על הגירת אברהם י׳On the Migration of Abraham 10
א׳
1[53] So then, the first boon which God vouchsafes to the soul after it has relinquished mortal things is, as I have said, the shewing of things immortal and the power to contemplate them; and the second, progress in the principles of virtue, alike as regards number and “greatness”: for He says, “And I will make thee to become a great nation,” implying by the word “nation” their number, and by the word “great” their improvement in quality.
ב׳
2[54] How great their advance was in either respect, alike in “greatness” and in number, is made evident by the words of the King of Egypt, “Lo the race of the children of Israel is a great multitude” (Ex. 1:9). There he bears witness to the race that has eyes to see Him that IS, that it has acquired both multitude and greatness, high achievement, that is, both in conduct of life and in principle.
ג׳
3[55] For he did not say, as a man strictly observing the association of noun and epithet would say, “much multitude,” but “a great multitude,” knowing that “much” is but an incomplete greatness, if it stands by itself without the addition of the power to understand and know. For what advantage is there in receiving(from our teachers) the results of study in plenty, unless we go on to develop each of them to its fitting stature? For a field, too, is but an imperfect one which contains any number of plants only a little above the ground, but in which no fully formed growth has shot up aided by skilful tillage and able now to yield fruit.
ד׳
4[56] The greatness and large number of the good and noble has for its beginning and end the perpetual recollection of God, and the calling down of the aid that comes from Him, to counter the intestine warfare of life, unbroken in its bewildering irregularity, for it says: “Lo this great nation is a wise and understanding people: for what kind of great nation is there, which has God drawing nigh to it, as the Lord our God in all things in which we call upon Him?” (Deut. 4:6 f.).
ה׳
5[57] So far it has been shewn that there is waiting ready and equipped at God’s side strong help to come to our succour, and that the Sovereign Ruler will Himself draw near for the benefit of those who are worthy to receive His benefits.