Tilden: Philo Judaeus 



25 



is formed of the two, in imitation of the ancient chorus organized at 

 the Red Sea, to celebrate the miracles that were wrought there. 

 For, by the decree of God, the sea became a means of safety to the 

 one side, but a means of utter destruction to the other. For the sea 

 being rent asunder was forced back by violent recoil, and solid 

 walls, as it were, were made on either side of them, and the inter- 

 vening space was cut and widened into a broad, level, and dry road 

 for all, thru which the people marched over to the opposite shore, and 

 were brought in safety to the higher ground. Then by the returning 

 waters coming back in and pouring in on this side and on that on 

 what had been dry ground but a little v/hile before, those of the 

 enemy who pursued them were overwhelmed and so perished. 



So when the people saw and experienced this which was an act 

 beyond reason and thought and hope, being filled with divine 

 inspiration, both men and women alike, forming one single chorus, 

 sang hymns of thanksgiving to God, the Savior, Moses the prophet 

 leading the men, and Miriam the prophetess leading the women. 



In the very closest imitation, therefore, of this chorus, the company 

 of the Therapeutae, both men and women, form a harmonious and 

 truly musical symphony, the shrill voices of the women blending 

 with the deeper tones of the men in corresponding and antiphonal 

 songs. Very beautiful are the ideas and very beautiful the expression 

 of them, and the chorus itself is impressive. The end and aim of the 

 ideas and of the words and of the chorus is holiness. 



So being intoxicated until dawn with this beautiful kind of 

 intoxication, not with heavy heads or sleepy eyes, but feeling even 

 more wide-awake than when they came to the banquet, they stand 

 up and turn their eyes and their whole body toward the East. And 

 when they see the sun rising, they raise their hands toward the 

 heaven, and pray for a fair day and truth and keenness of under- 

 standing. And after the prayers each one returns to his own separate 

 sanctuary with the purpose of dealing again in philosophy and 

 cultivating speculation.^^ 



So much, then, have I to say concerning those who are called 

 Therapeutae, who have embraced the contemplation of nature, and 

 who have lived in it and in the soul alone. Truly are they citizens^- 



^^Conybeare remarks that "As the hands of the Therapeutae were KaBapai 

 /j^fiudruv their philosophy was the only 'trade' they had.'' The word for culti- 

 vation here is jeopyyoovrsc, which of course refers primarily to tilling the soil. 

 The Stoics and Church Fathers use it in the same figurative sense as here. 



^2 The early Christians from Paul onwards adopted the Stoic's doctrine. 

 Cf. Paul, Philippians 3, 20: }(ip to TzoXtrEviia n' nhpavotg v-apxt', for our citi- 



zenship is in heaven." 



