On Drunkenness

The views expressed by the other philosophers on drunkenness have been stated by me to the best of my ability in the preceding book. Let us now consider what the great lawgiver in his never-failing wisdom holds on this subject.

In many places of his legislation he mentions wine and the plant whose fruit it is—the vine. Some persons he permits, others he forbids, to drink of it, and sometimes he gives opposite orders, at one time enjoining and at another prohibiting its use to the same persons. These last are those who have made the great vow (Num. 6:2), while those who are forbidden the use of strong drink are the ministering priests (Lev. 10:9); while of persons who take wine there are numberless instances among those whom he too holds in the highest admiration for their virtue.

But before we begin to discuss these matters, we must carefully investigate the points which bear on our exposition. These points, I think, are the following.