Commentary Par XXV 52-57

Mazzotta (Mazz.1988.2), p. 98, sees this passage as confirming the pattern of Exodus as a model for the poem, as has already been made explicit in [Purg II 46].  It also contains two (of only three) uses of the verb militare in the poem.  We are dealing here with an armed exodus, a Christian militancy.  The other text, [Par XII 35], refers to the conjoined militancy of Dominic and Francis.

Beatrice presents Dante's claims to the theological virtue of Hope.  Inscribed in Christ, he has been chosen to come from 'Egypt' to 'Jerusalem' and to this vision before he finishes his militancy (Daniello [DDP Daniello.Par.XXV.55-57] was apparently the first commentator to cite Job 7:1 in this connection: 'Militia est vita hominis super terram' [Man's life on this earth is a warfare]; Lombardi [DDP Lombardi.Par.XXV.57] and Scartazzini [DDP Scartazzini.Par.XXV.57] also cite these words.  It has since become fairly commonplace to do so).