On Joseph
In Joseph
The Temptation of Joseph§1
1But you were sold to a man as an eunuch, yet you were honored because of your position in the state, and this man's wife was enamored of your beauty. A divine law, claiming to be God, had foretold: 'You shall not commit adultery' (Exodus 20:14); so how, being driven by impulse, did you disregard the unwritten command of the law?
But you feared your master — a man in name and seeming, yet branded as the husband of a wanton wife (for how was it possible for a eunuch to take a wife in lawful marriage? But she, living in the same house, being clearly the mistress of his household, seemed to guard the mere name of his guardianship).
Therefore, were you practicing a pure conscience toward the one you possessed, not wishing to let what is called by name be used in practice, but rather seeking to avenge the law according to nature for yourself?
Greek · §1
In Joseph (fragmenta) ΛΟΓΟΣ ΕΙΣ ΤΟΝ ΙΩΣΗΦ 72 Ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ μὲν ἐπράθης εὐνούχῳ, πολιτείᾳ δὲ προὔχων ἐτιμήθης, ἠράσθη σου τῆς εὐμορφίας ἡ τούτου γυνή. Θεῖος οὐ δήπου προέγραφεν νόμος φάσκων· οὐ μοιχεύσεις, πόθεν ὁρμώμενος ἐπίταγμα νόμου περιεποίεις ἄγραφον; Ἀλλὰ δεσπότην ἐδεδοίκεις, ὀνόματι καὶ τῷ δοκεῖν ἄνδρα γυναικὸς ἐπιγραφόμενον ἀσῴτου (πῶς γὰρ οἷόν τε ἦν ἀνθρώπῳ σπάδοντι γυναῖκα νομίμου γάμου συζυγίᾳ λαβεῖν; ἀλλὰ συνοικοῦσα δῆλον καὶ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ προστάτις οὖσα τοὔνομα μόνον τῆς κηδεμονίας ἐδόκει φρουρεῖν). Ἄρ' οὖν ἐταμιεύου καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει τῷ κτησαμένῳ συνεῖναι, μηδὲ τὸ λεγόμενον ὀνόματι πρᾶγμα χρᾶναι βουληθείς, ἑαυτῷ δὲ φυσικὸν ἐκδικῆσαι νόμον,
The Counsel of Reuben and Judah§2
2You were driven to an excess in practicing self-control. Reuben and Judah advised most excellently; yet otherwise,
Greek · §2
ἐπειράθης ὑπερβολῇ σωφροσύνης ἀσκούμενος. 73 Ῥουβὴν καὶ Ἰούδας ἄριστα συνεβουλευσάτην, ἄλλως μέντοι, πρὸς ἄνδρας γὰρ εἶχον ἀνημέρους. Οἱ γὰρ ἀμφὶ τὸν
The habits of Simeon and Levi§3
3Simeon and Levi, not having moderately finished their manslaughter, had already at one time become accustomed to the matter; yet they used to occupy themselves by creeping around such things, scratching.
Greek · §3
Συμεῶνα καὶ τὸν Λευῒ, οὐ μετρίως ἀπογευσάμενοι τῆς ἀνδροφονίας, ἐν συνηθείᾳ μὲν ἤδη ποτὲ τοῦ πράγματος ἐγεγόνεισαν, ἕρπειν δὲ περὶ τὰς τοιαύτας ὠρέγοντο κνίσας
The Boldness of the Men§4
4In a tracking manner; and so such were bold and impetuous men that they alone slaughtered the Sicinnians as foreigners.
Greek · §4
ἰχνευτικῶς, οὕτω δὲ τολμηροὶ καὶ προπετεῖς ἦσαν ἄνδρες ὥστε μόνοι τοὺς Σικιμίτας ἀπέσφαζον ἐθνηδόν.