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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not to be published by profane mouths。 If then it please thee； O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 （5）
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； （6） 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