מי יורש קנייני אלוה כ״חWho is the Heir of Divine Things 28
א׳
1[141] But the text not only says “He divided” but also “He divided them in the middle”; and it is therefore necessary to make a few remarks on the subject of equal sections, for when anything is divided exactly in the middle it produces equal sections.
ב׳
2[142] Now no man can divide anything into equal sections with exactitude, but one of the sections is sure to be either less or greater than the other. Even if there is no great difference, there must always be a small one which easily eludes our perception, which by nature and habit establishes contact with masses of greater volume, but is unable to grasp those which do not admit of partition or division.
ג׳
3[143] No created thing is found to produce equality if tested by the unprejudiced standard of truth. It seems, then, that God alone is exact in judgement and alone is able to “divide in the middle” things material and immaterial, in such a way that no section is greater or less than another by even an infinitesimal difference, and each can partake of the equality which is absolute and plenary.
ד׳
4[144] Now if equality had only one form, what has been said would be enough; but as it has several forms we must not shrink from adding what is fitting.
ה׳
5The term “equal” is applied in one way to numbers, as when we say that two is equal to two, and three to three, and the same with other numbers. It is applied in another way to magnitudes, the dimensions of which are lengths, breadths and depths. For one handbreadth is equal to another handbreadth and one cubit to another cubit in magnitude. Other things again are equal in capacity or force, as is the case with weights and measures of content.
ו׳
6[145] One essential form of equality is the proportional, in which the few are regarded as equal to the many, and the small to the greater. This is often employed by states on special occasions when they order each citizen to make an equal contribution from his property, not of course numerically equal, but equal in the sense that it is proportionate to the valuation of his estate, so that one who had paid 100 drachmas might be considered to have given a sum equal to one who paid a talent.
