Origen of Alexandria : After these things let us see what Moses says: "and Israel dwelt," he says, "in Egypt, in the land of Goshen." Now Goshen is interpreted 'proximity' or 'nearness.' By which it is shown that, even if Israel dwells in Egypt, he is nevertheless not far from God, but is near to him and joined to him, just as he himself also says that: "I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will be with you." And we too, therefore, even if we seem to have gone down into Egypt, even if, placed in the flesh, we sustain the struggles and contests of this world, even if we dwell among those who are enslaved to Pharaoh, yet if we are near to God, if we are engaged in the meditation of his commandments and search out "his precepts and judgments" — for this is to be near to God: always to think the things that are God's, "to seek the things that are God's" — then God too will always be with us, through Christ Jesus our Lord, "to whom is glory unto the ages of ages. Amen." — HOMILIES ON Genesis 16.7