the expectation of the nations had arrived and was now born—Christ, that is—consequently a ruler disappeared from Judah and a ruler from his thighs. The three shepherds, then, as I said—priests, judges, and teachers of the Law—who held their office (461) or functions and positions up to the time of the Incarnation, were the ones who were removed in one month, and rightly so: since they killed the Author of life, consequently they too were cut down in one month when Emmanuel endured execution for