---
title: "On the Migration of Abraham"
author: "Philo of Alexandria"
translator: "C. D. Yonge"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Second Temple"
section: 2 of 18
url: https://scriptura.si/works/philo-tlg014-yonge-ogl/2/
cite: "Philo of Alexandria, tr. C. D. Yonge, On the Migration of Abraham, section 2. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/philo-tlg014-yonge-ogl/2/"
---

# On the Migration of Abraham

*Philo of Alexandria, tr. C. D. Yonge*

## 2. Section 13

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/philo-tlg014-yonge-ogl/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/philo-tlg014-yonge-ogl/2/#p-N

[¶0] When therefore the mind begins to become acquainted with itself, and to dwell among the speculations which come under the province of the intellect, all the inclinations of the soul for the species which is comprehensible by the intellect will be repelled, which inclination is called by the Hebrews, Lot; for which reason the wise man is represented as distinctly saying, "Depart, and separate yourself from me;" Genesis xiii. 9. for it is impossible for a man who is overwhelmed with the love of incorporeal and imperishable objects to dwell with one, whose every inclination is towards the mortal objects of the outward senses.

### Section 14

[¶2] Very beautifully therefore has the sacred interpreter of God’s will entitled one entire holy volume of the giving of the Genesis xiii. 9. law, the Exodus, having thus found out an appropriate name for the oracles contained therein. For being a man desirous of giving instruction and exceedingly ready to admonish and correct, he desires to remove the whole of the people of the soul as a multitude capable of receiving admonition and correction from the country of Egypt, that is to say, the body, and to take them out from among its inhabitants, thinking it a most terrible and grievous burden that the mind which is endowed with the faculty of sight should be oppressed by the pleasures of the flesh, and should obey whatever commands the relentless desires choose to impose upon it.

### Section 15

[¶4] Therefore, after the merciful God has instructed this people, groaning and bitterly weeping for the abundance of the things concerning the body, and the exceeding supply of external things (for it is said, "The children of Israel groaned by reason of the works") Exodus ii. 23. when, God, I say, had instructed them about their going out, the prophet himself led them forth in safety.

### Section 16

[¶6] But there are some persons who have made a treaty with the body to last till the day of their death, and who have buried themselves in it as in a chest or coffin or whatever else you like to call it, of whom all the parts which are devoted to the slavery of the body and of the passions are consigned to oblivion and buried. But if anything well affected towards virtue has shot up by the side of it, that is preserved in the recollection, by means of which good things are naturally destined to be kept alive.

### Section 17

[¶8] Accordingly, the sacred scriptures command the bones of Joseph—I mean by this the only parts of such a soul as were left behind, being species which know no corruption and which deserve to have mention made of them—to be preserved, thinking it preposterous for pure things not to be united to pure things.

### Section 18

[¶10] And what is especially worthy of being mentioned is this, that he believed that God would visit the race which was capable of seeing," Genesis 1. 24. and would not give it up for ever and ever to ignorance, that blind mistress, but would distinguish between the immortal and the mortal parts of the soul, and leave in Egypt those parts which were conversant about the pleasures of the body and the other immoderate indulgences of the passions; but with respect to those parts which Exodus ii. 23. Genesis 1. 24. are imperishable, would make a covenant that they should be conducted onwards with those persons who were going up to the cities of virtue and would further ratify this covenant with an oath.

### Section 19

[¶12] What then are the parts which are imperishable? In the first place, a perfect alienation from pleasure which says, "Let us lie down together," Genesis xxxix. 7. and let us enjoy human enjoyments; secondly, presence of mind combined with fortitude, by means of which the soul separates and distinguishes from one another those things which by vain opinions are accounted good things, as so many dreams, confessing that "the only true and accurate explanations of things are to be found with God;" Genesis xl. 8. and that all those imaginings, which exist in the unsteady, puffed up, and arrogant life of those men who are not yet purified, but who delight in those pleasures which proceed from bakers, and cooks, and wine-bearers, are uncertain and indistinct;

### Section 20

[¶14] so that such a man is not a subject but a ruler of Egypt, that is to say of the whole region of the body; so that "he boasted of being of the race of the Hebrews," Genesis xl. 15. who were accustomed to rise up and leave the objects of the outward senses, and to go over to those of the intellect; for the name Hebrew, being interpreted, means "one who passes over," because he boasted that "here he had done nothing." Genesis xl. 17. For to do nothing of those things which are thought much of among the wicked, but to hate them all and reject them, is praiseworthy in no slight degree;

### Section 21

[¶16] as it is to despise immoderate indulgence of the desires and all other passions; to fear God, if a man is not yet capable of loving him, and even while in Egypt to have a desire for real life. Which he who sees, marvelling at (and indeed it was enough Genesis xlii. 18. to cause astonishment), says, "It is a great thing for me if my son Joseph is still alive," Genesis xlv. 28. and has not died at the same time with vain opinions and the body which is but a lifeless carcass;

### Section 22

[¶18] and he also confessed that "it was the work of God," Genesis l. 19. and not of any created being, that he was recognised by his brethren, and so could put into commotion and agitation, and put to the rout by force, all the dispositions devoted to the Genesis xxxix. 7. Genesis xl. 8. Genesis xl. 15. Genesis xl. 17. Genesis xlii. 18. Genesis xlv. 28. Genesis l. 19. body which flattered themselves that they could stand firmly on their own doctrines; he also said that "he had not been sent away by men, but had been appointed by God" Genesis xlv. 5. for the legitimate overseeing of the body and of all external things;

### Section 23

[¶20] but there are many other things also resembling these, being of a superior and more sacred kind of order; and they do not endure to abide in Egypt, the house of the body, and are never buried in a coffin at all, but depart to a distance outside of every thing mortal, and follow the words of the lawgiver, namely, Moses, who is the guide of their path.

### Section 24

[¶22] For Moses, being the nurse as it were and tutor of good works, and good expressions, and good intentions, which, even if at times they are mingled with those of an opposite character by reason of the somewhat confused medely which exists in mortal man; are nevertheless distinguished when they have passed, so that all the seeds and plants of excellence may not be destroyed and perish for ever and ever.

### Section 25

[¶24] And he exhorts men very vigorously to quit that which is called the mother of every thing that is absurd, without any delay or sluggishness, but rather using exceeding swiftness; for he says that men "must sacrifice the pascha, in haste," Exodus xii. 12. and the word pascha, being interpreted, means a "passing over," in order that the mind, exerting its reasonings without any doubt, and also an energetic willingness and promptness, may, without ever turning back make a passing over from the passions, to gratitude to God the Saviour, who has led it forth beyond all its expectations to freedom.