Book XVII: The Prophetic Age and the City of God explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Divine Providence and History

  God's promises to Abraham are fulfilled through historical events, including the possession of Canaan and the coming of Christ.

• Sin, Grace, and Redemption

  Jeroboam's idolatry and the subsequent prophetic warnings highlight sin and the need for redemption.

• True Worship and the One God

  Contrast between the true worship in Jerusalem and the idolatry set up by Jeroboam in Israel.

• Peace, Justice, and the Order of Love

  The Song of Songs and the allegory of the King and Queen-city (Christ and the Church) reflect the order of love and spiritual peace.

Characters to notice

• Augustine

  Author and narrator, interpreting the prophetic age and the fulfillment of God's promises.

• Abraham

  Recipient of God's promises concerning his seed, both carnal (Israel) and spiritual (all nations).

• Samuel

  Holy prophet who anointed Saul and David, marking the beginning of the prophetic age.

• David

  King anointed by Samuel; his reign is a focal point for prophecies concerning Christ.

• Solomon

  King of Israel; his writings (Proverbs, Song of Songs) are interpreted as allegories of Christ and the Church.

• Jeremiah

  Prophet whose prophecy of Israel's return after seventy years is referenced.

• Rehoboam

  Son of Solomon, first king of Judah after the division of the kingdom.

• Jeroboam

  Servant of Solomon who became king of Israel and led the people into idolatry.

Key passages

• “By the favour of God we have treated distinctly of His promises made to Abraham, that both the nation of Israel according to the flesh, and all nations according to faith, should be his seed, and the City of God, proceeding according to the order of time, will point out how they were fulfilled.”

  Augustine explains that God's promises to Abraham have two aspects: the physical nation of Israel and the spiritual seed of all believers, and he will show how these were fulfilled over time.

  This sets the stage for the chapter's focus on the fulfillment of prophecy.

• “Now, from the time when holy Samuel began to prophesy, and ever onward until the people of Israel was led captive into Babylonia, and until, according to the prophecy of holy Jeremiah, on Israel’s return thence after seventy years, the house of God was built anew, this whole period is the prophetic age.”

  The prophetic age spans from Samuel's first prophecies through the Babylonian captivity and the rebuilding of the temple, as foretold by Jeremiah.

  Defines the chronological scope of the prophetic period.

• “The other kings of the Hebrews after Solomon are scarcely found to have prophesied, through certain enigmatic words or actions of theirs, what may pertain to Christ and the Church, either in Judah or Israel; for so were the parts of that people styled, when, on account of Solomon’s offence, from the time of Rehoboam his son, who succeeded him in the kingdom, it was divided by God as a punishment.”

  After Solomon, few kings in Judah or Israel prophesied about Christ and the Church, as the kingdom was divided due to Solomon's sin.

  Highlights the decline in prophetic activity after the division.

• “But Jeroboam king of Israel, with perverse mind, not believing in God, whom he had proved true in promising and giving him the kingdom, was afraid lest, by coming to the temple of God which was in Jerusalem, where, according to the divine law, that whole nation was to come in order to sacrifice, the people should be seduced from him, and return to David’s line as the seed royal; and set up idolatry in his kingdom, and with horrible impiety beguiled the people, ensnaring them to the worship of”

  Jeroboam, fearing that his people would return to the Davidic line if they worshiped in Jerusalem, established idolatry in Israel, leading the people into sin.

  Illustrates the theme of idolatry and political manipulation.