But now they desire a better, that is to say, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.
Philoxenus of Mabbug
"It is evident that they desired a country better than the land of Canaan, which is heaven." And for this reason God teacheth us clearly that it was not that material land of promise which God promised to shew to Abraham. After He had brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees He made him dwell in Harran, and He did not carry him to the land of Canaan immediately after his coming forth. And again, that Abraham might not think that he heard the report of a reward, and therefore go forth after the voice of God, He did not make known to him at the beginning the name of the country to which He would bring him.
Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.