וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם אַנְשֵׁ֨י מִקְנֶ֜ה הָי֤וּ עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ מִנְּעוּרֵ֣ינוּ וְעַד־עַ֔תָּה גַּם־אֲנַ֖חְנוּ גַּם־אֲבֹתֵ֑ינוּ בַּעֲב֗וּר תֵּשְׁבוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ גֹּ֔שֶׁן כִּֽי־תוֹעֲבַ֥ת מִצְרַ֖יִם כָּל־רֹ֥עֵה צֹֽאן׃
maka jawablah: ‘Hamba-hambamu ini adalah peternak sejak masa muda kami sampai sekarang, baik kami maupun nenek moyang kami,’ supaya kalian boleh tinggal di tanah Gosyen, sebab setiap gembala kambing domba adalah kekejian bagi orang Mesir.”
On the Birth of Abel and the Sacrifices Offered by him and by his Brother Cain
[51] It is a natural consequence of what we have said, that “every shepherd of sheep is an abomination to the Egyptians” (Gen. 46:34). For the right reason which is our pilot and guide to things excellent is an abomination to all who love the passions, just as really foolish children hate their teachers and tutors and every form of reason which would warn them and bring them to wisdom. And we find Moses saying that “he will sacrifice to God the abominations of Egypt” (Exod. 8:26), meaning thereby the virtues, these offerings unblemished and most worthy, which are the abominations of every fool.