places wee read of in the 17. Chapter of the Booke of Exodus where it is sayd GOD Commaunded him to Write and that in the same yeare the people of Israel issued out of Aegypt which was from the Creation of the World 2513. vpon which wee may aduertise our selues that the yeares are Calculated according to Verity of the sayd Scriptures by the Faithfull Seruants of GOD which haue happily trauayled therein And therefore wee neede not rest vppon the calculation of Histories Annalls and humane Chronicles or other Writers that haue not intirely followed Holy Scriptures who are discordant amongst themselues and many times directly opposite to one anothers times Therefore if we dilligently search all Antiquities and Writings of men of all Nations that haue any appearance of certayne time wherein those Writings were made and after conferre those times with the things recited and inregistred by the Holy Prophet MOSES and the time wherein he Writ them we shall see manifestly the Excellency and Antiquity that he is herein aboue all men For the Fables and disguisments of prophane Poets Greekes and Latins which all came long time after MOSES Amongst them I say we shal see no other but manifest Dreames Lyes and amongst other things noteable some corruptions of the Sacred Scriptures long before Written of which they hauing heard some inckling and receiued it as from hand to hand or drawne it from his Writings or heard it recounted by the Father to the Sonne and they from their Auncestors which were the Children and Successours of the three Sonnes of Noe who was the second Father of humane kinde and restorer of the Nations of all the World all issuing from his Posterity after the vniuersall Flood His three Sonnâ—â— as Holy Scripture hath acquainted vs with were Sem Cham and Iaphet of whom are descended all the Earth And this before spoken is easily and sufficiently discouered in the Writings of the sayd Pagans by the proper names of the sayd Children of Noe and of their Successors which of long time before these writings and prophane Histories had beene named by MOSES For the Pagans testifie thaâ— the people had made of these Auncient Father Idolls and gods As of Iaphet Iapetus they drew Iauan Ianus and Ion and because they were names held in the Hebrew Letters or value of them they accommodated them to their tongues and letters and to make them more easie and glib in their accustomed pronounciation came neere but with alteration And if we will goe more high and weigh the old Times of the first Age which preceeded the Flood as wee haue it from that onely History of MOSES in the Holy Bible we shall easily perceiue that the Pagan Poets and Writers haue receiued euen the Auncient names and mingled them amongst their Fables and Dreames and drawne them from the Holy Scriptures And so it shall appeare plainly that their falce god Vulcan is not very hard to vnmaske that he was a mortall man and one of the Sonnes of the other Lamech the prime Bigamist and corrupter of Marriage who descended of that accursed Race of Caine And this appeares by the faculty of this Vulcan which was a Smith or forger of Armour And MOSES declares him so and by his name too for hee is by him called Thu-vulcain and euery one any thing skil'd in the Hebrew knowes that if they leaue the first letter which is seruile and put to forme the name according to the manner of the Hebrewes it will appeare meere Vulcain for their letter ב B. hauing not a pricke in him is pronounced as our v consonant And for the name of Vulcains wife by MOSES cald Nehama which signifieth faire in their language or as speakes the Latins Venusta It is a playne course to discouer vayne beauty or their so much celebrated vnchast and wanton Venus A goodly Race and fayre family of that accursed murtherer Caine. And here may we see some of the proper gods and Idols of the poore Pagans amongst that Anthil of such other ill stolne names vnhandsomely fetch'd from the Holy Scriptures with and by the subtilty of the Diuell to the end that a wicked troope of execrable â—yants violent oppressors of men Theeues and Adulterous desperates shaken off and damned by the VVord of GOD. Of whom the first Apostate and lyer Sathan made his counterfeit gods and Idols the old Serpent expert and knowing in all malice that there was no better way for him to muffle and blind humane iudgement from the knowledge of the true GOD at first ingrauen in the Soules of men but by this counterfeite deuice with Posterity But to passe further in our begunne purpose touching the fabulous writings of the Pagan Poets wee shall finde that their Discourse in the best we can of it is but corruptions of the Truth in the Holy Scriptures of GOD or things therein reuealed turn'd by them into dreames and prophane Narrations As we may see in that they writ of the Creation of the world and gouernment of the same of the Diuine vertue that Ouid. 1. de Meâ—â— Virgil. 6. de Aeneid Virgill Eglog â—â— 5. sustaines and interiourly nourisheth all things of the consumation of Heauen and Earth with fire at the last day and also of the restoration of the World and of all things in such good order for all so many confusions proceeding from sinne All which things they might obtaine and by some darke meanes draw from the Bookes of Holy Scripture and sacred Prophets Translated out of Hebrew into other Languages or vnderstand some thing by meanes of the dispersion Iosephus antiq of the People of Israel spread through all the Prouinces of the Romane Empire and through all the Quarters of the World For the Iewes had for the most part leaue in all places to hold their Synagogues and to haue publicke Lectures of Act. 18. 20 their Law and Prophets When thesâ— Poets flatterers of men turn'd all that spoken of the Person of Christ the promised Redeemer that then was expected falsely to apply theâ— by flattery to their Princes false-gods Virgil. Aâ—â—erd and Idols But let vs leaue all those Iuglers and Lyers that durst bee so prophanely bold to corrupt the pure Verity of Gods Word and speake wee of the Gentiles Writings how long they came after Moses and Writ since he and that euen they haue giuen Testimony to him and his Diuine Writings which may at least suffice to convince all Contradictors that Moses was in Nature and before them all Wee vnderstanding that his reckoning is a perpetuall following all the yeeres since the Creation of the World euen vnto his time as it is easie to gather by his Bookes and his account of the yeeres and liues of the first Fathers from Adam vnto the Patriarke Abraham and after from his Successors as from Father to Sonne to wit Isaacke Iacob Leui Caath Amram and then Aaron and Moses himselfe Children of the sayd Amram And that hee
THE Auncient History Of the Septuagint VVritten in Greeke by ARISTEVS 1900. Yeares since Of his Voyage to Hierusalem as Ambassador from PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS vnto ELEAZER then Pontiffe of the IEWES Concerning the First Translation of the HOLY BIBLE by the 72. Interpreters With many other remarkable Circumstances Newly done into ENGLISH By I. DONE Tempora Tempera Tempore LONDON Printed by N. OKES 1633. ⧠TO THE Intelligent Generall READER ALthough TIME and DEATH from our Cradles to our Graues pursue vs swiftly and according to the Almighties Ordinance ouertake and seaze vpon our fraile and Terrestriall parts vpon some sooner vpon others later Yet Excellent Acts like strong Eagles breake from their seazure and soare aboue them in so sublime a pitch as neither Time with all his Power and rusty Powder with which hee blots and rubs out Brasse and Marble can quite obscure or extinguish them neither Death close in his darke-gaping Mouth the Graue their Noblenesse Witnesse this small yet Auncient History which this last Summer I made part of my Exercise to put into an English Habite That the Story is Auncient I may well say for it is 1900. yeeres since Aristeus Writ it to his Brother Philocrates which Aristeus St. Hierome in his Epistle to the Pentatucke of the Bible Great Esquire sayes was Hyperaspistes to Ptolomeus Philadelphus King of Aegypt Syria Phâ—nicia and Cilicia and Sonne of Ptolomeus Lagus one of the great Captaines of Alexander Magnus that diuided his Conquests the World amongst them This Ptolomeus Philadelphus then a most accomplish'd young Gentleman vertuously disposed and so great a louer of Learning as hee had accumulated into his Library according to some Authors 1800000. Volumes Printing Argument of the HISTORY not then risen in our Hemispheare was by the sayd Aristeus a most Noble Person and a great friend of the then captiued Iewes as an Instrument of God for the liberty and freedome of them then his people practised with Demetrius Phalerius to tell the King that his so aboundant Library was but poore because it wanted the Booke of Bookes the sacred Volume of GOD which we call the Holy Bible The King vertuously couetous thereof demanded how hee should best acquire it Aristeus wayting this desiered occasion proportioned his aduice that he should first set all the Captiued Iewes not onely in Aegypt but also in Syria c. at free liberty send Ambassadours and Presents to Eleazer their High Priest and Pontiffe The King willingly accordes thereto as to the Musick of his desires and prepares most rich presents as a Table of Massie Gold embellish't with Precious Stones Cups of Gold and Siluer likewise adorned sets at freedome the Captiued by publicke Edict Embasies with these gifts and diuers Talents of Gold and Siluer Aristeus and Andrea Prince and great Captaine of the Guard of his Person They goe deliuer his Letters of Request and Commends haue gracious entertainment returne with the 72. Interpreters Iewes Letters and also Eleazers Presents to the King and in especiall with the Sacred Volume and Word of God The good King adores the Bookes feasts the Bringers who after fall to the Businesse and Translated it out of the Hebrew into the Greeke the common learned Language of those Times made famous by the Sword of Alexander And this in briefe is the effect of this Venerable History which is by mee thus made yours And though I seeme to Anticipate thus to you yet it is as nothing for in it selfe as you may further see it is Elabourately and Eloquently Written by the sayd Aristeus and let no man wonder too much thereat as thinking our Times excels theirs in Eloquence no For who euer exceeded Demostenes the Greeke or Cicero the Latine therein Lastly to speake the Praise of History Libri sunt vasa memoriae and worthy Historicall Bookes haue in them a kinde of Diuine Permanency and as Eminent Persons should affect Noble actions so ought they to cherish the Registers as their Honourers For hath not Plutarcke made those Gyant Heroes as Theseus Romulus Alexander Iulius Caesar and the rest yet liue and himselfe more praysefully longer then them all So as an ignorant swaggering Fellow threatned his Aduersary to kill him if he had as many liues as Plutarcke Did not Alexander sigh for an other Homer Lastly if I haue in honour of the History like one holding a lighted Taper to the cleare noone-shining Sunne made an Appendix shewing the Antiquitie and Dignity of the Bookes by the said SEPTVAGINT Translated and the Excellency of their inspired Writer Moses and haue therein beene too prolixious pardon mee because of the Profoundity and Worthinesse of the matter So I referre you to that and the rest and so rest Yours Iohn Done The Elenchus or Contence of the Following Booke CHaracters of the Persons that were herein ayders imploying and imployed p. 1. Aristeus to his Brother Philocrates p. 11. The Discourse that Aristeus helde with King Ptolomy for the deliuerance of the Iewes p. 20 The Request of Demetrius Phalerius to King Ptolomy p. 30. Tenour of the Letter of King Ptolomy to Eleazer great Pontife of Ierusalem p. 33. Eleazer Pontiffe to King Ptolomy our most Illustrious friend p. 38. The names of those which were chosen of all the Lines and Tribes of the Iewes to goe into Aegypt for the Translation of the LAVV of MOSES p. 41. Of the Presents sent to Eleazer Pontiffe of the Iewes by King Ptolomeus Philadelphus p. 45 Of the Vessels Cups and Viols of Gold p. 55. Of the City of Hierusalem and Region there-abouts as it was 260. yeeres before the Birth of our Sauiour p. 61. Of the Sacrificators p. 65. Of the Great Pontiffe Eleazer p. 67 Of the Fortresse or Castle of Hierusalem p. 69. Yet â—ore of the Towne p. 71. Of the Region about Hierusalem and of the Policy of the Country-people or Pesants p. 72. What manner of men the Translators of the LAVV were p. 79. Of the Answere made by Eleazer vpon certaine points of the LAVV of MOSES p. 91. Returne of the Ambassadors into Alexandria with the Doctors Iewes and how the King adored the Holy Law seuen times with teares in his eyes p. 109 Answers of the Doctors Iewes to Questions propounded by King Ptolomeus Philadelphus p. 118. The meanes held by the 72. Doctors in their interpreting the Law p. 171. A Discourse in way of Apology concerning the truth of this Story Also diuers Opinions of both Auncient and Moderne Authorities and Fathers concerning the manner of the Translation p. 181 Lastly an Appendix in my honour of this Auncient and Famous History discoursing the Antiquity and Dignity of the Books and the excellency of their inspired Writer Moses p. 198. CERTAINE Praecognita or Characters of the chiefe Persons mentioned in the insuing HISTORY 1. Of PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS PTOLOMEVS second of that Name Surnamed Philadelphus King of Aegypt of Phaenicia and of Cypres sonne of the first Ptolomeus sonne of a One
of the Captaines of Great Alexander the third Monarch Lagus began his Reigne in the 271. yeare before the incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ This Ptolomeus Philadelphus was endoctrined in the Science of good letters by Strabo the Peripateticke in which he became so excellent that he was esteemed one of the most accomplished Princes of his Time but that which was in him the most admirable was the Bounty Debonarity Sweetnesse and Gentlenesse of his Spirit accomodated with the manners and complexions of all worthy and deseruing persons By this meanes he entred so farre and before in the grace of all the World that euery one in his thought wisht he were King And his Father knowing his right of Succession was to be so and reioycing in his hopes of him made him to bee Crowned King and deuested himselfe of all Authority without reseruing any Power Right or Preheminence to himselfe onely a Superintendency ouer the Guard of the King his Sonne glorying to be Father of such a King For the admiration he had of his high Vertues kindled and gaue occasion betweene them both of a most kind contention in mutuall offices the Son yeelding to the Father and the Father to the Sonne in all and by all through instinct of Deuotion and Piety so they gaue liuely touches to one the other in all reduceable fitting offices which was cause that the People conceiued a great fidelity and amity towardes them so as it seemed euen the diuine prouidence prepared this noble spirit to introduce that great good amongst Humanes as to make them participants of the Lawes and Diuine illuminations wherewith God had fauoured the People of the Iewes aboue all the Nations of the world And it seemeth that euen then his Almightinesse made a preparatiue for the vocation of the Ethnicks and Gentiles by communication so of his holy Law whereof Ptolomy was the ordayned Minister to call the Seuenty Interpretors into Aegypt to Translate into the Greeke Language which then was the most traded and vulgar As the Latines now in Christendome through the whole Vniuerse So as I am amazed at some fanaticall spirits that hinders vs from the knowledge of God in not giuing his Word in the Language of the People wheresoeuer as is appertaining to euery one in regard of Saluation I would aske those men what language spake those Dames of Rome Paula Eustochina Melania Susanna Fabiola Demetria Furia Flauia Blesilla and others For the institution of whom Saint Hierome Translated many Bookes of Holy Scriptures out of strange tongues into Latine which was the naturall language of the sayd Ladies I would also know who was more wise or better inspired then Saint Hierome Further it seemes they eyther are or would seeme to be ignorant of the institution of the Emperour Iustinian who ordained that those who song in the Temples that they should sing high and so intelligible that all the people might vnderstand them But to returne to Ptolomy he vndertooke to erect a Lybrary in the Capitall City of his Realme Alexandria the Charge whereof hee gaue to Demetrius Phalerius Prince and an Athenian Philosopher who erected it so sumptuously that there was not the like in all the world and it lasted vntill the first Warre of the Romanes against the Alexandrians This King had to wife Arsinöe to whom hee caused a Statue to bee raysed in height 4. Cubits of one entire Stone call'd a Topace the which had beene giuen to Berince the Mother of Ptolomy by a Prince named Philemon 2. Of ARISTEVS the Author of this HISTORIE ARISTEVS the neere Kinsman and Friend of King Ptolomeus Philadelphus is named by a Praesal in Pentatauchum Mosi St. Hierome Ptolomei 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Shield of the King or hee that definds the King with his Shield or â—earer of the Shield Royall which â—emes to me that he held some such â—ace about the King his Maister as wee call at this day the Great Esquier of the Kings body he was the principall Sollicitor for Liberty of the Iewes that then were held Slaues throughout all the Dominions of Ptolomy for hee made the first request for them and obtained it And for this cause hee was sent Embassadour with Andrea Prince of the Gardes belonging to the King vnto Hierusalem to deale with the Great Pontiffe Eleazar who sent to the King Ptolomus sixe Doctors of euery Tribe to goe on with the Translation and Version of the holy Bookes of Moses Hee writ diligently his Voyage where hee shews openly how and by what course those 72. Interpreters behaued themselues in the sayâ— Bookes b Iustin dialog cum Tryphone Irenaeus Lîb 3. Cap. 25. Clemon Alexandr lib. 1. stroÌ„ Epiphanius de mâ—ns et Ponditbus Euseb preparat lib. 8. ca. 1. Some haue beene of Opinion that they Translated all the Bible but it is more likely to many thâ— c Hieron in questionibus Hebraicis in Cap. 5 Ezechielis et in Cap. 2 Michiae Iosephi praefat in Antiquit. et lib. 12. Antiquit. Cap. 13. Philo. de â—â—â—a Mosis 〈◊〉 2. they Translated but the fiue Bookes that is Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers and Deuteronomy which they call the Pentaleucke which â— the Law of Moses for Aristeus speakes but of the Law of Moses and it is not likely that they touched the Bookes Historicall nor the Prophets for if it had beene so Aristeus would not thereof haue beene silent Moreouer that which they Translated was finished in the space of 72. dayes which is about two Moneths and a halfe and that 's a Time too small and therefore impossible to Translate all the Old Testament Neuerthelesse I am not ignorant that there was a Turning of other Bookes of the Bible that goe by the Name of the Seuenty two Interpreters But I am perswaded that they were not then done in Aegypt vnlesse that after they were returned to Hierusalem they Translated the rest of the Holy Bookes although both in that and other Opinions I submit mee to the deliberation of the Church from which I will not stray But howeuer this Translation was manifestly Miraculous which is sufficiently shewed by that our Lord Iesus Christ and his Apostles in Alegations of the Law vseth the Version of these Seuentie two Interpretors I haue spoken these few words of Aristeus to the end the Reader shall not thinke that this is that Aristeus Proconensis that could bee invisible when hee listed making folkes beleeue that hee could dye and rise againe when hee would of whom speakes Suidas Herodotus Pliny and Plutarch in the life of Romulus 3. Of ELEAZER the Great Pontiffe of the Iewes ELEAZER of whom Aristeus makes mention was brother of Simon surnamed the Iust Hee after the decease of his Brother Simon in the yeere of the raigne of Ptolomy Ptolomeus Laegus first of that Name 35. was made Chiefe of the Synagogue of the Iewes by reason that Onias Sonne of Simon his Brother was vncapable of
ordayning that from our Money a iust ransome should bee payed to all those that held them Prisoners valuing at a certayne price and summe for euery head of them with desire to giue order by reason and to remit them into good estate and tranquillity whom the Impetuosity Cruelty and Disorder of Warre had disturb'd and diuerted from Right and Equity In which wee esteeme to haue done a good and holy deede as a worke yeelding thankes to the Great GOD for all his great benefits receiued from him wee make him this Offering for hauing adorned and celebrated before all the World this our Kingdome with a most remarkable Peace Tranquility and notable Glory And those others which had beene Slaues and Bondmen in our Army wee haue ordayned Souldiers in the Company and them who haue beene found more recommendable in Faith and Fidelity wee haue made them Chiefes and most aduanced in our Court. Further because we desire those and all others of the Nation spread and scattered through the Vniuerse to bee thankefull to our Fauours wee haue deliberated to make that your Law which is Written in Hebrew Letters should bee Translated into the Greeke Language and that our Royall Library bee adorned therewith as it is with other Books you shall doe well then as a thing to vs very agreeable and correspondent to our Designe and Intention if you elect out of euery Tribe or Line of your Nation sixe of the most Ancient Personages and those shall bee found of the best breeding and sufficiency and most Authorised in the Seruice of the Law and haue the best Style in Writing to make for vs this Translation for so shall the Verity thereof bee best and cafiliest drawne if the Company of the Interpreters bee men of mature Iudgement and well exercised in the Law well waighing that to effect well and worthily such an Interpretation and Translation it is needefull there be Solicitude curious Study and Meditation which may bee found in the Many see more then one onely consideration of many who are more sharpe more subtile and more cleare-seeing then of one alone Moreouer wee shall esteeme that by th' accomplishment of so great a Worke there will redound to vs great Honour and Glory For this cause therefore wee haue sent vnto you Andrea Chiefe of the Guarde belonging to our Person and Aristeus men of Honorable place in our Court hauing Commission from our part to present you with Iewels for your Sacrifices and for other vses an Hundred Talents of Siluer Besides heerein you shall doe vs contentable pleasure and courtesie resenting Amitie if you haue neede of any thing to require it of vs for wee will not fayle to accomplish and accommodate you therwith immediately To this Epistle Eleazar made Answere in these words ELIAZER Pontiffe to King PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS our most illustrious Friend IF you are well Sir and the Queene Arsinöe and my Lady your Sister and your Children my Lords praysed be God for health is a thing to be desired and thanked for as a due vnto him which is the Giuer thereof As for vs wee are in good prosperity also lauded be the Giuer Wee haue receiued your Letters which brought vnto Vs great Contentment by reason of your Counsell Enterprise and Designe as also for the loue and good will you beare to vs. Hauing receiued them wee made a great Assembly of the People to whom by a long Discourse hauing made knowne your Liberality towards our Nation and demonstration of your Presents and Oblations to the end they should vnderstand your holy affection and Piety towards our God Shewing publickely the twenty Vessels and Viols of Golde the thirty of siluer which we haue sent the fiue cuppes of Gold with the Table of proportion and the hundred Talents of siluer for the prouision and re-eadying of the victimes and other Vses requisite to the Sacrificers Which Iewells were to vs presented by Andrea one of our Princes and Aristeus Persons truely worthy of note both in corporall beauty and excellency of Behauiour and Condition as also rare Knowledge briefely Lords worthy in all things of your Conuersation and Iustice by whom wee haue beene fully informed of your will and intention according with the Tenor of your Letter Wherefore wee will wholy put our selues into endeauour to accomplish your desire For although it be a difficult thing to well bring to perfect effect yet for the Times to come it will be an Argument of our great Confederation and Amity For you haue obliged our Citizens with a great and as it were an inestimable Benificence Whereupon wee haue offered to GOD the Sacrifice of Thankesgiuing for You your Sister Children and Friends and the whole multitude of people hath prayed to GOD for your Prosperity and that it will please him to addresse your affection in all your Acts and that GOD the Ruler of all things will make your Realme to flourish and increase in Peace and Glory And that the Translation of the Sacred Law may redound vnto your Vtility and Profite After these Sacrifices were accomplished all the People being to 〈…〉 wee haue chosen the persons 〈…〉 sort and men of honor and of good life and Report beeing sixe of euery Tribe or Line which we haue sent to you with the Holy Law which was left to vs by the Inspired Writer Moses Be it your pleasure Sir to returne them vs after the Translation of the Bookes shal be accomplished These are the Names of those which were chosen from all the Lines and Tribes of the Iewes for to go into Aegypt to make the first Translation of the Holy Bible or Law of MOSES Of the first Tribe IOsephus Ezechias Zacharias Ioannes Ezechias Heliseus Of the second Iudas Simon Somoâ—lus Adeus Mathias Eschâ—â—ias Of the third Neemias Iosephus Theodosius Baseas Ornias Dacis Of the fourth Ionathas Auxeus Heliseus Annanias Chebrias Sacheus Of the fifth Iasacus Iacobus Iesus Cabateus Simon Leuis Of the sixth Iudas Iosephus Simon Zacharias Somelns Selemias Of the seauenth Sabbateus Iason Iesus Theodotus Ioannes Ionathas The eighth Theodosius Iason Iesus Theodotus Ioannes Ionathas The ninth Theophilus Abrahamus Arsamus Iason Endemias Danielus The tenth Hieremias Eleazarus Zacharias Baneas Heliseus Datheus The eleauenth Samuel Iosephus Iudas Ioathes Chabel Desitheus The twelfth Isaelus Ioannes Theodosius Arsamenus Abiethas Ezecelus Number of all 72. Such was the answere to the Letters of the King NOw I will declare vnto you the most succinctly I possible can the beauty and Decoration of the things we found in Hierusalem being with Eleazer and those also which were sent vnto him for all was wrought with singularity of manufacture and of most exquisite beauty the King beeing therein so carefull and intentiue to performe abundantly all that was necessary for excellency of finishing the Worke that of his owne proper motion hee went and came visiting euery one of the Maister-Worke-men and Gold-smithes whom hee helde so close to their businesse
the custome of the Countrey is that when any Ambassadours arriue for any businesse they are sent about it is not permitted that they be presented to the King if they are not Ambassadours from Kings or or of Signiories and excellent Common-weales without great difficulty to haue Audience vntill thirty dayes after their Arriuall and sometime longer according as the King shall haue respect to the dâ—gnity and grâ—atnesse of those which sent them But the King â—aâ—â—ng made auoydance of those he esteemed not necessary to this Entertayment remayned in the Hall there walking vntill the Doctors were preseâ—ted vnto him to do him their Reuerence Who being introduced did their duties in deliuering the Presents sent to the King from ELEAZER â— Likewise they Presented him with diuers skins of Parchment exceeding fine smooth and delicate bound to one so the other by a binding that was fareâ— and excellent In these Skins was the DIVINE LAVV of MOSES in Letters of The deliuery of the Hâ—ly LAVV or Sacred Bookes of MOSES in Hebrevv characters to King PTOLOMY Gold and in the HEBREVV Language a thing truely admirable to looke vpon As they presented them to the King sitting in his Estate The King presently turned towards them regarding them All the one after the other and then demaunded of them the Bookes of the LAVV Then they displayed the Roules involued in these skins of Parchment or Vellame afore-sayd Which the King seriously beholding remayned as one â—auish'd a pritty space Then after adored the HOLY LAVV by seauen times saying these Words We giue you thankes my Maisters and much more him that hath sent them hither and the High GOD aboue all of whom these are the Sacred Words Then the sayde Doctors and all those who were assistant with the King shewed great tokens of ioy with plaudities and there fell teares of Ioy from the Kings eyes as wee see many times that excessiue contentments will draw teares from the Eyes especially in excellencies that are of spirituall condition and inclination Then the King commanded that the Skins and Bookes of the LAVV should be returned into their placeâ— Which done hee saluted them saying Reason will graue Sirs that first I do you Honour and Reuerence because I haue made you to come hither of which I giue you my hand to the ende I assure you that this very day shal be to me the Day that all the dayes of my life I will hold great and memorable and shal bee Celebrated euery yeare with feasting because you not only come to see me but in like sort it hapned I obtayned a Sea-fight agaynst Antigonus Wherefore wee will that this very day you reioyce your selues in Feasting with vs. Incontinently hee commanded the Princes should be inuited Amongst whom he did me the Honor to make me sit Moreouer he caused to be put foorth in full shew all the rich mooueables wherewith the Pallace Royaâ—l was in great Feasts vsed to be decked â— In like sort hee commaunded â— they should make ready Lodgings very neare to the Castle in the most sumptuousâ— manner they could And in like sort the King ordayned that the Feasts should bee readied in most Opulent and Magnificent manner could be possible And then the King commaunded Niâ—anor his Chiefe Physitian to bid Dorothea Controuler of the House as from the Will and Commaund of his Maiesty that he should and that with all dilligence deliuer all things necessary for euery one of the Doctors as well for their vse as for the adornment of their Lodgings and that without fayling as from the ordinance and commaund of the King which incontinently was accomplished with great celerity by many hands As wee see is conformable in great Citties when they prepare to make great Feasts and publicke Banqueting when there is chosen CoÌ„missaries which are ordayned to furnish euery one of that is in his charge and office The establishments of the King who assisted in care euen himselfe and his people in Truth were Nature of good Officers and Subiects not troublesome people grumlers at their paynes taking or vnwilling to their Commaunders for they furnished with all freenesse and Ioyfulnesse and with Honour all they saw requisite and necessary executing the commaunds of the King with pleasant and ioyfull countenances so was the King fully serued and freely Obayed in this and diuers other Respects For Dorothea was very liberall and Magnificent and very carefull in his charge and Office which was chiefly to haue in regard the Furnish for these graue and Reuerent persons not vsing things formerly adopted to such vses but choyse and fresh stuffes sparing nothing was in his power He assigned to euery one of them his Couch of Ease besides his Bed with fayre Ornaments as the King had Commaunded Moreouer the King would that the halfe of them should be so placed and seated at the Table that they might bee face to face agaynst him and the others here and there from his Seate Royall Forgetting nothing might any wayes do them honour or might serue and accommodate their very thoughts After the seats of the Table were well and magnificently placed and prepared for euery one the Kings commaund to Dorotheae was that all those that came from Iudeae should haue Victuals distributed and such as they desired according to the fashion of their Countrey and ordinance of their Law Neuerthelesse that they should be furnished therein abundantly as also for their Oblations Vowes and Sacrifices according to the custome of their Nation After all these Ceremonies the King prayed one of them named Eleazer the most aged of all those came with vs to make the Prayers Who as he was very Venerable being then risen from his Seate began in this manner GOD Almighty fill thee O King with all goodnesse and giue grace to thy Wife and to thy Children and that thy plenty may bee Permanâ—nâ— without alteration or change all the course of thy Life and theirs Hardly had he ended this Prayer but there rose a bruite and exclamation of ioy with a pleasant murmur and plaudite that lasted a pritty while Thus all things being disposed and prepared to jouisance all the Company betooke themselues to make great cheare and those who attended vppon the Table were very ready and dilligent to their Offices as the Controler had ordayned them Amongst those who serued at the Table were the Children of the King Custom of agypt vvas so and all the most greatest Peeres and Lords Answers of the Doctor Iewes to the Questions propounded by King PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS WHen the time came and occasion presented it selfe for Discourse the King by certaine pauses began to aske them by order and as they were plac'd at the Table according to the age of euery one to him therefore that was set most highest hee made to him this Question How he should maintaine his Kingdome whole and safe vnto the end AFter the Doctor had a little studied he answered you shall great
for his Opinion citeth not onely Iosephus who in the twelfth Booke of his Antiquities and second Chapter speaking of this Story maketh no mention of any such Diuision and Seperation into seuerall Cels but euen this present Worke of Aristeus who in the one and twentieth Chapter of this Booke speaketh plainely that they mette and conferred euery day together till the Ninth houre To reconcile these seuerall Opinions it is to be noted that of all these Fathers some onely as Iustin Martyr Iraenens Clemens Alexandrinus and Epiphanius make expresse mention of the Cels the Rest speake onely of a Miraculous Consent and Agreement of theirs about the same thing as Tertullian Chrisostome and Saint Augustine For it is not necessary that what those Fathers spake of the Miraculous Consent of the Translators should be vnderstood of their separation into seuerall Cels For it is Miraculous enough for so many men assembled together in so short time to agree all in their Opinions without Disputes and Delayes which are ordinary in a Multitude where there is such diuersity of Iudgments So that the third Opinion is not onely S. Hieromes but may bee Tertullians Chrisostomes and Saint Augustines too and the most probable and most receiued questionlesse it is of all the three For Iustin Martyr the first broacher of those Cels it was not improbable for the Iewes to perswade him those Ruines a Apud Alexandriam vestigia Cellularum se vidisse narrat Iustinus in Oratione exhortatoria ad Gentes which hee saw were the Cels wherein the Translators were inclosed because in Religious mindes the Deuotion is commonly stronger then the Iudgement And for Epiphanius it is likely hee tooke vp that of the two and two to a Cell from Report and Relation and not from his owne Reading for none besides himselfe euer made mention of such a businesse Nor is it worth obiecting that At inquiuÌ„t Epiphanius Aristeus legit et â—itat Bell. lib. â— de verbâ— Dei. ch 6. Sess At. Epiphanius that vtters this Opinion cites this Aristeus our Author whereby some would conclude that this Aristeus our Author hath eyther beene corrupted since the time of Epiphanius and that the mention of those Cels haue beene expunged Or that before Epiphanius his time the true Booke of Aristeus was neuer extant but in it it was for if they pitch vpon the first and say that Aristeus Cum Aristeus Eâ—non multo post losephus nihil tute retulerint Hieron in Praeâ—aâ— in Pent. was intire and whole in Epiphanius his time but corrupted since they are refilled out of Iosephus and Eusebius that wrote before Epiphanius that haue many things Verbatim out of Aristeus but not a sillable of those Cels. But I leaue the businesse to the Iudgement of the Reader assuring that St. Hierome esteemed Aristeus worthy of beleefe for hee hath writ these words in the Preface of the Pentateuck of Moses his Booke viz. Et nescio quis primus Author Septâ—uaginta Cellulas c. i. d. I knowâ— not who was the first that by his Dreame hath built in Alexandria 72. Cels the which were seperate and that they writ iust the same sillables for being that nether Aristeus the great Esquire of Ptolomy nor Iosephus that was long time after make any mention but say the Interpreters were assembled together in a Hall and there conferred together and Prophesied not for it is one thing to bee a Prophet and another to bee an Interpreter For in the one the spirit fore-tels things to come in the other the copious abundance of the tongue and the Knowledge translates that hee vnderstands hitherto Saint Hierome But be this difference as it it will to please Miracle-louers it greatly matters not for ceraine it is that all Graue Testimonies and Authors which haue toueht hereaâ— say there was such a Ptolomeus Philadelphus such a Library For as Philo the Iewe sayth Iesus the Sonne of Sirach one inserted into the Geneology of Christ Prince and Captain of the Children of Israel in the time of Pâ—olomeus Philadelphus King of Aegypt came to Alexandria a City of Aegypt where he gathered out of that flourishing Library his Booke of Ecclesiasticus as Bees from diuers Flowers gather sweete Honey And Strabo sayth speaking of the Beauty of the City Alexandria that Ptolomeus Philadelphus was so great a louer of Learning that he erected a Library containing 400000. Books the Fame whereof being published through the World many people of diuers Nations resorted thither to see it And how Eleazer High priest of the Iewes at the request of Pâ—olomeus sent 72. Interpreters to Translâ—te the Bible out of Hebrew into Greeke which was as Iosephus obserueth in An Abstract of the whole History out of oâ—ephus the third yeere of his Raigne before Christ 260. in recompence of which courtesie hee sent to bee dedicated in the Temple of Hierusalem a Table of Gold richly adorned with Carbuncles Smaragdes and other precious Stones Two stately Cups and Thirty Bowles of pure Gold as it appeareth in Iosephus Lib. Antiq. 12. The Academy continued there till after Christs time as you may reade Acts 6 But the Library was consumed 47. yeeres before Christ and the City greatly defaced For Iulius Caesar at that time making Warre vppon Pompey the yonger who continued with his Sister Cleopatra in this City caused the Kings Nauy to bee set on fire and the Library standing neere to it the flame tooke hold of it and burnt it downe to the ground with all that was in it and so was the end of that their Sacred Volume by this Disaster VVhereof this History which I haue done into English for your ease shewes its first passage into that place and consumption But this Story of ARISTEVS hath ouer-dured those flames Which I thus commend to your Christian View desiring pardon in that I haue noâ— done so well as I would but I haue followed my Author as neere as I could A short Discourse of the Antiquity and Dignity of the Sacred Bookes and Excellency of their inspired Writer the Prophet MOSES By the English Translator AS the true GOD is the Ancient of Dayes and Times so it pleased Him that His perpetuall HISTORIE contayned in Holy Scriptures should excell in Antiquity of time all other Histories and Writings of the World that can be found the Writings of the Pagans and Nations being all vnder these and long after and that only of MOSES the subiect of this former History contaynes the account of yeares iustly from the Creation and beginning of the World euen vnto the comming of the promised Redeemer A reckoning I say so iust and certayne that there is no such to be found For to come to the Time wherein the Prophet of GOD MOSES the first Writer of Holy Writ began to Write manifestly vnder the Lord of Heauen and Earth wee may gather and without preiudice of all that then could be done as by a passage amongst many other