Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria. A First Century Torah Commentator, Volume V - Deuteronomy

Leo Samuel Michael

Description

Philo of Alexandria (20 BCE.--50 CE.) stood at the crossroads of ancient history. Philo was the first pioneer to integrate Judaic thought with the Stoic, Platonic, and Pythagorean philosophical traditions. This Alexandrian Jewish philosopher assembled the very first philosophical, ethical, psychological, exegetical, and theological commentary on the Torah. As his community's most prestigious Jewish leader, he defended Alexandrian Jews from the attacks of anti-Semites, and met with the capricious Roman Emperor Caligula, calling upon him to respect the ethical monotheistic beliefs of the Jewish people. As with Josephus, Philo bears witness to the world's first protomodern and intellectual Jewish community of Alexandria, the cultural center of Late Antiquity. Reclaiming Philo as a Jewish exegete puts him in company with other great luminaries of Jewish history. Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel has meticulously culled from all of Philo's exegetical remarks, arranging them according to the biblical verses. He provides extensive parallels from the corpus of rabbinical literature, Greek philosophy, and Christian theology in presenting how Philo impacted the great minds of Late Antiquity and beyond.I do see the value of having Philo's comments on the Pentateuch accessible in this form...all this is done to make Philo speak to a contemporary reading audience.Torrey Seland, Ph.D.Review of Biblical Literature Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel is the son of a Holocaust survivor. He holds two rabbinic ordinations from the Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch Yeshiva of 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn and holds a D. Min degree from the San Francisco Theological Seminary. He is an avid student of the Greek classics, Biblical and Talmudic scholarship, Jungian Psychology, Western Medieval Theology, Modern Philosophy, and 20th century psychology. He is the author of The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Theology of the Caring God (1996), Birth and Rebirth Through Genesis (2010), A Shepherd's Song: Psalm 23 and the Shepherd Metaphor In Jewish Thought (2014), and Torah from Alexandria: Philo as a Biblical Commentator (Volumes, 1-3),(2014-2015)Keywords: Torah Commentary, Jewish Philosophy, Ancient Jewish Thought, 1st Century Judaism, Hellenism and Judaism, Alexandria, Philo of Alexandria, Rabbi, Samuel

Sujets

• Jewish studies
• Judaism

Informations

• Publié par: First Edition Design Publishing
• Date de parution: 12 septembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781506902807
• Langue: English

Extrait

Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria
A First Century Torah Commentator

Volume V: Deuteronomy




Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel
Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria. A First Century Torah Commentator
Volume V - Deuteronomy
Copyright ©2016 Michael Leo Samuel

ISBN 978-1506-902-79-1 PRINT
ISBN 978-1506-902-80-7 EBOOK

LCCN 2016953866

August 2016

Published and Distributed by
First Edition Design Publishing, Inc.
P.O. Box 20217, Sarasota, FL 34276-3217
www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means ─ electronic, mechanical, photo-copy, recording, or any other ─ except brief quotation in reviews, without the prior permission of the author or publisher.

The New Revised Version Bible © copyright 1989, National Council of Christ in the United States of America used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) owns the copyright on the New American Bible, revised edition translation © copyright 1991, 2010 used by permission. All rights reserved.

THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language Copyright © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. THE MESSAGE Numbered Edition copyright © 2005

A New English Translation of the Septuagint (NETS) published by Oxford University Press in 2009,

Duncan Long for his picture of Philo of Alexandria used for the cover


Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Samuel, Michael Leo
Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria, A First Century Torah Commentator, Vol. V - Deuteronomy
/ written by Michael Leo Samuel.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1506-902-79-1 pbk, 978-1506-902-80-7 digital

1. RELIGION / Biblical Commentary / Old Testament. 2. / Biblical Studies / Old Testament. 3. Judaism

T676
Rabbi Samuel has done an outstanding service to Philo and to modern readers. In Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Jewish Commentator , Philo’s ancient Torah commentary becomes readable and meaningful, exciting and contemporary
Rabbi Ari Kahn,
Bar Ilan University,
Author of Echoes of Eden


Philo of Alexandria was the most prolific writer of Hellenistic Judaism in the early first century. Yet, his works have often remained unknown, unread, inaccessible or obscure to many Jewish and Christian readers. Rabbi Samuel’s new series, Philo of Alexandria: A First Century Jewish Commentator “cuts to the chase” by conveying the thinking of Philo in a relevant, down-to-earth manner that both scholar and layperson can easily grasp and appreciate. Enhanced by an abundance of cross-references and scholarly notes, this commentary provides new insight and angles of a theological conversation useful to anyone intrigued by this first-century Jewish thinker and exegete.

Dr. Marvin Wilson,
Gordon College,
Author of Exploring Our Hebraic Heritage:
A Christian Theology of Roots and Renewal


“This is an excellent introduction into the thinking of a significant philosopher… Rabbi Samuel offers readers a biography of Philo and explains, with notes, what Philo is saying, thereby making his book not only very informative but very readable”
Rabbi Israel Drazin,
Author of Onkelos on the Torah:
Understanding the Biblical Text


I do see the value of having Philo’s comments on the Pentateuch accessible in this form…all this is done to make Philo speak to a contemporary reading audience.

Torrey Seland, Ph.D.
Review of Biblical Literature
Her ways are ways of pleasantness
And all her paths are peace
— Proverbs 3:17


This book is dedicated to my lovely grandchildren, Leo, Ian, Mason, and Zoe. May the Torah and its vision of how we live the ethical life it, always be an open book that gives you inspiration, courage, and vision in the years and decades ahead.
Translations Used in this Book

T ranslations in this book are based on the following sources:

Translations of the Hebrew Bible are based on multiple translations, including: New Revised Standard Version ( nrsv), New American Bible ( nab), and New American Bible Revised Edition ( nabre ).

Translations of the Septuagint are based primarily on New English Translation of the Septuagint ( nets ).

Translations of Philo are based on C.D. Yonge’s work, updating the English for the modern reader, as described in the Introduction.

Other translations are by the author unless otherwise noted.
Abbreviations of Philo’s Works
Used in this Book

Abraham
On Abraham
De Abrahamo
Eternity
On the Eternity of the World
De Aeternitate Mundi
Husbandry
On Husbandry
De Agricultura
Cherubim
On the Cherubim
De Cherubim
Confusion
On the Confusion of Tongues
De Confusione Linguarum
Prelim. Studies
On the Preliminary Studies
De Congressu Eruditionisgratia
Decalogue
On the Decalogue
De Decalogo
Worse
The Worse attacks the Better
Quod Deterius Potiori insidiari solet
Drunkenness
On Drunkenness
De Ebrietate
Flaccus
Flaccus
In Flaccum
Flight
On Flight and Finding
De Fuga et Inventione
Giants
On the Giants
De Gigantibus
Hypothetica
Apology for the Jews
Hypothetica/Apologia pro ludaeis
Joseph
On Joseph
De Josepho
Embassy
On the Embassy to Gaius
De Legatione ad Gaium
Alleg. Interpr.
Allegorical Interpretation
Legum Allegoriarum
Migration
On the Migration of Abraham
De figratione Abrahami
Moses
The Life of Moses
De Vita Mosis
Names
On the Change of Names
De Mutatione Nominum
Creation
On the Creation
De Opificio Mundi
Planting
On Noah’s Work as a Planter
De Plantatione
Posteristy
On the Posterity and Exile of Cain
De Posteritate Caini
Rewards
On Rewards and Punishments
De Praemiis et Poenis
Providence
On Providence
De Providentia
QG
Questions and Answers on Genesis
Questiones et Solutiones in Genesin
QE
Questions and Answers on Exodus
Questiones et Solutiones in Exodum
Heir
Who is the Heir
Quis rerum divinarum Heres sit
Unchangeable
On the Unchangeableness of God
Quod Deussit Immutabilis
Good Man
Quod omnis Probus Libersit
Every Good Man is Free
Sacrifices
On the Sacrifices of Abel & Cain
De Sacrificiis Abelis et Caini
Sobriety
On Sobriety
De Sobrietate
Dreams
On Dreams
De Somniis
Special Laws
On the Special Laws
De Specialibus Legibus
Virtues
On the Virtues
De Virtute
Contempl. Life
On the Contemplative Life
De Vita Contemplativa
Table of Contents


Introduction to Deuteronomy
A Synopsis of Deuteronomy
Philo and Deuteronomy
The Structure of Philo’s Special Laws
When Judaism Once Actively Proselytized
The Temple of Onias vs. the Temple of Jerusalem
Philo’s Thoughts on the Primacy of Deed
Notes on Translating Philo
Nomos as Torah, Torah as Nomos

Parshat Devarim
The Nature of Mosaic Prophecy
Being Honest with God
The Legal System Is Always on Trial
The Mission that Failed
Seeking Peace at Every Opportunity

Parshat Ve’etchanan
The Meaning of “Cleaving” to God
Israel—the God-Intoxicated People
Souls on Fire
A Boat Missing its Ballast
A God Who Will Meet Us Halfway
The Non-Locality of God’s Omnipresence
Philo’s Proof for God’s Existence from Intelligent Design
Seeking—Even Without Finding—Is Felicity in Itself
A Brief Synopsis of Philo’s Introduction to the Decalogue
Divine Humility in Action
Beware of Delusion
The Language of Nascent Man
Moses—the Wise Physician of the Soul
The Question of Collective vs. Individual Guilt
Speaking the Truth at All Times
Conscience Acts as the Inner Mouthpiece of God
The Shabbat as a Day of Contemplation
The Sabbath Kindles the Yearning for Freedom
Finding Balance in Our Lives through the Sabbath
Honoring Parents and Honoring God
Learning How to Honor Parents from Nature
Birds’ Ethical Sensibilities
Parents as Spiritual and Ethical Teachers
Adultery as a Crime against the Family and Society
Showing Reverence for the Divine Image
Never be the Cause of Any Person’s Death
On Exposing Children
Bonds of Love are Often Stronger than the Bonds of Blood
A Warning to Petty Thieves and Despots
False Witnessing Undermines the Social Order
Rabbinical Parallels to Philo’s Thoughts on Perjury
Dragged by a Chariot Named Desire
Herpes as a Moral Metaphor
When Politicians Covet Power
Desire and the Myth of Tantalus
Ecclesiastes, Philo, Maimonides & Ibn Ezra on Coveting
A Summary on Coveting
Na’aseh V’Nishma – Actions Give Birth to Understanding
Did Philo Recite the Shema?
What does it mean to “Listen”?
Philo and the Early Rabbinic Views of the Mezuzah
The Ethical Complexities of Right and Wrong

Parshat Eikev
Do not covet the Material Success of Others
Manna as the Bread of Wisdom
Man Does Not Live on Bread Alone
Divine Pedagogy in Action
Mindfulness & Faith
Mindlessness & Forgetfulness
Mosaic Audacity
Levitical Piety—A God Intoxicated Frame of Mind
Hearer of the Celestial Melodies
Circumcising the Hardness of the Human Heart
Fairness as the Precursor of Peace
Love the Proselyte
Identifying with Orphans
Loving the Proselyte as Yourself
Positive Midrashic Parallels to Philo on the Proselyte
Clinging to God
Remembering Korah’s Failed Rebellion

Parshat Re’eh
Human Freedom: Choosing Wisely
God Is Never the Cause of Evil
One God,