- when:
- There is a remarkable passage in Josephus, which proves that the best informed among the Jews believed in the immateriality and immortality of the soul, and that the souls of righteous men were in the presence of God in a state of happiness. "They who lose their lives for the sake of God, live unto God, as do Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the rest of the patriarchs." Not less remarkable is a passage in Shemoth Rabba, "Why doth Moses say ("Rememberª° Abraham,ª Isaac,ª and Israel,ª thy servants,ª to whom¹ thou swarestª° by thine own self, and saidstª° unto¹ them, I will multiplyª°¹ your seedª as the starsª of heaven,ª and all¹ this¹ landª that¹ I have spokenª° of will I giveª° unto your seed,ª and they shall inheritª° [it] for ever.ª" {Exd 32:13}) Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? R. Abin saith, The Lord said unto Moses, I look for ten men from thee, as I looked for that number in Sodom. Find me out ten righteous persons among the people, and I will not destroy thy people. Then saith Moses, Behold, here am I, and Aaron, Eleazar, and Ithamar, Phinehas, and Caleb, and Joshua; but, saith God, there are but seven. Where are the other three? When Moses knew not what to do, he saith, O Eternal God, חיים הם המתים, do those live who are dead? Yes, saith God. Then saith Moses, If those that are dead do live, remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." "And I will establishª°¹ my covenantª between¹ me and thee and thy seedª after¹ thee² in their generationsª for an everlastingª covenant,ª to be¹ a Godª unto thee, and to thy seedª after¹ thee.²" {Gen 17:7} + "And, behold,¹ the LORDª stoodª° above¹ it, and said,ª° I¹ [am] the LORDª Godª of Abrahamª thy father,ª and the Godª of Isaac:ª the landª whereon¹¹ thou¹ liest,ª° to thee will I give¹ it,²° and to thy seed;ª" {Gen 28:13} + "So that I come againª° to¹ my father'sª houseª in peace;ª then shall the LORDª be¹ my God:ª" {Gen 28:21} + "And Jacobª said,ª° O Godª of my fatherª Abraham,ª and Godª of my fatherª Isaac,ª the LORDª which saidstª° unto¹ me, Returnª° unto thy country,ª and to thy kindred,ª and I will deal wellª° with¹ thee:" {Gen 32:9} + "Andª sent forthª° his²¹ servantsª to callª° them that were biddenª° toª the¹ wedding:ª andª they wouldª° notª come.ª° ... Andª when the¹ multitudeª heardª° [this], they were astonishedª° atª hisª doctrine.ª" {Mtt 22:3-33} + "Andª as touchingª the¹ dead,ª thatª they rise:ª° have ye²° notª readª° inª the¹ bookª of Moses,ª howª inª the¹ bushª Godª spakeª° unto him,ª saying,ª° Iª [am] the¹ Godª of Abraham,ª andª the¹ Godª of Isaac,ª andª the¹ Godª of Jacob?ª ... He isª° notª the¹ Godª of the dead,ª butª the Godª of the living:ª° yeª thereforeª do²° greatlyª err.ª°" {Mrk 12:26-27}
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