Complete Works of Philo Judaeus, Vol. 2

If it is difficult to migrate from the presence of a mortal king, how is it not entirely difficult to leave the representation of God and go away, having decided never to arrive at His sight? And this is to become unable to visualize Him, with the eye of the soul blinded. And those who have undergone this out of necessity, oppressed by the power of an inexorable force, might be met with pity rather than hatred; but those who voluntarily and by their own judgment turned away from the Existent, surpassing even the limit of wickedness itself—for what evil could be found equal in scale—let them be given punishments not of the usual kind, but new and extraordinary. Or one could not find a punishment newer and greater than the departure and flight from the All-Ruler.

228 M. §. 3. God casts out Adam original: "Gen. 3, 24.", but Cain goes out voluntarily, Moses showing us the form of each manner, the voluntary and the involuntary. But the involuntary, since it does not arise from our own judgment, will receive the possible healing again. For God will raise up another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain killed, for the soul that has not turned by its own will, a male offspring, Seth, the "irrigation" original: "Gen. 4, 25.". But the voluntary, since it happens by will and forethought, will receive incurable plagues forever. For just as accomplishments arising from foresight are better than involuntary ones, in the same way, among sins, involuntary ones are lighter than voluntary ones.

§. 4. Justice, the punisher of the impious, will await Cain, who has migrated from the presence of God. But Moses will propose to his acquaintances a most beautiful command, to love God, and to listen and to hold fast to Him; for this is the life that is truly prosperous and long-lasting original: "Deut. 30, 20.". And very emphatically concerning the most longed-for and worthy