Philonis Judaei Opera Omnia (Vol. 3)

6 PHIL. IUD. ON THE HEIR OF DIVINE THINGS §. 2. 3.

race, having seized power over earth and sea without effort. Abraham's devoted services and worship are confirmed by the ending of the oracle spoken to his son:

"I will give to you and your seed all this land, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in your seed; because your father Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my instructions, and my commandments, and my laws, and my judgments." original: "ἐφύλαξε τὰ προστάγματά μου..." (Gen. 26:3-5) And this is the greatest eulogy of a servant, to neglect nothing that the master commands, but to strive tirelessly and laboriously beyond one's strength to accomplish all things with a favorable disposition.

§. 3. There are, then, those for whom it is becoming to hear but not to speak, for whom the saying, "Be silent and listen," original: "Σιώπα καὶ ἄκουε," (Deut. 27:9) is a most beautiful precept. For ignorance is a most base and bold thing; the first step against it is the silence of hearing, and the second is attention to those who bring forth things worth hearing. However, let no one think that "Be silent and listen" signifies only this, but rather that it encourages something more powerful. For it does not advise one merely to be silent with the tongue and to hear with the ears, but to experience both of these with the soul as well. For many, when they come to hear someone, have not arrived with their minds; instead, they wander outside, and go over in their heads thousands of things upon thousands—family matters, foreign affairs, personal concerns—which it was likely unnecessary to remember at that moment. By counting these up one after another, as it were, and because of the great clamor within them, they are unable to listen to the speaker. For that person speaks as if not to men, but to lifeless statues, which have ears but do not possess the power of hearing. If, therefore, the mind does not deign to converse with any of the things coming from outside, or stored up within, but instead leads them to stillness 483 P. and rests, directing itself toward the speaker, having silenced itself according to the commandment of Moses, it will be able to listen with all attention, but otherwise it would not have the strength.