Complete Works of Philo Judaeus, Vol. 2

And "his life is hanging," as the lawgiver said, having no immovable foundation, but always being carried by the things that pull and drag him in opposite directions. For which reason, in other places, he says: "Cursed by God is he who is hanging on a tree" original: "Deut. 21, 23.", because it is from God that one should be hung note: Philo here interprets 'hanging on a tree' as a metaphor for attaching oneself to the body (wood) rather than the Divine.. This one has hung himself from the body, which is the wooden mass within us, exchanging desire for hope, the greatest evil for the perfect good. For hope, being an expectation of good things, suspends the mind from the bounteous God; but desire, causing irrational longings, suspends it from the body, which nature created as a receptacle and container.

§. 9. These men, therefore, let them be hung as if from the noose of desire. But the wise Abraham, since he stood, having approached the standing God; for it says that "He was standing before the Lord, and having approached, he spoke" original: "Gen. 18, 22. 23.". For indeed, there is only one approach to the unchangeable God for a soul that is unchangeable; and one who is disposed in this manner truly stands near the divine power. The oracle granted to the all-wise Moses shows most clearly the most certain stability concerning the upright man. And the oracle is as follows: "But you, stand here with me" original: "Deut. 5, 31.". From which two things are shown: one, that the Existent, which moves and changes other things, is unmoved and unchangeable; and another, that He imparts the quietness of His own nature to the upright man. For as I think crooked things are straightened by a right ruler, so things that are moved are checked and stand firm by the power of the Standing One. Now, indeed, he commands another to stand with him; but elsewhere he says, "I will go down with you into Egypt; and..."