Further, God pointed out in another way the strength of the mystery of the cross when He said by Moses in the blessing wherewith He blessed Joseph: Of the blessing of the Lord is his land, of the seasons of heaven and its dews, and of the abyss of streams from below — and fruits in season from the course of the sun; and of the conjunctions of months, and of the top of ancient mountains, and of the top of hills, and of perennial streams, and of fruits of a land of plenty. And let the things accepted of Him who appeared in the bush come on the head of Joseph and on his pate. Glorified among his brethren as first-born; as of a bull is his glory; his horns are the horns of an unicorn; with them shall he push nations together even at the very end of the earth.
For no one could say or prove that the horns of a unicorn are of any other matter or form than of the figure which represents a cross. For the one piece of wood stands upright, from which the upper part is raised up into a horn, when the other piece of wood is fitted on, and the ends seem like horns joined to that one horn. And the piece fixed in the middle itself on which they that are crucified are upborne also projects like a horn, and itself looks like a horn when fashioned together and fixed in with the other horns.
And the words: with them he shall push nations together even at the very end of the earth are evidence of what has now taken place in all nations. For being pushed by a horn, that is to say, being made contrite, men of all nations have by means of this mystery turned to the worship of God from their vain idols and demons, while to unbelievers the same sign is made known for their destruction and condemnation. Even as when the people had come forth from Egypt Amalek was defeated, and Israel was conqueror, by the type of the stretching forth of the hands of Moses, and of the naming of the son of Nun by the name of Jesus (Joshua).
Further, the provision made against the serpents that bit Israel was a type and a sign. And the setting of it up was clearly made for the salvation of those that believe that it was this; namely, that it was intended to proclaim that by Him who was to be crucified death was to come to the serpent, but salvation to them that are bitten by it, and flee for refuge to Him who sent His crucified Son into the world. For the spirit of prophecy speaking by Moses did not teach us to believe on a serpent, since it declares that it was cursed in the beginning by God, and he informs us in Isaiah that it will be slain as an enemy by the great sword, which is Christ.