Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria

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.

Sujets

• Jewish studies
• Judaism

Informations

• Publié par: First Edition Design Publishing
• Date de parution: 01 octobre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781506902654
• Langue: English

Extrait

Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria
A First Century Torah Commentator

Volume IV: Numbers

Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel
Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria. A First Century TorahCommentator
Volume IV - Numbers
Copyright ©2016 Michael Leo Samuel
ISBN 978-1506-902-46-3 PRINT
ISBN 978-1506-902-65-4 EBOOK
LCCN 2016945070
July 2016
Published and Distributed by
First Edition Design Publishing, Inc.
P.O. Box 20217, Sarasota, FL 34276-3217
www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com



ALL R I G H T S R E S E R V E D. No p a r t o f t h i s b oo k pub li ca t i o n m a y b e r e p r o du ce d, s t o r e d i n a r e t r i e v a l s y s t e m , o r t r a n s mit t e d i n a ny f o r m o r by a ny m e a ns ─ e l e c t r o n i c , m e c h a n i c a l , p h o t o - c o p y , r ec o r d i n g, or a ny o t h e r ─ e x ce pt b r i e f qu ot a t i o n i n r e v i e w s , w i t h o ut t h e p r i o r p e r mi ss i on o f t h e a u t h o r orpublisher .

TheNew Revised Version Bible © copyright 1989, National Council of Christ in theUnited States of America used by permission. All rights reserved.

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

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

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

DuncanLong 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. IV - Numbers
/ written by Michael Leo Samuel.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1506-902-46-3 pbk,978-1506-902-65-4 digital

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

T676
Philo of Alexandria was the mostprolific writer of Hellenistic Judaism in the early first century. Yet, hisworks have often remained, unknown, unread, inaccessible or obscure to manyJewish and Christian readers. Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel’s new commentary RediscoveringPhilo of Alexandria: A First Century Torah Commentator” on the Book ofNumbers “cuts to the chase” by conveying the thinking of Philo in arelevant, down-to-earth manner that both scholar and layperson can easily graspand appreciate. Enhanced by an abundance of notes, cross-references andindexes, this commentary provides new insight and angles of a theologicalconversation useful to anyone intrigued by this famous first-century Jewishthinker and exegete.

I enthusiastically recommend thenew Torah commentary series Rediscovering Philo of Alexandria: A First CenturyTorah Commentator

Dr. Marvin Wilson,
Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies
Gordon College, Wenham, MA
Iwish to dedicate this new Philo Torah commentary series to my beloved parents,Leo Israel Samuel and Dolores Fern Samuel. Both you were outstanding parentswho supported me in my rabbinical studies and beyond. Your devotion to ourfamily reminds me of what the ancient Jewish philosopher Ben Sira said:
Honor your father with your whole heart
Never forget the birthpangsof mother.
Remember that you owe yourbirth to them.
How can you repay them foreverything
they have done for you?

BenSira 7:27–28
Table ofContents

Introductionto Philo’s Exposition of Numbers . 1
Why is Philo so Important? . 1
Philo’s Exegetical Style . 2
Philo’s Biography of Moses as Depicted inNumbers . 3
A Brief Synopsis of Numbers . 4
Hiding Behind the Mask of Piety .. 4
Formative Judaism: Israel’s Experience inthe Desert . 4
Some of Philo’s Political Views . 13
The Leader as a Shepherd of God’s Flock .. 15
Balaam as the Archetypal Sophist . 15

Parshat Bamidbar . 19
The Significance of the Desert . 19
The Importance of the Levitical Clan .. 19
The Tabernacle as Cosmic Symbolism ... 20

Parshat Naso .. 22
The Seriousness of Adultery .. 22
The Law of an Accused Wife . 22
The Presumption of Innocence . 23
Not All Sacrifices are Worthy .. 23
The Symbolism of the Sotah Ritual 24
Stricken by Her Conscience . 25
A Psychological Approach to the Sotah .. 25
Protecting the Sanctity of Marriage . 26
The Nazirite Vow as an Ancient Correctiveto Alcoholism ... 27
The Importance of Sobriety and SpiritualWakefulness . 27
The Great and Wondrous Vow of the Nazirite . 28
A Glimpse into the Life of the High Priest . 28
The Symbolism of the Nazirite’s HairCutting . 29
Philo, R. Eliezer and the Sages on MetMitzvah .. 29
The Nazirite Sacrifice ParallelsNazirite’s Piety .. 30
God gives us the Ability to Find InnerPeace . 30
The Equality of the Princes’ Gifts . 31
Midrashic Parallels to Philo’s Exposition .. 31
Seventy as a Number of Wisdom & Perfection .. 31

Parshat Bahalatcha .. 33
The Symbolism of the Candelabrum ... 33
Levitical Retirement at Fifty .. 33
Mentoring the Next Generation .. 34
The Significance of the Second Passover . 34
Jethro Rejects Moses’ Offer . 35
Nostalgia for the Good Old Days of Egypt . 36
The People Consider Moses a Failed Leader . 36
Age Does Not Always Equal Wisdom ... 37
Wisdom’s Candle . 37
Moses’s Moment of Weakness . 38
God Always Provides Us with What We Need .. 39
When Abundance Kills… ... 39
Miriam’s Indiscretion: Damaging Speech .. 40
The Pathos of Prophetic Rhapsody .. 41

Parshat Shelach .. 42
Moses’ Reconnaissance Mission .. 42
A Land of Abundance . 43
The Spies Disparage the Land .. 44
Tales of the Craven-Hearted .. 44
Standing Up Against an Immoral Majority .. 44
The Boldness of Moses’ Intercession .. 45
The Power of Divine Pedagogy .. 46
The Meaning of God’s Oath .. 47
The Purpose of Taking off Hallah .. 48
The Importance of Living with Humility .. 48
The Man who Desanctified the Sabbath .. 49
Stonehearted .. 50

Parshat Korach .. 52
Korah’s Rebellion According to Philo .. 52
Discerning Korah’s Political Ambitions . 52
Accusations of Nepotism against Moses . 53
Moses’ Failed Diplomacy .. 53
Moses’ Prayer for Validation .. 54
Nature as the Agent of Divine Retribution .. 55
The Just Person Belongs to Two Realms . 55
The Symbolism of Aaron’s Staff . 55
The Priestly Inheritance . 56
The Importance of Temperance . 56
Tithing Serves to Distinguish thePriesthood .. 56
The Uniqueness of Aaron’s Levitical Clan .. 56
Levitical Piety—Bound to God Forever . 57

Parshat Chukat . 60
The Allegorical Significance of the Red Heifer . 60
The Red Heifer Rituals According to Philoand the Sages . 61
The Moral Significance of LeviticalDefilement . 61
The Human Soul as a Vessel of God .. 62
The Symbolism of Dust and Ashes . 62
The Cleansing of Body and Soul 63
Uncleanliness as a Metaphor for MoralImpurity .. 64
Moses’ Desperate Moment at the Rock .. 64
Sending Peace Envoys . 65
Reigniting an Old Family Feud .. 65
Two Wrongs Do Not Make a Right . 65
Moses’ Serpent Symbolizes Self-Control 66
The Well of Wisdom ... 67
Sihon’s Contempt for the Israelites . 67

Parshat Balak .. 68
Balak’s Timidity and Resourcefulness . 68
Balaam’s Reputation as a Soothsayer . 68
Balaam and the Sophists . 69
A Visionary Parable . 70
The Stream of Folly Must Run Its Course . 70
Balaam’s Mantic Possession .. 72
Balaam Suspects Balaam Secretly Admiresthe Israelites . 73
Creating God in the Image of Human Beings . 74
Balaam as a Flawed Prophet . 74
The Soothsayer’s Stubbornness Persists . 75
Balaam’s Last Parting Shot . 77
Midrashic Parallels to Philo RegardingBalaam ... 77
Introduction to Numbers 25: Enter Phinehas . 78
Phinehas’ Violent Response to Israel’sInfidelity .. 78

Parshat Pinchas (Phinehas) . 80
In Honor of Phinehas . 80
Leadership through Shepherding . 81
The Shepherd Kings of Antiquity .. 81
Midrashic Parallels to Philo’s View of theShepherd .. 82
Anthropomorphic Issues in Philo, LXX, andthe Targum ... 82
Sacrifice Demands Moral Purity andIntegrity .. 83
Sacrifices for the Nation and for Humanity .. 83
In Honor of Passover . 84
The Significance of the Shavuoth Holiday .. 84
Philo’s Thoughts on Rosh HaShanah .. 84
The Significance of Yom Kippur . 85
Philo on Shemini Atsereth .. 86

Parshat Matot . 87
Laws of Vows and Oaths . 87
Always Keep Your Promises . 87
A Vow or Oath Can Never Negate aCommandment . 87
Rabbinical Parallels to Philo’sInterpretation .. 87
Parents and Husbands Can Overrule a Vow ... 88
The Role of the High Priest and the Sage . 88
More Rabbinic Parallels with PhiloConcerning Vows . 89
The Midianite War . 89
Philo’s Position on Intent and Murder . 90
Reflections on Intent and Homicide . 90
Philo and the Sages on the Wars ofGenocide . 92
The Lack of Tribal Unity: A PotentialDebacle . 93
Moses’ Confronts Tribal Cowardice andIndifference . 94
Harmony Is the Key to Military Success . 96
Moses’ Message: United We Must Stand .. 96
Moses’ Rebuke of the Tribes Strikes a Chord .. 96

Parshat Ma’asai . 98
Mentoring the Wayward and Guilty .. 98
The Subtle Unfoldment of Divine Justice . 99
Manslaughters Are Not Beyond Redemption .. 99
Philo, Plato, and the Trial of Cain .. 100
Avoiding Vigilante Justice . 101
More Reasons for the Cities of Refuge . 101
Off Limits for Those Who Kill with Malice . 101
The High Priest as a Champion and Defenderof the Slain .. 102
Exile as Atonement for the Manslaughter . 103
The Tribe Is Also a Family .. 104

Excursus 1 & 2 .. 105
Introduction to Philo’s Exposition of Numbers

Although Philo never wrote acommentary on the Book of Numbers, much less, an introduction to it, RediscoveringPhilo of Alexandria is a modest attempt to reconstruct most of Philo’sideas concerning the fourth book of the Tora