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1. When Alexander had reigned twelve years, and after him Ptolemy
Soter forty years, Philadelphus then took the kingdom of Egypt,
and held it forty years within one. He procured the law to be
interpreted, and set free those that were come from Jerusalem
into Egypt, and were in slavery there, who were a hundred and
twenty thousand. The occasion was this: Demetrius Phalerius, who
was library keeper to the king, was now endeavoring, if it were
possible, to gather together all the books that were in the
habitable earth, and buying whatsoever was any where valuable, or
agreeable to the king's inclination, (who was very earnestly set
upon collecting of books,) to which inclination of his Demetrius
was zealously subservient. And when once Ptolemy asked him how
many ten thousands of books he had collected, he replied, that he
had already about twenty times ten thousand; but that, in a
little time, he should have fifty times ten thousand. But be said
he had been informed that there were many books of laws among the
Jews worthy of inquiring after, and worthy of the king's library,
but which, being written in characters and in a dialect of their
own, will cause no small pains in getting them translated into
the Greek tongue; that the character in which they are
written seems to be like to that which is the proper character of
the Syrians, and that its sound, when pronounced, is like theirs
also; and that this sound appears to be peculiar to themselves.
Wherefore he said that nothing hindered why they might not get
those books to be translated also; for while nothing is wanting
that is necessary for that purpose, we may have their books also
in this library. So the king thought that Demetrius was very
zealous to procure him abundance of books, and that he suggested
what was exceeding proper for him to do; and therefore he wrote
to the Jewish high priest, that he should act accordingly.
2. Now there was one Aristeus, who was among the king's most
intimate friends, and on account of his modesty very acceptable
to him. This Aristeus resolved frequently, and that before now,
to petition the king that he would set all the captive Jews in
his kingdom free; and he thought this to be a convenient
opportunity for the making that petition. So he discoursed, in
the first place, with the captains of the king's guards, Sosibius
of Tarentum, and Andreas, and persuaded them to assist him in
what he was going to intercede with the king for. Accordingly
Aristeus embraced the same opinion with those that have been
before mentioned, and went to the king, and made the following
speech to him: "It is not fit for us, O king, to overlook things
hastily, or to deceive ourselves, but to lay the truth open. For
since we have determined not only to get the laws of the Jews
transcribed, but interpreted also, for thy satisfaction, by what
means can we do this, while so many of the Jews are now slaves in
thy kingdom? Do thou then what will be agreeable to thy
magnanimity, and to thy good nature: free them from the miserable
condition they are in, because that God, who supporteth thy
kingdom, was the author of their laws as I have learned by
particular inquiry; for both these people, and we also, worship
the same God the framer of all things. We call him, and that
truly, by the name of GREEK, [or life, or Jupiter,] because he
breathes life into all men. Wherefore do thou restore these men
to their own country, and this do to the honor of God, because
these men pay a peculiarly excellent worship to him. And know
this further, that though I be not of kin to them by birth, nor
one of the same country with them, yet do I desire these favors
to be done them, since all men are the workmanship of God; and I
am sensible that he is well-pleased with those that do good. I do
therefore put up this petition to thee, to do good to them."
3. When Aristeus was saying thus, the king looked upon him with a
cheerful and joyful countenance, and said, "How many ten
thousands dost thou suppose there are of such as want to be made
free?" To which Andreas replied, as he stood by, and said," A few
more than ten times ten thousand." The king made answer, "And is
this a small gift that thou askest, Aristeus?" But Sosibius, and
the rest that stood by, said that he ought to offer such a
thank-offering as was worthy of his greatness of soul, to that
God who had given him his kingdom. With this answer he was much
pleased; and gave order, that when they paid the soldiers their
wages, they should lay down [a hundred and] twenty drachmas
for every one of the slaves? And he promised to publish a
magnificent decree, about what they requested, which should
confirm what Aristeus had proposed, and especially what God
willed should be done; whereby he said he would not only set
those free who had been led away captive by his father and his
army, but those who were in this kingdom before, and those also,
if any such there were, who had been brought away since. And when
they said that their redemption money would amount to above four
hundred talents, he granted it. A copy of which decree I have
determined to preserve, that the magnanimity of this king may be
made known. Its contents were as follows: "Let ail those who were
soldiers under our father, and who, when they overran Syria and
Phoenicia, and laid waste Judea, took the Jews captives, and made
them slaves, and brought them into our cities, and into this
country, and then sold them; as also all those that were in my
kingdom before them, and if there be any that have been lately
brought thither, - be made free by those that possess them; and
let them accept of [a hundred and] twenty drachmas for every
slave. And let the soldiers receive this redemption money with
their pay, but the rest out of the king's treasury: for I suppose
that they were made captives without our father's consent, and
against equity; and that their country was harassed by the
insolence of the soldiers, and that, by removing them into Egypt,
the soldiers have made a great profit by them. Out of regard
therefore to justice, and out of pity to those that have been
tyrannized over, contrary to equity, I enjoin those that have
such Jews in their service to set them at liberty, upon the
receipt of the before-mentioned sum; and that no one use any
deceit about them, but obey what is here commanded. And I will
that they give in their names within three days after the
publication of this edict, to such as are appointed to execute
the same, and to produce the slaves before them also, for I think
it will be for the advantage of my affairs. And let every one
that will inform against those that do not obey this decree, and
I will that their estates be confiscated into the king's
treasury." When this decree was read to the king, it at first
contained the rest that is here inserted, and omitted only those
Jews that had formerly been brought, and those brought
afterwards, which had not been distinctly mentioned; so he added
these clauses out of his humanity, and with great generosity. He
also gave order that the payment, which was likely to be done in
a hurry, should be divided among the king's ministers, and among
the officers of his treasury. When this was over, what the king
had decreed was quickly brought to a conclusion; and this in no
more than seven days' time, the number of the talents paid for
the captives being above four hundred and sixty, and this,
because their masters required the [hundred and] twenty drachmas
for the children also, the king having, in effect, commanded that
these should be paid for, when he said in his decree, that they
should receive the forementioned sum for every slave.
4. Now when this had been done after so magnificent a manner,
according to the king's inclinations, he gave order to Demetrius
to give him in writing his sentiments concerning the transcribing
of the Jewish books; for no part of the administration is done
rashly by these kings, but all things are managed with great
circumspection. On which account I have subjoined a copy of these
epistles, and set down the multitude of the vessels sent as gifts
[to Jerusalem], and the construction of every one, that the
exactness of the artificers' workmanship, as it appeared to those
that saw them, and which workman made every vessel, may be made
manifest, and. this on account of the excellency of the vessels
themselves. Now the copy of the epistle was to this purpose:
"Demetrius to the great king. When thou, O king, gavest me a
charge concerning the collection of books that were wanting to
fill your library, and concerning the care that ought to be taken
about such as are imperfect, I have used the utmost diligence
about those matters. And I let you know, that we want the books
of the Jewish legislation, with some others; for they are written
in the Hebrew characters, and being in the language of that
nation, are to us unknown. It hath also happened to them, that
they have been transcribed more carelessly than they ought to
have been, because they have not had hitherto royal care taken
about them. Now it is necessary that thou shouldst have accurate
copies of them. And indeed this legislation is full of hidden
wisdom, and entirely blameless, as being the legislation of God;
for which cause it is, as Hecateus of Abdera says, that the poets
and historians make no mention of it, nor of those men who lead
their lives according to it, since it is a holy law, and ought
not to be published by profane mouths. If then it please thee, O
king, thou mayst write to the high priest of the Jews, to send
six of the elders out of every tribe, and those such as are most
skillful of the laws, that by their means we may learn the clear
and agreeing sense of these books, and may obtain an accurate
interpretation of their contents, and so may have such a
collection of these as may be suitable to thy desire."
5. When this epistle was sent to the king, he commanded that an
epistle should be drawn up for Eleazar, the Jewish high priest,
concerning these matters; and that they should inform him of the
release of the Jews that had been in slavery among them. He also
sent fifty talents of gold for the making of large basons, and
vials, and cups, and an immense quantity of precious stones. He
also gave order to those who had the custody of the chest that
contained those stones, to give the artificers leave to choose
out what sorts of them they pleased. He withal appointed, that a
hundred talents in money should be sent to the temple for
sacrifices, and for other uses. Now I will give a description of
these vessels, and the manner of their construction, but not till
after I have set down a copy of the epistle which was written to
Eleazar the high priest, who had obtained that dignity on the
occasion following: When Onias the high priest was dead, his son
Simon became his successor. He was called Simon the Just
because of both his piety towards God, and his kind disposition
to those of his own nation. When he was dead, and had left a
young son, who was called Onias, Simon's brother Eleazar, of whom
we are speaking, took the high priesthood; and he it was to whom
Ptolemy wrote, and that in the manner following: "King Ptolemy to
Eleazar the high priest, sendeth greeting. There are many Jews
who now dwell in my kingdom, whom the Persians, when they were in
power, carried captives. These were honored by my father; some of
them he placed in the army, and gave them greater pay than
ordinary; to others of them, when they came with him into Egypt,
he committed his garrisons, and the guarding of them, that they
might be a terror to the Egyptians. And when I had taken the
government, I treated all men with humanity, and especially those
that are thy fellow citizens, of whom I have set free above a
hundred thousand that were slaves, and paid the price of their
redemption to their masters out of my own revenues; and those
that are of a fit age, I have admitted into them number of my
soldiers. And for such as are capable of being faithful to me,
and proper for my court, I have put them in such a post, as
thinking this [kindness done to them] to be a very great and an
acceptable gift, which I devote to God for his providence over
me. And as I am desirous to do what will be grateful to these,
and to all the other Jews in the habitable earth, I have
determined to procure an interpretation of your law, and to have
it translated out of Hebrew into Greek, and to be deposited in my
library. Thou wilt therefore do well to choose out and send to me
men of a good character, who are now elders in age, and six in
number out of every tribe. These, by their age, must be skillful
in the laws, and of abilities to make an accurate interpretation
of them; and when this shall be finished, I shall think that I
have done a work glorious to myself. And I have sent to thee
Andreas, the captain of my guard, and Aristeus, men whom I have
in very great esteem; by whom I have sent those first-fruits
which I have dedicated to the temple, and to the sacrifices, and
to other uses, to the value of a hundred talents. And if thou
wilt send to us, to let us know what thou wouldst have further,
thou wilt do a thing acceptable to me."
6. When this epistle of the king was brought to Eleazar, he wrote
an answer to it with all the respect possible: "Eleazar the high
priest to king Ptolemy, sendeth greeting. If thou and thy queen
Arsinoe, and thy children, be well, we are entirely
satisfied. When we received thy epistle, we greatly rejoiced at
thy intentions; and when the multitude were gathered together, we
read it to them, and thereby made them sensible of the piety thou
hast towards God. We also showed them the twenty vials of gold,
and thirty of silver, and the five large basons, and the table
for the shew-bread; as also the hundred talents for the
sacrifices, and for the making what shall be needful at the
temple; which things Andreas and Aristeus, those most honored
friends of thine, have brought us; and truly they are persons of
an excellent character, and of great learning, and worthy of thy
virtue. Know then that we will gratify thee in what is for thy
advantage, though we do what we used not to do before; for we
ought to make a return for the numerous acts of kindness which
thou hast done to our countrymen. We immediately, therefore,
offered sacrifices for thee and thy sister, with thy children and
friends; and the multitude made prayers, that thy affairs may be
to thy mind, and that thy kingdom may be preserved in peace, and
that the translation of our law may come to the conclusion thou
desirest, and be for thy advantage. We have also chosen six
elders out of every tribe, whom we have sent, and the law with
them. It will be thy part, out of thy piety and justice, to send
back the law, when it hath been translated, and to return those
to us that bring it in safety. Farewell."
7. This was the reply which the high priest made. But it does not
seem to me to be necessary to set down the names of the seventy
[two] elders who were sent by Eleazar, and carried the law, which
yet were subjoined at the end of the epistle. However, I thought
it not improper to give an account of those very valuable and
artificially contrived vessels which the king sent to God, that
all may see how great a regard the king had for God; for the king
allowed a vast deal of expenses for these vessels, and came often
to the workmen, and viewed their works, and suffered nothing of
carelessness or negligence to be any damage to their operations.
And I will relate how rich they were as well as I am able,
although perhaps the nature of this history may not require such
a description; but I imagine I shall thereby recommend the
elegant taste and magnanimity of this king to those that read
this history.
8. And first I will describe what belongs to the table. It was
indeed in the king's mind to make this table vastly large in its
dimensions; but then he gave orders that they should learn what
was the magnitude of the table which was already at Jerusalem,
and how large it was, and whether there was a possibility of
making one larger than it. And when he was informed how large
that was which was already there, and that nothing hindered but a
larger might be made, he said that he was willing to have one
made that should be five times as large as the present table; but
his fear was, that it might be then useless in their sacred
ministrations by its too great largeness; for he desired that the
gifts he presented them should not only be there for show, but
should be useful also in their sacred ministrations. According to
which reasoning, that the former table was made of so moderate a
size for use, and not for want of gold, he resolved that he would
not exceed the former table in largeness; but would make it
exceed it in the variety and elegancy of its materials. And as he
was sagacious in observing the nature of all things, and in
having a just notion of what was new and surprising, and where
there was no sculptures, he would invent such as were proper by
his own skill, and would show them to the workmen, he commanded
that such sculptures should now be made, and that those which
were delineated should be most accurately formed by a constant
regard to their delineation.
9. When therefore the workmen had undertaken to make the table,
they framed it in length two cubits [and a half], in breadth one
cubit, and in height one cubit and a half; and the entire
structure of the work was of gold. They withal made a crown of a
hand-breadth round it, with wave-work wreathed about it, and with
an engraving which imitated a cord, and was admirably turned on
its three parts; for as they were of a triangular figure, every
angle had the same disposition of its sculptures, that when you
turned them about, the very same form of them was turned about
without any variation. Now that part of the crown-work that was
enclosed under the table had its sculptures very beautiful; but
that part which went round on the outside was more elaborately
adorned with most beautiful ornaments, because it was exposed to
sight, and to the view of the spectators; for which reason it was
that both those sides which were extant above the rest were
acute, and none of the angles, which we before told you were
three, appeared less than another, when the table was turned
about. Now into the cordwork thus turned were precious stones
inserted, in rows parallel one to the other, enclosed in golden
buttons, which had ouches in them; but the parts which were on
the side of the crown, and were exposed to the sight, were
adorned with a row of oval figures obliquely placed, of the most
excellent sort of precious stones, which imitated rods laid
close, and encompassed the table round about. But under these
oval figures, thus engraven, the workmen had put a crown all
round it, where the nature of all sorts of fruit was represented,
insomuch that the bunches of grapes hung up. And when they had
made the stones to represent all the kinds of fruit before
mentioned, and that each in its proper color, they made them fast
with gold round the whole table. The like disposition of the oval
figures, and of the engraved rods, was framed under the crown,
that the table might on each side show the same appearance of
variety and elegancy of its ornaments; so that neither the
position of the wave-work nor of the crown might be different,
although the table were turned on the other side, but that the
prospect of the same artificial contrivances might be extended as
far as the feet; for there was made a plate of gold four fingers
broad, through the entire breadth of the table, into which they
inserted the feet, and then fastened them to the table by buttons
and button-holes, at the place where the crown was situate, that
so on what side soever of the table one should stand, it might
exhibit the very same view of the exquisite workmanship, and of
the vast expeses bestowed upon it: but upon the table itself they
engraved a meander, inserting into it very valuable stones in the
middle like stars, of various colors; the carbuncle and the
emerald, each of which sent out agreeable rays of light to the
spectators; with such stones of other sorts also as were most
curious and best esteemed, as being most precious in their kind.
Hard by this meander a texture of net-work ran round it, the
middle of which appeared like a rhombus, into which were inserted
rock-crystal and amber, which, by the great resemblance of the
appearance they made, gave wonderful delight to those that saw
them. The chapiters of the feet imitated the first buddings of
lilies, while their leaves were bent and laid under the table,
but so that the chives were seen standing upright within them.
Their bases were made of a carbuncle; and the place at the
bottom, which rested on that carbuncle, was one palm deep, and
eight fingers in breadth. Now they had engraven upon it with a
very fine tool, and with a great deal of pains, a branch of ivy
and tendrils of the vine, sending forth clusters of grapes, that
you would guess they were nowise different from real tendrils;
for they were so very thin, and so very far extended at their
extremities, that they were moved with the wind, and made one
believe that they were the product of nature, and not the
representation of art. They also made the entire workmanship of
the table appear to be threefold, while the joints of the several
parts were so united together as to be invisible, and the places
where they joined could not be distinguished. Now the thickness
of the table was not less than half a cubit. So that this gift,
by the king's great generosity, by the great value of the
materials, and the variety of its exquisite structure, and the
artificer's skill in imitating nature with graying tools, was at
length brought to perfection, while the king was very desirous,
that though in largeness it were not to be different from that
which was already dedicated to God, yet that in exquisite
workmanship, and the novelty of the contrivances, and in the
splendor of its construction, it should far exceed it, and be
more illustrious than that was.
10. Now of the cisterns of gold there were two, whose sculpture
was of scale-work, from its basis to its belt-like circle, with
various sorts of stones enchased in the spiral circles. Next to
which there was upon it a meander of a cubit in height; it was
composed of stones of all sorts of colors. And next to this was
the rod-work engraven; and next to that was a rhombus in a
texture of net-work, drawn out to the brim of the basin, while
small shields, made of stones, beautiful in their kind, and of
four fingers' depth, filled up the middle parts. About the top of
the basin were wreathed the leaves of lilies, and of the
convolvulus, and the tendrils of vines in a circular manner. And
this was the construction of the two cisterns of gold, each
containing two firkins. But those which were of silver were much
more bright and splendid than looking-glasses, and you might in
them see the images that fell upon them more plainly than in the
other. The king also ordered thirty vials; those of which the
parts that were of gold, and filled up with precious stones, were
shadowed over with the leaves of ivy and of vines, artificially
engraven. And these were the vessels that were after an
extraordinary manner brought to this perfection, partly by the
skill of the workmen, who were admirable in such fine work, but
much more by the diligence and generosity of the king, who not
only supplied the artificers abundantly, and with great
generosity, with what they wanted, but he forbade public
audiences for the time, and came and stood by the workmen, and
saw the whole operation. And this was the cause why the workmen
were so accurate in their performance, because they had regard to
the king, and to his great concern about the vessels, and so the
more indefatigably kept close to the work.
11. And these were what gifts were sent by Ptolemy to Jerusalem,
and dedicated to God there. But when Eleazar the high priest had
devoted them to God, and had paid due respect to those that
brought them, and had given them presents to be carried to the
king, he dismissed them. And when they were come to Alexandria,
and Ptolemy heard that they were come,and that the seventy elders
were come also, he presently sent for Andreas and Aristens, his
ambassadors, who came to him, and delivered him the epistle which
they brought him from the high priest, and made answer to all the
questions he put to them by word of mouth. He then made haste to
meet the elders that came from Jerusalem for the interpretation
of the laws; and he gave command, that every body who came on
other occasions should be sent away, which was a thing
surprising, and what he did not use to do; for those that were
drawn thither upon such occasions used to come to him on the
fifth day, but ambassadors at the month's end. But when he had
sent those away, he waited for these that were sent by Eleazar;
but as the old men came in with the presents, which the high
priest had given them to bring to the king, and with the
membranes, upon which they had their laws written in golden
letters he put questions to them concerning those books; and
when they had taken off the covers wherein they were wrapt up,
they showed him the membranes. So the king stood admiring the
thinness of those membranes, and the exactness of the junctures,
which could not be perceived; (so exactly were they connected one
with another;) and this he did for a considerable time. He then
said that he returned them thanks for coming to him, and still
greater thanks to him that sent them; and, above all, to that God
whose laws they appeared to be. Then did the elders, and those
that were present with them, cry out with one voice, and wished
all happiness to the king. Upon which he fell into tears by the
violence of the pleasure he had, it being natural to men to
afford the same indications in great joy that they do under
sorrows. And when he had bid them deliver the books to those that
were appointed to receive them, he saluted the men, and said that
it was but just to discourse, in the first place, of the errand
they were sent about, and then to address himself to themselves.
He promised, however, that he would make this day on which they
came to him remarkable and eminent every year through the whole
course of his life; for their coming to him, and the victory
which he gained over Antigonus by sea, proved to be on the very
same day. He also gave orders that they should sup with him; and
gave it in charge that they should have excellent lodgings
provided for them in the upper part of the city.
12. Now he that was appointed to take care of the reception of
strangers, Nicanor by name, called for Dorotheus, whose duty it
was to make provision for them, and bid him prepare for every one
of them what should be requisite for their diet and way of
living; which thing was ordered by the king after this manner: he
took care that those that belonged to every city, which did not
use the same way of living, that all things should be prepared
for them according to the custom of those that came to him, that,
being feasted according to the usual method of their own way of
living, they might be the better pleased, and might not be uneasy
at any thing done to them from which they were naturally averse.
And this was now done in the case of these men by Dorotheus, who
was put into this office because of his great skill in such
matters belonging to common life; for he took care of all such
matters as concerned the reception of strangers, and appointed
them double seats for them to sit on, according as the king had
commanded him to do; for he had commanded that half of their
seats should be set at his right hand, and the other half behind
his table, and took care that no respect should be omitted that
could be shown them. And when they were thus set down, he bid
Dorotheus to minister to all those that were come to him from
Judea, after the manner they used to be ministered to; for which
cause he sent away their sacred heralds, and those that slew the
sacrifices, and the rest that used to say grace; but called to
one of those that were come to him, whose name was Eleazar, who w
a priest, and desired him to say grace; who then stood in the
midst of them, and prayed, that all prosperity might attend the
king, and those that were his subjects. Upon which an acclamation
was made by the whole company, with joy and a great noise; and
when that. was over, they fell to eating their supper, and to the
enjoyment of what was set before them. And at a little interval
afterward, when the king thought a sufficient time had been
interposed, he began to talk philosophically to them, and he
asked every one of them a philosophical question and such a
one as might give light in those inquiries; and when they had
explained all the problems that had been proposed by the king
about every point, he was well-pleased with their answers. This
took up the twelve days in which they were treated; and he that
pleases may learn the particular questions in that book of
Aristeus, which he wrote on this very occasion.
13. And while not the king only, but the philosopher Menedemus
also, admired them, and said that all things were governed by
Providence, and that it was probable that thence it was that such
force or beauty was discovered in these men's words, they then
left off asking any more such questions. But the king said that
he had gained very great advantages by their coming, for that he
had received this profit from them, that he had learned how he
ought to rule his subjects. And he gave order that they should
have every one three talents given them, and that those that were
to conduct them to their lodging should do it. Accordingly, when
three days were over, Demetrius took them, and went over the
causeway seven furlongs long: it was a bank in the sea to an
island. And when they had gone over the bridge, he proceeded to
the northern parts, and showed them where they should meet, which
was in a house that was built near the shore, and was a quiet
place, and fit for their discoursing together about their work.
When he had brought them thither, he entreated them (now they had
all things about them which they wanted for the interpretation of
their law) that they would suffer nothing to interrupt them in
their work. Accordingly, they made an accurate interpretation,
with great zeal and great pains, and this they continued to do
till the ninth hour of the day; after which time they relaxed,
and took care of their body, while their food was provided for
them in great plenty: besides, Dorotheus, at the king's command,
brought them a great deal of what was provided for the king
himself. But in the morning they came to the court and saluted
Ptolemy, and then went away to their former place, where, when
they had washed their hands, and purified themselves, they
betook themselves to the interpretation of the laws. Now when the
law was transcribed, and the labor of interpretation was over,
which came to its conclusion in seventy-two days, Demetrius
gathered all the Jews together to the place where the laws were
translated, and where the interpreters were, and read them over.
The multitude did also approve of those elders that were the
interpreters of the law. They withal commended Demetrius for his
proposal, as the inventor of what was greatly for their
happiness; and they desired that he would give leave to their
rulers also to read the law. Moreover, they all, both the priest
and the ancientest of the elders, and the principal men of their
commonwealth, made it their request, that since the
interpretation was happily finished, it might continue in the
state it now was, and might not be altered. And when they all
commended that determination of theirs, they enjoined, that if
any one observed either any thing superfluous, or any thing
omitted, that he would take a view of it again, and have it laid
before them, and corrected; which was a wise action of theirs,
that when the thing was judged to have been well done, it might
continue for ever.
14. So the king rejoiced when he saw that his design of this
nature was brought to perfection, to so great advantage; and he
was chiefly delighted with hearing the Laws read to him; and was
astonished at the deep meaning and wisdom of the legislator. And
he began to discourse with Demetrius, "How it came to pass, that
when this legislation was so wonderful, no one, either of the
poets or of the historians, had made mention of it." Demetrius
made answer, "that no one durst be so bold as to touch upon the
description of these laws, because they were Divine and
venerable, and because some that had attempted it were afflicted
by God." He also told him, that "Theopompus was desirous of
writing somewhat about them, but was thereupon disturbed in his
mind for above thirty days' time; and upon some intermission of
his distemper, he appeased God [by prayer], as suspecting that
his madness proceeded from that cause." Nay, indeed, he further
saw in a dream, that his distemper befell him while he indulged
too great a curiosity about Divine matters, and was desirous of
publishing them among common men; but when he left off that
attempt, he recovered his understanding again. Moreover, he
informed him of Theodectes, the tragic poet, concerning whom it
was reported, that when in a certain dramatic representation he
was desirous to make mention of things that were contained in the
sacred books, he was afflicted with a darkness in his eyes; and
that upon his being conscious of the occasion of his distemper,
and appeasing God [by prayer], he was freed from that affliction.
15. And when the king had received these books from Demetrius, as
we have said already, he adored them, and gave order that great
care should be taken of them, that they might remain uncorrupted.
He also desired that the interpreters would come often to him out
of Judea, and that both on account of the respects that he would
pay them, and on account of the presents he would make them; for
he said it was now but just to send them away, although if, of
their own accord, they would come to him hereafter, they should
obtain all that their own wisdom might justly require, and what
his generosity was able to give them. So he then sent them away,
and gave to every one of them three garments of the best sort,
and two talents of gold, and a cup of the value of one talent,
and the furniture of the room wherein they were feasted. And
these were the things he presented to them. But by them he sent
to Eleazar the high priest ten beds, with feet of silver, and the
furniture to them belonging, and a cup of the value of thirty
talents; and besides these, ten garments, and purple, and a very
beautiful crown, and a hundred pieces of the finest woven linen;
as also vials and dishes, and vessels for pouring, and two golden
cisterns to be dedicated to God. He also desired him, by an
epistle, that he would give these interpreters leave, if any of
them were desirous of coming to him, because he highly valued a
conversation with men of such learning, and should be very
willing to lay out his wealth upon such men. And this was what
came to the Jews, and was much to their glory and honor, from
Ptolemy Philadelphus.
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