Philo of Alexandria

328 texts · Page 33 of 37

The writings of Philo of Alexandria (c. 20 BCE -- c. 50 CE), a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who sought to harmonize Jewish Scripture with Greek philosophy. His allegorical interpretations of the Torah remain influential to this day.

Sarah's Legacy and Hagar

Philo The Midrash of Philo 4:2

The Torah, in its often subtle way, touches upon this very question. Our passage focuses on a seemingly small detail in the story of Sarah and Hagar. You remember the story, right?...

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Kingdom of Sarah and Hagar

Philo The Midrash of Philo 5:1

We're turning to the Midrash of Philo, a fascinating collection of interpretations that expands on the stories we find in the Hebrew Bible. Specifically, we're looking at a moment ...

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Wisdom of Sarah of Abraham

Philo The Midrash of Philo 5:2

Let's delve into a fascinating interpretation of Sarah's complaint against Abraham in the Midrash of Philo, a window into the complexities of relationships and the pursuit of wisdo...

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Sarah's Transgression of Abraham

Philo The Midrash of Philo 6:1

We all know the story of Abraham, or Avraham as we say in Hebrew, and his wife Sarah, or Sarah. They longed for a child, but time was passing. So Sarah, following the customs of th...

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Words of the Wise

Philo The Midrash of Philo 6:2

Our story revolves around a "wise man" – and we aren't explicitly told who, which almost makes him universal. He's speaking about a woman who has conceived a child with him. Now, h...

Wisdom

Sarah and Creation of Hagar

Philo The Midrash of Philo 6:8

We often think of affliction as purely negative, something to be avoided at all costs. But what if I told you that, according to some ancient wisdom, affliction can actually be… be...

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Angels of Mercy and Hagar

Philo The Midrash of Philo 8:1

The Midrash of Philo dives into this very question, exploring the human soul's capacity for growth and its resistance to it. It suggests that not every soul possesses the ability t...

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Celestial Servants

Philo The Midrash of Philo 8:2

Jewish tradition certainly understands that feeling. And it can be pretty direct about it, too. Take this passage from The Midrash of Philo. Now, Philo of Alexandria, he was a fasc...

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Hagar's Journey and Sarah

Philo The Midrash of Philo 8:7

We're diving into a very specific verse: Genesis 16:8. It's where Hagar, the maidservant of Sarah, answers the angel's question about where she's going. Her reply? "I am fleeing fr...

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