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Gerizzim。
CHAPTER 2。
How Ptolemy Philadelphus Procured The Laws Of The Jews To Be
Translated Into The Greek Tongue And Set Many Captives Free； And
Dedicated Many Gifts To God。
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； （3） 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 （4）
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 transcribe