The Works of Philo Judaeus, Vol. 2

seeing that the wickedness of men was multiplied upon the earth, and that every one did think continually in his heart nothing but evil all his days, determined to punish man" (and here by man I understand the mind, together with all the reptiles and winged creatures, and all the rest of the multitude of wild animals which surround him), by reason of his incurable wickedness. The punishment which God decided upon was the deluge. For there was unbounded freedom in sinning and unlimited license in doing wrong, with no one hindering it; all restraints were shamelessly broken down in such a way that there was no fear left to restrain those who were thoroughly ready to snatch at abundant supplies for enjoyment of every kind. And may we not say that this was natural? For it was not only one portion of the soul that was corrupted in such a way that it could still be preserved by the sound condition of the other parts; there was no part whatever of it left free from disease or corruption. For the incorruptible Judge, says Moses, seeing that every thought of man's heart (not one single idea by itself) was evil continually, inflicted upon him a deserved punishment.

VIII. These are they who "made a treaty with one another in the valley of Salt." original: "Genesis xiv. 3." For the region of the vices and of the passions is a hollow valley, rough, and full of ravines; truly salt, and producing bitter pains. This treaty—which was not worthy of being confirmed by any oath or by any libation—the wise Abraham, who knew its character, annulled. For it is said in the scripture that, "All these men made a treaty at the valley of Salt, that is the sea of Salt." Do you not perceive that they who are barren of wisdom and blinded as to the intellect—which one would naturally expect to be sharp-sighted—having the name of Sodomites from their real character, did, with all their people united together, from young to old, "surround the house in a circle" original: "Genesis xix. 4." (that is to say, the house of the soul), in order to pollute and contaminate those strangers from a foreign land who had been received in hospitality: namely, sacred and holy reasons, the guards and defenders of the soul? No one whatever attempted either to resist those wrongdoers or to avoid doing wrong himself. For Moses does not speak of some as having consented and others as having stood aloof; but, as he says, "The whole