Philo of Alexandria: On the Creation of the Cosmos According to Moses (Philo of Alexandria Commentary Series, 1)

This Study Is The First Volume In The New Philo Of Alexandria Commentary Series. It Contains A New English Translation Of Philo's Famous Treatise On The Creation Of The Cosmos (the First For Seventy Years), And The First Ever Commentary In English. In This Work The Jewish Exegete And Philosopher Gives A Selective Exegesis Of The Mosaic Creation Account And The Events In Paradise As Recorded In Genesis 1-3. It Is The First Preserved Example Of Hexaemeral Literature, And Had A Profound Influence On Early Christian Thought. The Commentary Aims To Make Philo's Thought Accessible To Readers Such As Graduate Students Who Are Just Beginning To Read Him, But Also Contains Much Material That Will Be Of Interest To Specialists In Hellenistic Judaism, Ancient Philosophy And Patristic Literature.--book Jacket. Introduction -- Translation -- Commentary. Philo Of Alexandria ; Introduction, Translation And Commentary By David T. Runia. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [404]-423) And Indexes. Philo of Alexandria: On the Creation of the Cosmos according to Moses 4 Contents 8 General Introduction to the Philo of Alexandria Commentary Series by Gregory E. Sterling, General Editor 10 Preface 16 Abbreviations 18 Introduction 20 1. The place of the treatise in the Philonic corpus 20 2. The genre of the treatise 24 3. Analysis of the treatise's contents 27 4. The use of the Bible and the role of exegesis and exegetical traditions 29 (a) Philo's references to the biblical text 29 (b) Philo's method of exegesis in Opif. 36 (c) traditions of exegesis 38 (d) Philo's text of the Pentateuch 39 5. The main themes of the treatise 40 6. Special theme: number symbolism and the arithmological tradition 44 7. The intellectual Sitz im Leben 48 (a) Judaism 49 (b) Hellenism 51 8. The Nachleben of the treatise 55 9. The text of the treatise 57 10. Status quaestionis: previous scholarship on the treatise 59 (a) scholarly literature specifically focused on Opif. 59 (b) general studies 61 11. Some notes on the method used in the translation 63 12. Some notes on the method used in the commentary 64 Translation: Philo of Alexandria, On the creation of the cosmos according to Moses 66 [Chapter 1] Introduction 66 [Chapter 2] A preliminary comment on God and the cosmos 67 [Chapter 3] The scheme of six days 68 [Chapter 4] Day one: creation of the intelligible cosmos 69 [Chapter 5] "In the beginning" does not mean creation in time 71 [Chapter 6] The chief contents of the intelligible cosmos 72 [Chapter 7] Second day: creation of the firmament 73 [Chapter 8] Third day: creation of the earth 74 [Chapter 9] Fourth day: a puzzle and the significance of its number 76 [Chapter 10] Fourth day: creation of the heavenly bodies 78 [Chapter 11] Fifth day: creation of the animal world 80 [Chapter 12] Why is the human being created after God's image? 83 [Chapter 13] Why was the human being not created by God alone? 84 [Chapter 14] Why was the human being created last of all? 85 [Chapter 15] The seventh day: excursus on the hebdomad 89 [Chapter 16] A summarizing reflection 99 [Chapter 17] The separation of the fresh from the salt water 99 [Chapter 18] Creation of the first human bang from the earth 101 [Chapter 19] The excellence of the first human being 101 [Chapter 20] The giving of names 105 [Chapter 21] Woman appears on the scene 106 [Chapter 22] Events in the garden of delights and their interpretation 106 [Chapter 23] Interpretation of the snake 108 [Chapter 24] The consequences of wickedness 110 [Chapter 25] Moses teaches five vital lessons 111 Notes to the text and translation 113 Commentary 115 Title of the Work 115 1: Introduction (§§1-6) 117 Analysis/General comments 117 Detailed comments 119 EXCURSUS 1: Law, cosmos and nature 125 EXCURSUS 2: An alternative interpretation of the seal image (§6) 127 Parallel exegesis 127 Nachleben 127 2: A preliminary comment on God and the cosmos (§§7-12) 129 Analysis/General comments 129 Detailed comments 130 EXCURSUS: Recent interpretations of Philo's argument 140 Parallel exegesis 142 Nachleben 142 3: The scheme of six days (§§13-15a) 143 Analysis/General comments 143 Detailed comments 144 Parallel exegesis 148 Nachleben 149 4: Day one: creation of the intelligible cosmos (§§15b-25) 151 Analysis/General comments 151 Detailed comments 154 EXCURSUS 1: Philo and the doctrine of the ideas as God's thoughts 170 EXCURSUS 2: Philo on the origin of matter 171 Parallel exegesis 172 Nachleben 172 5: In the beginning does not mean creation in time (§§26-28) 175 Analysis/General comments 175 Detailed comments 176 Parallel exegesis 180 Nachleben 180 6: The chief contents of the intelligible cosmos (§§29-35) 182 Analysis/General comments 182 Detailed comments 183 EXCURSUS: Wolfson's and Winston's interpretation of §29 190 Parallel exegesis 191 Nachleben 191 7: Second day: creation of the firmament (§§36-37) 193 Analysis/General comments 193 Detailed comments 194 Parallel exegeses 196 Nachleben 197 8: Third day: creation of the earth (§§38-44) 198 Analysis/General comments 198 Detailed comments 200 Parallel exegesis 205 Nachleben 205 9: Fourth day: a puzzle and the significance of its number (§§45-52) 206 Analysis/General comments 206 Detailed comments 207 Parallel exegesis 214 Nachleben 214 10: Fourth day: creation of the heavenly bodies (§§53-61) 216 Analysis/General comments 216 Detailed comments 218 EXCURSUS: The Hellenistic cosmic religion 226 Parallel exegesis 228 Nachleben 228 11: Fifth day: creation of the animal world (§§62-68) 230 Analysis/General comments 230 Detailed comments 232 Parallel exegesis 239 Nachleben. 240 12: Why is the human being created "after God's image"? (§§69-71) 241 Analysis/General comments 241 Detailed comments 243 Parallel exegesis 253 Nachleben 253 13: Why was the human being not created by God alone? (§§72-76) 255 Analysis/General comments 255 Detailed comments 258 Parallel exegesis 262 Nachleben 262 14: Why was the human being created last of all? (§§77-88) 264 Analysis/General comments 264 Detailed comments 267 Parallel exegesis 277 Nachleben 277 15: The seventh day: excursus on the Hebdomad (§§89-128) 279 Analysis/General comments 279 Structure and contents 280 Sources of and parallels for Philo's material 283 The hebdomad and Judaism 284 Detailed comments 285 EXCURSUS 1: On John Lydus and the interpretation of §100 317 EXCURSUS 2: Further discussion on Philo's use of sources 320 EXCURSUS 3: A transladon of Anatolius' chapter on the Hebdomad 323 Parallel exegesis 324 Nachleben 325 16: A summarizing reflection (§§129-130) 328 Analysis/General comments 328 Detailed comments 330 Parallel exegesis 332 Nachleben 332 17: The separation of the fresh from the salt water (§§131-133) 333 Analysis/General comments 333 Detailed comments 334 Parallel exegesis 338 Nachleben 339 18: Creation of the first human being from the earth (§§134-135) 340 Analysis/General comments 340 Detailed comments 343 Parallel exegesis 347 Nachleben 347 19: The excellence of the first human being (§§136-147) 349 Analysis/General comments 349 Detailed comments 353 Parallel exegesis 365 Nachleben 365 20: The giving of names (§§148-150) 367 Analysis/General comments 367 Detailed comments 368 Parallel exegesis 371 Nachleben 372 21: Woman appears on the scene (§§151-152) 373 Analysis/General comments 373 Detailed comments 374 EXCURSUS: Philo's attitude towards women and sexuality 378 Parallel exegesis 380 Nachleben 380 22: Events in the garden of delights and their interpretation (§§153-156) 381 Analysis/General comments 381 Detailed comments 383 Parallel exegesis 390 Nachleben 390 23: Interpretation of the snake (§§157-166) 392 Analysis/General comments 392 Detailed, comments 395 Parallel exegesis 402 Nachleben 402 24: The consequences of wickedness (§§167-170a) 404 Analysis/General comments 404 Detailed comments 406 Parallel exegesis 408 Nachleben 409 25: Moses teaches five vital lessons (§§170b-172) 410 Analysis/General comments 410 Detailed comments 413 Exegetical parallels 422 Nachleben 422 Bibliography 423 1. Philo of Alexandria 423 2. Other ancient texts 424 3. Modern scholarly literature 426 Indices 443 1. Index of biblical passages cited 443 2. Index of Philonic texts cited 443 3. Index of ancient texts cited 446 4. Index of subjects and names 449 5. Index of Greek terms 459 Philo of Alexandria: On the Creation of the Cosmos according to Moses......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 General Introduction to the Philo of Alexandria Commentary Series by Gregory E. Sterling, General Editor......Page 10 Preface......Page 16 Abbreviations......Page 18 1. The place of the treatise in the Philonic corpus......Page 20 2. The genre of the treatise......Page 24 3. Analysis of the treatise's contents......Page 27 (a) Philo's references to the biblical text......Page 29 (b) Philo's method of exegesis in Opif.......Page 36 (c) traditions of exegesis......Page 38 (d) Philo's text of the Pentateuch......Page 39 5. The main themes of the treatise......Page 40 6. Special theme: number symbolism and the arithmological tradition......Page 44 7. The intellectual Sitz im Leben......Page 48 (a) Judaism......Page 49 (b) Hellenism......Page 51 8. The Nachleben of the treatise......Page 55 9. The text of the treatise......Page 57 (a) scholarly literature specifically focused on Opif.......Page 59 (b) general studies......Page 61 11. Some notes on the method used in the translation......Page 63 12. Some notes on the method used in the commentary......Page 64 [Chapter 1] Introduction......Page 66 [Chapter 2] A preliminary comment on God and the cosmos......Page 67 [Chapter 3] The scheme of six days......Page 68 [Chapter 4] Day one: creation of the intelligible cosmos......Page 69 [Chapter 5] "In the beginning" does not mean creation in time......Page 71 [Chapter 6] The chief contents of the intelligible cosmos......Page 72 [Chapter 7] Second day: creation of the firmament......Page 73 [Chapter 8] Third day: creation of the earth......Page 74 [Chapter 9] Fourth day: a puzzle and the significance of its number......Page 76 [Chapter 10] Fourth day: creation of the heavenly bodies......Page 78 [Chapter 11] Fifth day: creation of the animal world......Page 80 [Chapter 12] Why is the human being created after God's image?......Page 83 [Chapter 13] Why was the human being not created by God alone?......Page 84 [Chapter 14] Why was the human being created last of all?......Page 85 [Chapter 15] The seventh day: excursus on the hebdomad......Page 89 [Chapter 17] The separation of the fresh from the salt water......Page 99 [Chapter 19] The excellence of the first human being......Page 101 [Chapter 20] The giving of names......Page 105 [Chapter 22] Events in the garden of delights and their interpretation......Page 106 [Chapter 23] Interpretation of the snake......Page 108 [Chapter 24] The consequences of wickedness......Page 110 [Chapter 25] Moses teaches five vital lessons......Page 111 Notes to the text and translation......Page 113 Title of the Work......Page 115 Analysis/General comments......Page 117 Detailed comments......Page 119 EXCURSUS 1: Law, cosmos and nature......Page 125 Nachleben......Page 127 Analysis/General comments......Page 129 Detailed comments......Page 130 EXCURSUS: Recent interpretations of Philo's argument......Page 140 Nachleben......Page 142 Analysis/General comments......Page 143 Detailed comments......Page 144 Parallel exegesis......Page 148 Nachleben......Page 149 Analysis/General comments......Page 151 Detailed comments......Page 154 EXCURSUS 1: Philo and the doctrine of the ideas as God's thoughts......Page 170 EXCURSUS 2: Philo on the origin of matter......Page 171 Nachleben......Page 172 Analysis/General comments......Page 175 Detailed comments......Page 176 Nachleben......Page 180 Analysis/General comments......Page 182 Detailed comments......Page 183 EXCURSUS: Wolfson's and Winston's interpretation of §29......Page 190 Nachleben......Page 191 Analysis/General comments......Page 193 Detailed comments......Page 194 Parallel exegeses......Page 196 Nachleben......Page 197 Analysis/General comments......Page 198 Detailed comments......Page 200 Nachleben......Page 205 Analysis/General comments......Page 206 Detailed comments......Page 207 Nachleben......Page 214 Analysis/General comments......Page 216 Detailed comments......Page 218 EXCURSUS: The Hellenistic cosmic religion......Page 226 Nachleben......Page 228 Analysis/General comments......Page 230 Detailed comments......Page 232 Parallel exegesis......Page 239 Nachleben.......Page 240 Analysis/General comments......Page 241 Detailed comments......Page 243 Nachleben......Page 253 Analysis/General comments......Page 255 Detailed comments......Page 258 Nachleben......Page 262 Analysis/General comments......Page 264 Detailed comments......Page 267 Nachleben......Page 277 Analysis/General comments......Page 279 Structure and contents......Page 280 Sources of and parallels for Philo's material......Page 283 The hebdomad and Judaism......Page 284 Detailed comments......Page 285 EXCURSUS 1: On John Lydus and the interpretation of §100......Page 317 EXCURSUS 2: Further discussion on Philo's use of sources......Page 320 EXCURSUS 3: A transladon of Anatolius' chapter on the Hebdomad......Page 323 Parallel exegesis......Page 324 Nachleben......Page 325 Analysis/General comments......Page 328 Detailed comments......Page 330 Nachleben......Page 332 Analysis/General comments......Page 333 Detailed comments......Page 334 Parallel exegesis......Page 338 Nachleben......Page 339 Analysis/General comments......Page 340 Detailed comments......Page 343 Nachleben......Page 347 Analysis/General comments......Page 349 Detailed comments......Page 353 Nachleben......Page 365 Analysis/General comments......Page 367 Detailed comments......Page 368 Parallel exegesis......Page 371 Nachleben......Page 372 Analysis/General comments......Page 373 Detailed comments......Page 374 EXCURSUS: Philo's attitude towards women and sexuality......Page 378 Nachleben......Page 380 Analysis/General comments......Page 381 Detailed comments......Page 383 Nachleben......Page 390 Analysis/General comments......Page 392 Detailed, comments......Page 395 Nachleben......Page 402 Analysis/General comments......Page 404 Detailed comments......Page 406 Parallel exegesis......Page 408 Nachleben......Page 409 Analysis/General comments......Page 410 Detailed comments......Page 413 Nachleben......Page 422 1. Philo of Alexandria......Page 423 2. Other ancient texts......Page 424 3. Modern scholarly literature......Page 426 2. Index of Philonic texts cited......Page 443 3. Index of ancient texts cited......Page 446 4. Index of subjects and names......Page 449 5. Index of Greek terms......Page 459 This paperback edition is the first volume in the Brill Philo of Alexandria Commentary Series. It contains a new English translation (the first for seventy years) of Philos famous treatise On the Creation of the Cosmos, and the first commentary in English. In this work the Jewish exegete and philosopher gives a selective exegesis of the Mosaic creation account and the events in paradise as recorded in Genesis 13. It is the first preserved example of Hexaemeral literature (six days of creation) and had a profound influence on early Christian thought. The commentary makes his thought accessible to those such as graduate students who are just beginning to read Philo and also contains much material that will be of interest to specialists in Hellenistic Judaism, ancient philosophy, and patristic literature.