܐ܂ ܡܢ ܥܡܠܗ ܢܬܚܫܚ܂ ܘܟܗ̈ܢܐ ܡܢ ܡܕܒܚܐ ܘܠܐ ܠܗܘܢ ܠܡܦܠܓ܂ ܘܠܘܝ̈ܐ ܢܫܩܠܘܢ ܡܥܣܪ̈ܝܗܘܢ܂ ܡܢ ܕܐܟܠ ܡܢ ܚܠܒܐ܂ ܠܒܗ ܥܠ ܡܪܥܝܬܗ ܢܗܘܐ܂ ܘܕܡܬܚܫܚ ܡܢ ܥܡܠܐ ܕܦܕܢܗ܂ ܢܗܘܐ ܚܦܝܛ ܒܦܘܠܚܢܗ܂ ܘܟܗ̈ܢܐ ܕܡܢ ܡܕܒܚܐ ܦܠܓܝܢ܂ ܢܫܡܫܘܢ ܡܕܒܚܐ ܒܙܗܝܘܬܐ܂ ܘܠܘܝ̈ܐ ܕܫܩܠܝܢ ܡܥܣܪ̈ܐ܂ ܦܠܓܘܬܐ ܒܐܝܣܪܝܠ ܠܝܬ ܠܗܘܢ܂ ܐܘܢ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ ܬܠܡܝ̈ܕܘܗܝ ܕܪܥܝܢ ܪܒܐ܂ ܠܐ ܬܬܕܡܘܢ ܠܐܓܝܪ̈ܐ܂ ܡܛܠ ܕܠܐܓܝܪܐ ܠܐ ܒܛܝܠ ܠܗ ܥܠ ܥܢܐ܂ ܐܢܬܘܢ ܐܬܕܡܘ ܠܪܥܝܢ ܒܣܝܡܐ܂ ܕܠܐ ܚܒܬ ܠܗ ܢܦܫܗ ܡܢ ܥܢܗ܂ ܪܒܘ ܓܕܘ̈ܕܐ ܘܪܡܪܡܘ ܒܬܘ̈ܠܬܐ܂ ܘܚܒܒܘ ܐܡܪ̈ܐ܂ ܘܒܚ̈ܢܝܟܘܢ ܢܬܪܒܘܢ܂ ܕܡܐ ܕܐܙܠܬܘܢ ܠܘܬ ܪܒ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ܂ ܬܩܪܒܘܢ ܠܗ ܥܢܟܘܢ ܟܠܗ ܒܫܠܡܘܬܐ܂ ܘܢܬܠ ܠܟܘܢ ܡܕܡ ܕܐܫܬܘܕܝ܂ ܕܐܬܪ ܕܐܢܐ ܘܐܦ ܐܢܬܘܢ ܬܗܘܘܢ܂ ܗܠܝܢ ܕܝܢ ܩܠܝܠ ܣܦܩܢ ܠܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ ܘܠܥ̈ܠܢܐ ܛܒ̈ܐ܀ ܡܢ ܠܥܠ ܕܝܢ ܚܒܝܒܝ ܟܬܒܬ ܥܗܕܬܟ܂ ܕܘܒܪ̈ܐ ܕܝܐܝܢ ܠܟܠܗ ܡܪܥܝܬܐ܂ ܘܒܗܢܐ ܡܐܡܪܐ ܟܬܒܬ ܠܟ܂ ܥܠ ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ ܡܕܒܪ̈ܢܘܗܝ ܕܓܙܪܐ܂ ܥܘܗ̈ܕܐ ܗܠܝܢ ܟܬܒܬ ܠܟ ܚܒܝܒܝ܂ ܡܕܡ ܕܒܥܓܪܬܟ ܪܚܝܡܬܐ ܫܐܠܬܢܝ܀ ܪܒ ܒܝܬܐ ܐܥܠܢܝ ܠܒܝܬ ܓܙܐ ܕܡܠܟܐ܂","english":"And David did not return to the flock of his fathers, but led his people with the integrity of his heart. And Amos did not return to tend the flock and gather wood, but his prophecy led and was fulfilled. And Elisha did not return to his plough, but served Elijah and filled his place. And the beasts that were his, over the villages and trade, the vineyards and olive groves and cultivation, he did not desire to have a disciple, nor did he entrust the pasturage to his hand. I ask you, shepherds, that you not appoint over the pasturage foolish and ignorant beasts, nor even the young and lovers of the threshing-floor. Everyone who eats from the flock, eats from its milk; and everyone who drives the plough, is sustained by its labour. And priests, from the altar, and not for division; and Levites take their tithes. He who eats from the milk, his heart is upon his pasturage; and he who is sustained by the labour of his plough, is diligent in his work. And priests who divide from the altar, serve the altar with zeal; and Levites who take tithes, have no portion in Israel. Or you, shepherds, disciples of the great Shepherd, do not be like hirelings, because a hireling has no concern for the flock. Be like the good Shepherd, who did not spare himself from his flock. Increase the flocks and exalt the virgins, and love the lambs, and be raised up by your lives. When you go to the chief of the shepherds, bring your whole flock to him in peace, and he will give you what he has prepared, that you may be the place of this one, and you also will be. These things, though few, suffice for good shepherds and good beasts. Above, my beloved, I wrote to you of the conduct befitting the whole pasturage. And in this discourse I have written to you concerning the shepherds, the administrators of the flock. These reminders I have written to you, my beloved, concerning what your beloved epistle asked of me. The master of the house has brought me into the treasure house of the king.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The term ܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ (rāʿwātā) means 'shepherds' and is the addressee of the passage. It is the plural of ܪܥܝܐ (rāʿyā), a key figure in Aphrahat's ecclesiology.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܘܝܕ","severity":"info","text":"The reference to David not returning to his father's flock alludes to 1 Samuel 16–17, where David is anointed king and leaves shepherding. Aphrahat uses this as a type of pastoral leadership.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܡܘܣ","severity":"info","text":"The mention of Amos not returning to tend the flock and gather wood recalls Amos 7:14–15, where the prophet leaves his agricultural life. Aphrahat contrasts prophetic vocation with pastoral care.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܠܝܫܥ","severity":"info","text":"Elisha's not returning to his plough alludes to 1 Kings 19:19–21, where Elijah calls Elisha from the field. Aphrahat presents Elisha as a model of devoted service.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܥܣܪ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"The mention of Levites taking tithes (ܡܥܣܪ̈ܐ) reflects the biblical institution of tithing (Numbers 18:21–24) and its continued relevance in Syriac Christian communities as a model for clerical support.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܢ ܠܥܠ ܕܝܢ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'Above, my beloved' (ܡܢ ܠܥܠ ܕܝܢ) signals a structural transition, summarizing the preceding exhortation and introducing a concluding reflection on the discourse's purpose.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'the beasts that were his' (ܥ̈ܠܢܐ ܕܗܘܐ ܠܗ) is ambiguous: it may refer to Elisha's former possessions or to a generic category of unworthy candidates for pastoral office. The reading taken follows the latter, as a warning against appointing unworthy individuals.","The phrase 'the master of the house has brought me into the treasure house of the king' is ambiguous: it may be a literal reference to a patron or a metaphorical expression of divine favor. The reading taken treats it as a concluding metaphor for the author's access to wisdom."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":6,"ref":"p6","source":"ܘܚܘܝܢܝ ܬܡܢ ܛܘ̈ܒܐ ܣ̈ܓܝܐܐ܂ ܘܟܕ ܚܙܝܬ ܐܢܘܢ܂ ܐܫܬܒܝ ܠܗ ܡܕܥܝ ܒܓܙܐ ܪܒܐ܂ ܘܟܕ ܚܪܬ ܒܗ܂ ܡܫܪܓ ܥ̈ܝܢܐ܂ ܘܫܒܐ ܡܚܫ̈ܒܬܐ܂ ܘܡܦܗܐ ܪ̈ܥܝܢܐ܂ ܒܓܘ̈ܢܐ ܣܓ̈ܝܐܐ܂ ܡܢ ܕܢܣܒ ܡܢܗ ܥܬܪ ܘܡܥܬܪ܂ ܦܬܝܚ ܘܫܒܝܩ ܩܕܡ ܟܠ ܕܒܥܝܢ ܠܗ܂ ܘܟܕ ܢܣܒܘܢ ܡܢܗ ܣܓ̈ܝܐܐ܂ ܡܕܡ ܠܐ ܚܣܪ܂ ܘܟܕ ܢܬܠܘܢ ܡܢ ܡܕܡ ܕܢܣܒܘ܂ ܕܝܠܗܘܢ ܡܣܓܐ ܣܓܐ܂ ܕܢܣܒܝܢ ܡܓܢ܂ ܢܬܠܘܢ ܡܓܢ܂ ܐܝܟ ܕܢܣܒܘ܂ ܒܕܡ̈ܝܐ ܓܝܪ ܠܐ ܡܙܕܒܢ܂ ܡܛܠ ܕܠܝܬ ܡܕܡ ܕܦܚܡ ܠܗ܂ ܠܐ ܓܝܪ ܓܙܐ ܚܣܪ܂ ܘܠܐ ܫܩܘ̈ܠܘܗܝ ܣܒܥܝܢ܂ ܫܬܝܢ ܘܠܗܝ̈ܩܝܢ܂ ܘܐܟܠܝܢ ܘܟܦܢܝܢ܂ ܡܢ ܕܠܐ ܨܗܐ ܠܐ ܡܫܟܚ ܕܢܫܬܐ܂ ܘܡܢ ܕܠܐ ܟܦܢ ܠܐ ܡܫܟܚ ܠܡܐܟܠ܂ ܟܦܢܘܬܗ ܡܣܒܥܐ ܣܓ̈ܝܐܐ܂ ܘܨܗܝܘܬܗ ܪܕܝܢ ܡܢܗ ܡܒ̈ܘܥܐ܂ ܕܡܐ ܓܝܪ ܒܪܢܫܐ ܕܩܪܒ ܠܕܚܠܬܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ܂ ܠܓܒܪܐ ܕܨܗܐ܂ ܘܡܬܩܪܒ ܠܡܒܘܥܐ܂ ܘܫܬܐ ܘܣܒܥ܂ ܘܡܒܘܥܐ ܡܕܡ ܠܐ ܚܣܪ܂ ܘܐܪܥܐ ܕܣܢܝܩܐ ܥܠ ܡܝܐ ܠܡܫܬܐ܂ ܫܬܝܐ ܡܢ ܡܒܘܥܐ܂ ܘܠܐ ܓܝܙܝܢ ܡܘ̈ܗܝ܂ ܘܐܪܥܐ ܟܕ ܬܫܬܐ ܬܘܒ ܣܢܝܩܐ ܗܝ ܠܡܫܬܐ܂ ܘܡܒܘܥܐ ܠܐ ܡܬܒܨܪ ܡܢ ܡܪܕܝܬܗ܂ ܗܟܢܐ ܗܝ ܝܕܥܬܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ܂ ܕܟܕ ܟܠܗܘܢ ܒܢ̈ܝ ܐܢܫܐ ܢܣܒܘܢ ܡܢܗ܂ ܡܕܡ ܚܘܣܪܢܐ ܠܐ ܗܘܐ ܒܗ܂ ܘܐܦ ܠܐ ܡܣܬܝܟܐ ܡܢ ܒ̈ܢܝ ܒܣܪܐ܂ ܠܐ ܕܫܩܠ ܡܢܗ ܡܘܦܐ ܠܡܫܩܠ܂ ܘܠܐ ܟܕ ܢܬܠ ܡܕܡ ܚܣܪ܂ ܢܘܪܐ ܟܕ ܬܣܒ ܒܫܪܓܐ ܡܢ ܝܩܕܢܐ܂ ܒܫܪ̈ܓܐ ܣܓ̈ܝܐܐ ܡܕܠܩ ܐܢܬ ܡܢܗ܂ ܠܐ ܝܩܕܢܐ ܚܣܪ ܟܕ ܬܣܒ ܡܢܗ܂ ܘܠܐ ܫܪܓܐ ܒܨܪ ܕܠܣ̈ܓܝܐܐ ܡܕܠܩ܂ ܠܐ ܡܫܟܚ ܚܕ ܒܪ ܐܢܫܐ ܠܡܫܩܠ ܟܠܗ ܓܙܗ ܕܡܠܟܐ܂ ܘܐܦ ܠܐ ܨܗܝܐ ܟܕ ܢܫܬܐ ܡܢ ܡܒܘܥܐ܂ ܓܝܙܝܢ ܠܗܘܢ ܡܘ̈ܗܝ܂ ܘܥܦܠܐ ܟܕ ܢܩܘܡ ܐܢܫ ܥܠ ܛܘܪܐ ܪܡܐ܂ ܬܕܪܟ ܥܝܢܗ ܩܘܪܒܐ ܘܪܘܚܩܐ܂ ܘܐܦ ܠܐ ܟܕ ܟܘ̈ܟܒܝ ܫܡܝܐ ܢܩܘܡ ܘܢܡܢܐ܂ ܡܫܟܚ ܕܢܣܝܟ ܚܝ̈ܠܝ ܫܡܝܐ܂ ܘܐܦ ܠܐ ܟܕ ܢܩܪܘܒ ܠܕܚܠܬܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ܂","english":"And he showed many good things. And when I saw the flock, my mind was captivated by the great treasure. And when I looked into it, it illuminated the eyes, and carried away the thoughts, and scattered the shepherds among many flocks. From what he took, his wealth increased and made wealthy; open and free before all who sought him. And when many took from him, nothing was lacking. And when they gave from what they took, their own increased greatly. What they took freely, they gave freely, just as they took. For it is not sold for prices, because there is nothing that equals it. For the treasure does not diminish, nor do its takers become satisfied. The thirsty and the parched, the eaters and the hungry: when one is not thirsty, he cannot drink; and when one is not hungry, he cannot eat. His hunger satisfies many, and his thirst drives forth springs from him. For what is at the head of the approach to the worship of God? For a man who is thirsty approaches the spring, drinks and is satisfied, and the spring lacks nothing. And the earth that is thirsty for water to drink drinks from the spring, and its waters are not cut off. And the earth, when it drinks, is again thirsty to drink, and the spring is not diminished by its irrigation. Such is the knowledge of God: when all the sons of men took from it, no loss occurred in it, nor is it withheld from the sons of flesh. Not that one who takes from it receives permission to take, nor when he gives does anything lack. A fire, when a light is taken from a flame, kindles many lights from it; the flame does not diminish when taken from it, nor does the light decrease when it kindles for many. One man cannot take the entire treasure of a king, nor can a thirsty man, when he drinks from a spring, cut off its waters. And a cloud, when a man stands on a high mountain, his eye reaches near and far; and not even when the stars of heaven stand and shine can he exhaust the powers of heaven; nor when he approaches the worship of God.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܓܙܐ","severity":"info","text":"The term ܓܙܐ (gazzā) means 'treasure' and is used here as a metaphor for divine knowledge or grace, which is inexhaustible and freely given.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܒܘܥܐ","severity":"info","text":"The image of the spring (ܡܒܘܥܐ, mabbūʿā) that never runs dry parallels the earlier metaphor of the treasure, both illustrating the inexhaustibility of divine wisdom.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܫܪܓܐ","severity":"info","text":"The analogy of a flame (ܫܪܓܐ, šargā) lighting many other flames without diminishing itself is a common patristic image for the transmission of spiritual knowledge, found in earlier Syriac writers.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage forms a series of analogies (treasure, spring, flame, cloud) that build to the concluding statement about the knowledge of God, reinforcing the theme of inexhaustibility.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܚܘܝܢܝ","severity":"caution","text":"The opening word ܘܚܘܝܢܝ (w-ḥawyānī) is ambiguous: it could mean 'and he showed me' or 'and he showed us'; the translation 'he showed' is adopted, but the subject is unclear from the immediate context.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The subject of the opening verb 'he showed' is not explicitly identified in the immediate passage; it likely refers to God or the treasure metaphorically.","The phrase 'the sons of flesh' (ܒ̈ܢܝ ܒܣܪܐ) may be a variant of 'sons of men' (ܒ̈ܢܝ ܐܢܫܐ), emphasizing human mortality."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":7,"ref":"p7","source":"ܟܘܠܗ ܡܫܟܚ ܠܡܫܩܠ܂ ܘܐܦ ܟܕ ܛܒ ܣܓܝ ܢܫܩܘܠ܂ ܠܐ ܡܬܝܕܥܐ ܕܒܨܪܬ ܠܗ܂ ܘܐܦܠܐ ܟܕ ܢܬܠ ܡܢ ܡܕܡ ܕܫܩܠ܂ ܓܡܪܬ ܠܗ ܡܢܗ܂ ܘܡܛܐ ܠܣܟܗ܂ ܘܥܗܕ ܚܒܝܒܝ܂ ܡܕܡ ܕܒܡܐܡܪܐ ܩܕܡܝܐ ܕܗܝܡܢܘܬܐ ܟܬܒܬ ܠܟ܂ ܕܡܢ ܕܫܩܠ ܡܓܢ܂ ܡܓܢ ܘܠܐ ܠܗ ܕܢܬܠ܂ ܐܝܟ ܕܫܩܠ܂ ܐܝܟ ܕܐܡܪ ܡܪܢ܂ ܕܡܓܢ ܢܣܒܬܘܢ܂ ܡܓܢ ܗܒܘ܂ ܡܢ ܓܝܪ ܕܟܠܐ ܡܢ ܡܕܡ ܕܫܩܠ܂ ܐܦ ܕܩܒܠ ܡܫܬܩܠ ܠܗ ܡܢܗ܂ ܡܛܠ ܗܢܐ ܚܒܝܒܝ܂ ܐܝܟ ܕܐܫܟܚܬ ܠܡܫܩܠ ܒܗܢܐ ܙܒܢܐ܂ ܡܢ ܗܘ ܓܙܐ ܕܠܐ ܚܣܪ܂ ܫܕܪܬ ܠܟ ܡܢܗ܂ ܘܟܕ ܠܟ ܫܕܪܬ ܠܘܬܝ ܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܟܠܗ܂ ܓܙܐ ܓܝܪ ܠܐ ܚܣܪ܂ ܚܟܡܬܗ ܗܝ ܓܝܪ ܕܐܠܗܐ܂ ܘܪܒ ܒܝܬܐ ܡܪܢ ܝܫܘܥ ܡܫܝܚܐ܂ ܐܝܟ ܕܗܘ ܣܗܕ ܘܐܡܪ܂ ܕܟܠ ܡܕܡ ܐܫܬܠܡ ܠܝ ܡܢ ܐܒܝ܂ ܘܟܕ ܗܘܝܘ ܪܒܝܬܐ ܕܚܟܡܬܐ܂ ܬܘܒ ܗܘܝܘ ܚܟܡܬܐ܂ ܐܝܟ ܕܐܡܪ ܫܠܝܚܐ܂ ܕܡܫܝܚܐ ܚܝܠܗ ܗܘ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܘܚܟܡܬܗ܂ ܘܗܝ ܗܕܐ ܚܟܡܬܐ ܐܬܦܠܓܬ ܠܣܓ̈ܝܐܐ܂ ܘܡܕܡ ܠܐ ܚܣܪܐ܂ ܐܝܟ ܕܡܢ ܠܥܠ ܐܦܝܣܬܟ܂ ܕܡܢ ܪܘܚܗ ܕܡܫܝܚܐ ܩܒܠܘ ܢܒ̈ܝܐ܂ ܘܡܫܝܚܐ ܡܕܡ ܠܐ ܐܬܒܨܪ܀ ܥܣܪܐ ܫܪ̈ܒܝܢ ܟܬܒܬ ܠܟ ܚܒܝܒܝ܂ ܡܕܡ ܕܫܐܠܬܢܝ܂ ܕܠܐ ܡܢܟ ܐܦܝܣܬܟ܂ ܘܡܕܡ ܕܠܐ ܒܥܝܬ ܡܢܝ ܝܗܒܬ ܠܟ܂ ܫܐܠܬ ܫܡܟ ܘܟܬܒܬ ܠܟ ܘܫܐܠܬ ܡܢ ܢܦܫܝ܂ ܫܐܠܬܟ: ܘܐܫܐܠܬܟ ܐܝܟ ܡܕܡ ܕܐܫܟܚܬ ܠܡܦܣܘܬܟ܂ ܗܠܝܢ ܡܕܡ ܕܟܬܒܬ ܠܟ܂ ܐܬܗܓܐ ܒܗܝܢ ܒܟܠ ܥܕܢ܂ ܘܗܘܝܬ ܥܡܠ ܠܡܩܪܐ ܟܬ̈ܒܐ܂ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܡܬܩܪܝܢ ܒܥܕܬܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ܂ ܗܠܝܢ ܥܣܪܐ ܣܦܪ̈ܝܢ ܕܩܕ̈ܩܐ܂ ܕܟܬܒܬ ܠܟ܂ ܚܕ ܡܢ ܚܕ ܢܣܒܝܢ܂ ܘܚܕ ܥܠ ܚܕ ܒܢܝܢ܂ ܡܢ ܚܕ̈ܕܐ ܠܐ ܬܦܪܘܫ ܐܢܘܢ܂ ܡܢ ܐܠܦ ܘܥܕܡܐ ܠܝܘܕ ܟܬܒܬ ܠܟ܂ ܐܬܘܬܐ ܒܬܪ ܚܒܪܬܗ܂ ܩܪܝ ܘܝܠܦ ܐܢܬ ܘܐܚ̈ܐ ܒܢ̈ܝ ܩܝܡܐ ܘܒ̈ܢܝ ܗܝܡܢܘܬܢ܂ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܪܚܝܩܐ ܡܢܗܘܢ ܡܡܝܩܢܘܬܐ܂ ܐܝܟ ܕܡܢ ܠܥܠ ܟܬܒܬ ܠܟ܂ ܘܥܗܕ ܠܡܕܡ ܕܪܫܡܬ ܠܟ܂","english":"the whole of it can be taken. And even when one takes much, it is not known that it has diminished, nor when one gives something of what he took, does it come to an end from him, and it reaches its limit. And remember, my beloved, what I wrote to you in the first discourse on faith, that he who takes a gift gives a gift, and he does not give as he took, as the Lord said: \"Take a gift, give a gift.\" For he who withholds anything from what he took, even what he received is taken from him. Therefore, my beloved, as you have found to take at this time, from that treasure which does not diminish, I have sent to you from it. And when I sent to you, it is all with me. For the treasure does not diminish; it is the wisdom of God. And the master of the house is the Lord Jesus Christ, as he testified and said: \"Everything was delivered to me from my Father.\" And when they were the storehouse of wisdom, they were also wisdom, as the Apostle said: \"Christ is the power of God and his wisdom.\" And this wisdom was distributed to many, and nothing diminished, as I reminded you above, that the prophets received the spirit of Christ, and Christ was not diminished. Ten discourses I have written to you, my beloved, of what you asked of me, that I might not weary you, and what you did not request from me I gave to you. You asked your name, and I wrote to you, and I asked of myself, I asked you. And I asked you as I found to please you. These things that I have written to you, meditate upon them at all times, and be diligent to read the scriptures, those that are read in the church of God. These ten books of the fathers that I have written to you, take one by one, and one upon another, and do not separate them from each other. From Alpha to Yod I have written to you, letters after their companions. Read and learn, you and the brothers, the sons of the covenant and the sons of faith, those who are far from bitterness, as I wrote to you above. And remember what I have marked for you.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܡܓܢ ܢܣܒܬܘܢ ܡܓܢ ܗܒܘ","severity":"info","text":"Aphrahat adapts a dominical saying (cf. Matt 10:8b) as 'Take a gift, give a gift,' emphasizing reciprocal generosity without loss.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܟܠ ܡܕܡ ܐܫܬܠܡ ܠܝ ܡܢ ܐܒܝ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'Everything was delivered to me from my Father' echoes Jesus’ words in Matt 11:27 (or a similar tradition), grounding the treasure in divine transmission.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܡܫܝܚܐ ܚܝܠܗ ܗܘ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܘܚܟܡܬܗ","severity":"info","text":"The description 'Christ is the power of God and his wisdom' reflects 1 Cor 1:24, identifying Christ as the divine wisdom that is distributed without diminution.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܓܙܐ","severity":"info","text":"The term 'treasure' (ܓܙܐ) is a key image in Aphrahat for divine wisdom, inexhaustible and shared without loss, as developed throughout the Demonstrations.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܥܣܪܐ ܫܪ̈ܒܝܢ","severity":"info","text":"Aphrahat explicitly numbers his work as 'ten discourses' (ܥܣܪܐ ܫܪ̈ܒܝܢ), confirming the collection’s structure and the alphabetic acrostic from Alpha to Yod.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܬܘܬܐ ܒܬܪ ܚܒܪܬܗ","severity":"info","text":"The instruction to read 'letters after their companions' and not separate the discourses reflects the intended sequential reading of the ten Demonstrations as a unified alphabetic series.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'from Alpha to Yod' (ܡܢ ܐܠܦ ܘܥܕܡܐ ܠܝܘܕ) may refer to the ten letters of the Syriac alphabet used as acrostic headings, but the exact correspondence of each discourse to a letter is not fully preserved."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":8,"ref":"p8","source":"ܕܗܠܝܢ ܡ̈ܠܐ ܠܐ ܥܕܡܐ ܠܣܟܐ ܡܛܝܬ ܐܢܝܢ܂ ܐܠܐ ܠܟܐ ܡܢ ܣܟܐ܂ ܘܠܐ ܗܠܝܢ ܐܢܝܢ ܘܟܕܘ܂ ܐܠܐ ܗܠܝܢ ܡܢܝ ܫܡܥ ܕܠܐ ܚܪܝܢܐ܂ ܘܠܐܚ̈ܝܢ ܒܢ̈ܝ ܦܝܣܐ ܥܩܒ ܥܠܝܗܝܢ܂ ܘܟܠ ܡܕܡ ܕܫܡܥ ܐܢܬ ܕܡܒܢܐ ܒܢܐ ܩܒܠ܂ ܘܟܠ`ܡܕܡ ܕܠܝܘ̈ܠܦܢܐ ܐܚܪ̈ܢܐ ܒܢܐ ܣܬܘܪܝܗܝ܂ ܘܡܣܚܦ ܣܚܘܦܝܗܝ܂ ܡܛܠ ܕܠܡܒܢܐ ܚܪܝܢܐ ܠܐ ܡܫܟܚ. ܐܢܐ ܕܝܢ ܚܒܝܒܝ ܐܝܟ ܦܣܘܠܐ ܟܐ̈ܦܐ ܠܒܢܝܢܐ ܩܪܒܬ܂ ܘܐܪ̈ܕܟܠܐ ܚܟܝ̈ܡܐ ܢܓܠܦܘܢ ܘܢܣܝܡܘܢ ܒܒܢܝܢܐ܂ ܘܟܘܠܗܘܢ ܦܥ̈ܠܐ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܥܡܠܝܢ ܒܒܢܝܢܐ܂ ܐܓܪܐ ܡܢ ܡܪܐ ܒܝܬܐ ܡܩܒܠܝܢ܀ ܫܠܡܬ ܬܚܘܝܬܐ ܕܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ","english":"These words have not reached their limit, but they are from the limit. And these words are not new, but they are from what is heard that is not new. And the brothers in the houses of instruction have inquired after them. And everything that is heard, if it is asked, receives an answer. And everything that other teachings ask, they overturn and refute their refutations, because a new question cannot be found. But I, my beloved, have brought stones like a sculptor to the building, and wise architects have hewn and placed them in the building. And all the workers who labour at the building receive their wages from the master of the house. The demonstration on shepherds is completed.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܗܠܝܢ ܡ̈ܠܐ ܠܐ ܥܕܡܐ ܠܣܟܐ ܡܛܝܬ ܐܢܝܢ","severity":"info","text":"The opening statement that the words have not reached their limit but are from the limit is a paradoxical claim about the inexhaustibility of the preceding teaching, consistent with Aphrahat's rhetorical style.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܒܢ̈ܝ ܦܝܣܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'houses of instruction' (bētē pēsā) refers to Syriac catechetical or monastic schools, a key institution in Aphrahat's community.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܟܠ ܡܕܡ ܕܫܡܥ ܐܢܬ ܕܡܒܢܐ ܒܢܐ ܩܒܠ","severity":"info","text":"The principle that every question receives an answer echoes the didactic method of the Syriac schools and may allude to Proverbs 22:6 or similar wisdom traditions, though no direct citation is given.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܝܟ ܦܣܘܠܐ ܟܐ̈ܦܐ ܠܒܢܝܢܐ ܩܪܒܬ","severity":"info","text":"The metaphor of the author as a sculptor bringing stones to a building, with wise architects hewing and placing them, reflects the collaborative composition of the Demonstrations, likely within a school setting.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܫܠܡܬ ܬܚܘܝܬܐ ܕܪ̈ܥܘܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The closing formula 'The demonstration on shepherds is completed' marks the end of the tenth demonstration, consistent with the colophons of other Demonstrations by Aphrahat.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܟܘܠܗܘܢ ܦܥ̈ܠܐ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܥܡܠܝܢ ܒܒܢܝܢܐ ܐܓܪܐ ܡܢ ܡܪܐ ܒܝܬܐ ܡܩܒܠܝܢ","severity":"info","text":"The image of workers receiving wages from the master of the house may allegorize the relationship between the author, his collaborators, and God, a theme found in later Syriac monastic literature.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-10","label":"source edition: Demonstration 10: On Shepherds","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/10"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'from the limit' (ܡܢ ܣܟܐ) is ambiguous: it could mean the words derive from a defined source or are themselves bounded, though the context suggests the former.","The identity of 'the brothers in the houses of instruction' is not specified; they may be the intended audience or fellow ascetics."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]}]}