Quod deterius potiori insidiari soleat / Philo of Alexandria ; : introduction, text, translation, and commentary by Adam Kamesar.

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2024.

1 online resource (xiii, 751 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Access is available to the Yale community.

Access restricted by licensing agreement.

Philo's Quod deterius is a discussion of the Cain and Abel episode in the Bible. Philo follows the Greek translation of the Septuagint, not the Hebrew text, although he may have known traditions that relied on the Hebrew. His treatment of the text is unique, combining elements of traditional Greek commentary on literary texts, moralizing diatribe in highly wrought rhetorical language, midrashic-like exegesis involving the extensive use of other biblical passages, and philosophical theory. The present commentary illuminates these various components of Philo's discussion, especially by means of parallel texts, pagan, Jewish, and Christian, from across antiquity. Using these sources and paying attention to ancient exegetical thinking, Adam Kamesar attempts to trace the overall direction and coherence of what Philo is saying. This kind of treatment of Philo's allegorical treatises has rarely been undertaken before on this scale. The volume also includes a new English translation of the work.

Cambridge core frontlist 2024.

Print version:

Books / Online

English; Greek, Ancient (to 1453)

September 04, 2024