of the most great and Noble Actions In which you have imployed much time which hath given me occasion now to write you things worthy and excellent and the best that I could chuse because that betwixt us I would kindle a kind Contention and Emulation of amiable Vertue for the desire to have an intelligence of things more worthy to be observed and which are the most excellent The end of ARISTEUS his History Proofs concerning this History NOW follow sundry Opinions of divers Authors Ancient and Modern concerning this Business and Translation of the Law of Moses And first an Extract from the fourth Chapter of the fifth part oâ— the several Collections of Pietrâ— Messie in which there fell saith he an admirable and miraculous hapâ— viz. How the 72 Interpreters being put severally into several Cells bâ— the Commission of the King without possible means to conferr thâ— one with the other and that afteâ— they had made so separated everâ— one his Traduction and being broughâ— all together before the King with all their Traductions nevertheleâ—â— were all found so conformable thaâ— there was not one syllable more in the one than in the other which could not be without the especial Grace and Operation of the Holy Ghost as saith Saint Augustine Ireneus and Tertullian who saith he had seen in his Time and in Alexâ—ndria the very Books written by â—he Hands of the seventy two Tranâ—lators which were in Hebrew and in Greek As much also saith Iustin the Philosopher in the Book of his Adâ—ertisements that he made to the Pagans and Gentiles where he saith that King Ptolomeus made to be built without the City of Alexandria seâ—enty two Halls to lodg severally the seventy two Traductors and there â—rovided very honourably for them â—ll of all that to them was necessaâ—â— In the which place the said â—ranslators remained without one â—eing the other untill that such â—â—eir Translations were perfectly â—â—nished And he affirmeth also â—o have seen then the Ruins and old Walls of these Buildings which were kept as Reliques and things Sacred And although Saint Hierom and Ruffinus agree not in the number oâ— the said Chambers the matter is noâ— great Seeing that according to Sainâ— Augustin and many other Authorâ— every Translator made his Translaâ—tion apart without conference witâ— the other yet all the Traductionâ— were found conform And truly however when it iâ— duely considered it appears a greaâ— Mystery and may be held for a greaâ— Miracle of this Conformity of Stylâ— and of Order to Translate a thing so long and so diverse although alâ— the Translators had been togetheâ— and that they had begun this Worâ—â— at this time For we see that it is enough for twâ— men to accord in one only poinâ— when they are to mix something toâ—gether After the Translation was finisâ—â—ed the Iews that remained in Egypâ— and which had been versed in their Law recommended to the King this Holy Writing wherewith the King was right well content And for certain according to Iosephus and Eusebius King Ptolomy was astonished at the Holy Scriptures and ravishingly taken with their Mysteries That he demanded of Demetrius Phalerius who had the charge of his Library saying How comes it â—hat Lycurgus Solon and other Law-â—ivers are so silent of the Law of â—he Iews To whom Demetrius answered â—aying Sir This Law as you may â—ufficiently see comes from God so â—hat no Law-giver durst be so harâ—y to touch it or take from it any â—ract For even Theopompus was â—rucken by the Divine Hand with â—erturbation of his Sense and with â— Cardiack Passion for having a will â—o mix the Holy History of the Heâ—rews by his Inriching it with eloâ—uent Words and rhetorical Colours But after returning to God anâ— commending himself to his Mercy 〈◊〉 was revealed to him in a Dream thâ— his Disaster came upon him for so aâ—tempting to embellish and as 〈◊〉 thought to enrich the Sincerity 〈◊〉 the Holy Scriptures with drest Worâ— and trim'd Phrases and to commâ—â—nicate it so to the Pagans and Iâ—â—dels It comes also into my thought how Theodorus a Tragick Poet suâ—denly lost his sight for having takâ— one only passage of Holy Writâ— Argument of his Tragedy but â—â—â—penting him of the same and doiâ—â— Penance for his Forfeit he reâ—â—â—vered his sight as before HItherto are the Words of Pâ—â—tro Messie by the which 〈◊〉 may see the Diversity of Opinioâ— that is amongst Authors concerniâ—â— this Translation of the Law of â—â—â—ses For my self it seemeth to 〈◊〉 that Aristeus which was always pâ—â—â—sent and that had conduced to the affair in part meriteth that one do him the Honour to give belief to his History although some Doctors â—herein vary A short Discourse of the Antiquity and Dignity of the Sacred Books 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 perpetual History contained 〈◊〉 Holy Scriptures should excell in Antiâ—uity of Time all other Histories and â—ritings of the World that can be â—â—und the Writings of the Pagans and â—ations being all under these and long â—â—ter and that only of Moses the Subâ—â—ct of this former History contains the â—ccount of years justly from the Creation and beginning of the World even unto the coming of the promised Redeemer A reckoning I say so just and certain 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 under the Lord of Heaven and Earth we may gather and without prejudice of all that then could be done as by a Passage amongst many other places we read of in the seventeenth Chapter of the Book of Exodus where it is said God Commanded him to write and that in the same year the People of Israel issued ouâ— of Egypt which was from the Creation of the World 2513. Upon which wâ— may advertise our selves that the yearâ— are calculated according to Verity of the said Scriptures by the faithful Servantâ— of God which have happily travelled therein And therefore we need not rest upoâ— the Calculation of Histories Annals and humane Chronicles or other Writerâ— that have not intirely followed Holy Scriptures who are discordant amongsâ— themselves and many times directly opposite to one anothers times Therefore if we diligently search all Antiquities and Writings of men of all Nations that have any appearance of certain time wherein those Writings were made and after confer those times with the things recited and inregistred by the Holy Prophet Moses and the time wherein he writ them we shall see manifestly â—he Excellency and Antiquity that he is herein above all men For the Fables and Disguisements of prophane Poets Greeks and Latines which all came a long time after Moses Amongst them I say we shall see no other but maniâ—est Dreams Lyes and amongst other things notable some Corruptions of
Now if we will learâ—h all the Histories of all the Nations of the World of whom the Writings are arrived to our Age the most Ancient time of which they make mention shall be of their antient Destruction of Troy by the Greeks The History whereof hath been written by Dictis of the Isle of Creet which is the best Testimony they have for the present and since by Homer and many others And from this Destruction Diodorus Siculus renowned amongst the Historians began his Books now the same according with the common Judgment and Calculation of knowing men comes only to be about 358 years before the building of Rome the same time then falls to be in the sixteenth year of the Government of Elon Judge of the People of Israel mentioned in the Book of Iudges And the same was 316 years before the first Olympiade the reckoning of the Annals of the Greeks So then the said Destruction of Troy falls to be only under the year of the World 2838. VVhen therefore we shall give consent that their Writings the most certain whose Narrations we may best give Credit unto Yet the Prophet Moses shall be found much more Ancient then all the Writers of the World what Nation soever though they are in great number and of whom we see yet the old Books in these last times in their proper Tongues And that he hath put his hand to the Pen and began to write his Divine Revelations of the Creation and Conduct of the World even to his time and his sacred History and Prophesies touching the Church of God shall at least be 325 years before all other Writers of whom there is any mention or news in the World that is to say in the year of the World 2513. Whereupon we note even to this present against all those prophane Mockers that have disgorged that enormous Blasphemy amongst others that the World is eternal and of it self which if it were so as they dream and that it had no such beginning as is written by Moses they might find then by all and in all Languages many Histories of infinite times and many Chronicles of many Ages and of old times that have preceded Moses in the account of years But we see that there is no such and that the holy Bible is found even in the middle amongst all sorts of Enemies that strive to destroy lose abolish burn and extermine from the World the Books of it and for all thereto they had so long time yet nevertheless they never could nor ever shall For we see the said Bible yet in his proper Writing and Language and of all others of what Nation soever the most celebrated and renowned and if they could find any History which had been written before Moses was born into the World yet shall it contain their Time and Composition with more years and ages as we can gather from the holy Scriptures even to this present year 1633 since the Nativity of Christ. The which account of times past from the Creation unto this present year shall come to amount to 5563 years but such Histories neither can be found nor ever were But for Moses and his faithful Writings even prophane Authors and Histories of the Gentiles themselves have been even as it were divinely constrained to bear Testimony maugre their Calumnies Lyes Dreams and Disguisings through and by the invincible force of Truth And so they have served for Certificates to all Nations of the venerable and well known Antiquity of him and his Holy Writs For some of them have noted and writ thus as a thing notorious of their times to wit That in the East parts and of Syria it self there had been an Abraham an Israel and even a Ioseph who say they was a Son of the said Israel sold by his Brethren and led into Egypt Then how he was received into the Court and held very dearly with the King to whom he foretold the grievous and great Famin so as without the Divine Counsel by him given whereupon the admonished King gathered up and made Reservation of Corn before the time of the said Famin Egypt had perished And finally how his Successor Moses and all his People issued out of Egypt came to Mount Sinai how they consecrated the Seventh day for their Sabboth or resting day But I will leave this Discourse though diversified from a spark of Truth that these Historians have mixed with their own Devices as prophane and in which they were poorly advertised and deceived by the subtilty of Satan as we may well know by conferring their Writings with the Holy Bible And be it that these Scoffers of God and his Holy Word dare be so bold to say and affirm that Moses and his have suppressed and abolished all Precedent Histories making their Writings to be before all others thereby to Authorize them the better yet we will leave those their Calumnies to the Judgment of any of sound Sense and Understanding If that could be or can have any place or shadow of belief amongst men of sound Judgment or reasonable Discourse For if they will put into mature Consideration the small means and contemptible Quality in the World of these poor Israelites but Shepherds and breeders of Cattel and which is worse People exposed to the Oppressions and hard Servitude under their puissant Enemies and evil disposed Neighbours Then who shall make comparison of them with great Kings and People of the Earth Babylonians Aegyptians Syrians Romans and other Potentates who with all their Authority their Edicts Forces and Armies had never power to abolish the Holy Books written simply by our poor Shepheards when they could not conserve their Royal Libraries favoured of all the World Truly this may well put to the blush these wiselings that shew themselves fools in so speaking and discoursing without Discourse and will Judge of things without inquiry Now for the Integrity of Moses for us Christians we are sufficiently cleared and satisfied by the Authority of the Holy Spirit of God who hath given excellent Testimony by all the Scriptures both in the Old and New Testament of his Original and Lineage being descended from the latter Levi Nephew of the Holy Patriarch Abraham Also of his miraculous Conservation and Deliverance from Death and Waters from whence he was drawn forth and then had that name of Moses in their Language Then his Royal Education and Breeding his Love to his afflicted People and his Magnanimity to despise humane Greatness in preferring the just cause and sufferance of Christ the Redeemer then look'd for before all the Regal Estate and great Treasure of Aegypt Moreover his sufferance long and bitter for the defence of Right and Equity and for the Deliverance of the poor afflicted His Divine calling to the Charge and Government of his People his Patience Gentleness and Perseverance with such Faithfulness in the difficult Execution of this weighty Charge and the singular gift of Prophecy and of his Divine
second of that Name Surnamed Philadelphus King of Aegypt of Phaenicia and of Cypres Son of the first Ptolomeus Son of Lagus began his Reign in the 271 year before the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. This Ptolomeus Philadelphus was endoctrined in the Science of good Letters by Strabo the Peripatetick in which he became so excellent that he was esteemed one of the most accomplish'd Princes of his Time but that which was in him the most admirable was the Bounty Debonarity Sweetness and Gentleness of his Spirit accommodated with the Manners and Complexions of all worthy and deserving Persons By this means he entred so far and before in the Grace of all the World that every one in his thought wish'd he were King And his Father knowing his right of Succession was to be so and rejoycing in his hopes of him made him to be crowned King and devested himself of all Authority without reserving any Power Right or Preheminence to himself only a Superintendency over the Guard of the King his Son glorifying to be Father of such a King For the admiration he had of his high Vertues kindled and gave occasion between them both of a most kind contention in mutual Offices the Son yielding to the Father and the Father to the Son in all and by all through instinct of Devotion and Piety so they gave lively touches one to the other in all reduceable fitting Offices which was cause that the People conceived a great Fidelity and Amity towards them so as it seemed even the Divine Providence prepared this Noble Spirit to introduce that great good amongst Humanes as to make them participants of the Laws and Divine Illuminations wherewith God had favoured the People of the Iews above all the Nations of the World And it seemeth that even then his Almightiness made a preparative for the Vocation of the Ethnicks and Gentiles by Communication so of his holy Law whereof Ptolomy was the ordained Minister to call the Seventy Interpreters into Aegypt to translate into the Greek Language which then was the most used and vulgar through the whole Universe So as I am amazed at some fanatical Spirits that hinder us from the Knowledge of God in not giving his Word in the Language of the People wheresoever as is appertaining to every one in Regard of Salvation I would ask those men what Language spake those Dames of Rome Paula Eustochina Melania Susanna Fabiola Demetria Furia Flavia Blesilla and others For the institution of whom Saint Hierom translated many Books of Holy Scriptures out of strange Tongues into Latin which was the natural Language of the said Ladies I would also know who was more Wise or better inspired then St. Hierom Further it seems they either are or would seem to be ignorant of the Institution of the Emperour Iustinian who ordained that those who sung in the Temples that they should sing high and so intelligible that all the People might understand them But to return to Ptolomy He undertook to erect a Library in the Capital City of his Realm Alexandria the Charge whereof he gave to Demetrius Phalerius a Prince and an Athenian Philosopher who erected it so sumptuously that there was not the like in all the World and it lasted until the first War of the Romans against the Alexandrians This King had to Wife Arsinoe to whom he caused a Statue to be raised in height four Cubits of one entire Stone call'd a Topaz the which had been given to Bernice the Mother of Ptolomy by a Prince named Philemon 2. Of Aristeus the Author of this History ARISTEVS the near Kinsman and Friend of King Ptolomeus Philadelphus is named by St. Hierom Ptolomei Hyperaspistes the Shield of the King or he that defends the King with his Shield or Bearer of the Shield Royal which seems to me that he held some such place about the King his Master as we call at this Day the Great Esquire of the Kings Body he was the Principal Sollicitor for the Liberty of the Iews that then were held Slaves throughout all the Dominions of Ptolomy for he made the first request for them and obtained it And for this cause he was sent Ambassadour with Andrea Prince of the Guards belonging to the King unto Hierusalem to deal with the High-Priest Eleazar who sent to the King Ptolomeus six Doctors of every Tribe to go on with the Translation and Version of the Holy Books of Moses He writ diligently his Voyage where he shews openly how and by what course those seventy two Interpreters behaved themselves in the said Books Some have been of Opinion that they Translated all the Bible but it is more likely to many that they Translated but the five Books that is Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy which they call the Pentateuck which is the Law of Moses for Aristeus speaks but of the Law of Moses and it is not likely that they touched the Books Historical nor the Prophets for if it had been so Aristeus would not have been silent thereof Moreover that which they Translated was finished in the space of seventy two dayes which is about two Months and a half and that 's a Time too small and therefore impossible to Translate all the Old Testament Nevertheless I am not ignorant that there was a turning of other Books of the Bible that go by the name of the seventy two Interpreters But I am perswaded that they were not then done in Egypt unless that after they were returned to Hierusalem they Translated the rest of the Holy Books although both in that and other Opinions I submit me to the deliberation of the Church from which I will not stray But however this Translation was manifestly Miraculous which is sufficiently shewed by that our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles in Allegations of the Law use the Version of these seventy two Interpreters I have spoken these few Words of Aristeus to the end the Reader shall not think that this is that Aristeus Proconensis that could be invisible when he listed making folks believe that he could dye and rise again when he would of whom speaks Suidas Herodotus Pliny and Plutarch in the Life of Romulus 3. Of Eleazer the High-Priest of the Jews ELeazar of whom Aristeus makes mention was brother of Simon surnamed the Just He after the decease of his Brother Simon in the year of the reign of Ptolomy first of that Name 35. was made chief of the Synagogue of the Iews by reason that Onias Son of Simon his Brother was uncapable of succeeding in his Father's Place as being under age This Eleazar therefore received the Honour that in his Time the Holy Translation of the Law was made by the seventy two Doctors that he seâ—t to Ptolomeus second of that Name King of Egypt as Aristeus hath left by Writing 4. Of Demetrius Phalerius DEmetrius Phalerius was an Athenian Orator and Philosopher as Cicero notes in the
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF THE Septuagint Written in Greek by ARISTEVS near two thousand years ago BEING His Voyage to Ierusalem as Ambassadour from Ptolomaeus Philadelphus unto Eleazar then High Priest of the Iews concerning the First Translation of the HOLY BIBLE by the Seventy two Interpreters With many other remarkable Circumstances no where else to be found First English'd from the Greek by the Learned and Reverend Dr. Iohn Done late Dean of St. Pauls Now Revised and very much Corrected from the Original London Printed for W. Hensman and Tho. Fox Booksellers in Westminster-Hall 1685. To the Reader ALthough Time and Death from our Cradles to our Graves pursue us swiftly and according to the Almighties Ordinance overtake and seize upon our frail and earthly parts upon some sooner upon others later yet Excellent Acts like strong Eagles break from their seizure and soar above them in so sublime a pitch as neither Time with all his Power and rusty Powder with which he blots and rubs out Brass and Marble can quite obscure or extinguish them neither Death close in his dark-gaping Mouth the Grave their Nobleness Witness this small yet ancient History which this last Summer I made part of my Exercise to put into an English Habit. That the Story is ancient I may well say for it is 1900 years since Aristeus Writ it to his Brother Philocrates which Aristeus St. Hierom in his Epistle to the Pentateuk of the Bible says was Hyperaspistes to Ptolomeus Philadelphus King of Egypt Syria Phenicia and Cilicia and son of Ptolomeus Lagus one of the great Captains of Alexander Magnus that divided his Conquests the World amongst them This Ptolomeus Philadelphus was a most accomplish'd young Gentleman vertuously disposed and so great a lover of Learning as he had accumulated into his Library according to some Authors 1800000 Volumes Printing being not then risen in our Hemisphere was by the said Aristeus a most Noble Person and a great friend of the then captive Iews as an Instrument of God for the Liberty and Freedom of them then his People practised with Demetrius Phalerius to tell the King that his so abundant Library was but poor because it wanted the Book of Books the sacred Volume of God which we call the Holy Bible The King vertuously covetous thereof demanded how he should best acquire it Aristeus waiting this desired Occasion proportioned his advice that he should first set all the Captived Iews not only in Egypt but also in Syria c. at free Liberty and send Ambassadors and Presents to Eleazar their High Priest and Pontiff The King willingly consents thereto as to the Musick of his desires and prepares most rich Presents as a Table of Massie Gold embellish'd with precious Stones Cups of Gold and Silver likewise adorned sets at freedom the Captived by publick Edict and sends as Ambassadours Aristeus and Andrea Prince and great Captain of the Guard of his Person with these Gifts and divers Talents of Gold and Silver They go deliver his Letters of Request and Commends have gracious entertainment return with the 72 Interpreters Iews Letters and also Eleazars Presents to the King and in especial with the Sacred Volume and Word of God The good King adores the Books feasts the Bringers who after fall to the Business and Translated it out of the Hebrew into the Greek the common learned Language of those Times made famous by the Sword of Alexander And this in brief is the effect of this Venerable History which is by me thus made yours And though I seem to Anticipate thus to you yet it is as nothing for in it self as you may further see it is Elaborately and Eloquently Written by the said Aristeus and let no man wonder too much thereat as thinking our Times excell theirs in Eloquence No For who ever exceeded Demostenes the Greek or Cicero the Latin therein Lastly to speak the Praise of History Libri sunt vasa memoriae and worthy Historical Books have in them a kind of Divine Permanency and as Eminent Persons should affect Noble Actions so ought they to cherish the Registers as their Honourers For hath not Plutarch made those Gyant Heroes as Theseus Romulus Alexander Iulius Caesar and the rest yet live and himself more praisfully longer then them all So as an ignorant swaggering Fellow threatned his Adversary to kill him if he had as many lives as Plutarch â— Did not Alexander sigh for another Homer Lastly If I have in honour of the History like one holding a lighted Taper to the clear Noâ—â—â—shining Sun made an Appendix shewing the Antiquity and Dignity of the Books by the said Sâ—â—tuagint Translated and the Excelleâ—â—y of their inspired Writer Moses and have therein been too prolixious pardon me because of the Profundity and Worthiness of the matter So I referr you to that and the rest and so rest Yours Iohn Done The Elenchus or Contents of the following Book CHaracters of the Persons that were herein Aiders imploying and imployed p. 1 Aristeus to his Brother Philocrates p. 1. The Discourse that Aristeus held with King Ptolomy for the deliverance of the Jews p. 10. The Request of Demetrius Phalerius to King Ptolomy p. 20â— Tenour of the Letter of King Ptolomy to Eleazar High-Priest of Jerusalem p. 23. Eleazar High-Priest to King Ptolomy our most Illustrious Friend p. 27. The Names of those which were chosen of all the Lines and Tribes of the Jews to go into Aegypt for the Translation of the Law of Moses p. 30. Of the Presents sent to Eleazar High-Priest of the Jews by King Ptolomeus Philadelphus p. 33. Of the Vessels Cups and Viols of Gold p. 43. Of the City of Hierusalem and Region thereabouts as it was 260. years before the Birth of our Saviour p. 49. Of the Priests p. 53. Of the High-Priest Eleazar p. 54. Of the Fortress or Castle of Hierusalem p. 56. Yet more of the Town p. 58. Of the Region about Hierusalem and of the Policy of the Countrey-people or Pesants p. 60. What manner of men the Translators of the Law were p. 66. Of the Answers made by Eleazar upon certain points of the Law of Moses p. 70. Return of the Ambassadors into Alexandria with the Jewish Doctors and how the King adored the Holy Law seven times with Tears in his Eyes p. 88. Answers of the Jewish Doctors to Questions propounded by King Ptolomeus Philadelphus from p. 96. to 154. The means used by the 72 Doctors in their interpreting the Law p. 159. A Discourse in way of Apology concerning the truth of this Story Also divers Opinions of both Ancient and Modern Authorities and Fathers concerning the manner of the Translation p. 170. Lasty an Appendix in Honour of this Ancient and Famous History discoursing the Antiquity and Dignity of the Books and the excellency of their inspired Writer Moses p. 175. Certain Praecognita or Characters of the chief Persons mentioned in the ensuing History 1. Of Ptolomeus Philadelphus PTolomeus
men of War of the said Countrey under their power and all the Province reduced to obedience Intending then to do and render Right to every one Universally and especially to those who receive injury from the unjust Power of others Moreover to search diligently and particularly into all things that concern Right and Equity and to prefer Piety and Religion before all things Our Will and Pleasure is that all Iews whatsoever being bond and Slaves within this Realm in what part soever they be found be it in the Colonies or elsewhere or be it in whatsoever manner they were brought into our Kingdom shall be Delivered Enfranchised and set at Liberty for we are pleased it shall be so Done And to the end that no Person shall be interessed or recâ—ive dammage we Command that three days after the Publication of this present Edict every one whom it doth concern shall bring before us their Requests containing the number of heads that every one hath set at Liberty For so it pleaseth us to have it for the profit of Us and our Kingdom Declaring further that the Goods of those who are not obedient to this our Edict shall be forfeited and Confiscate And we give liberty to whosoever will to accuse and inform against their Contumacy or Contempt of our Will and Pleasure This Edict being written compleated and brought to the King to know if his pleasure were it should be Published in this manner or that he would Correct and so Approve it When he perceived that these words viz. And those that before and since had been led prisoners were wanting he inserted them out of his Goodness and Bounty He then made the of money presently to be doubled to his Treasurer and Officers of his Finances Which Distribution was dispatched in the space of seven days And there was defrayed well near six hundred and sixty thousand Talents for there were found a great number of Children with their mothers who were all set at Liberty and for every head of theirs was payed by the Kings Command twenty Drachms Which was discharged by the King to his great Content and Satisfaction After all was done he commanded Demetrius by course of estate to deliver him the number of the Hebrew Volumes For with these Kings it is in use to comprise all things in Edicts and to signifie nothing be it never so small a business without Writing as well for greater State and Ceremony as also that Belief may more certainly be given thereto Therefore to the end you may as it were have all before your Eyes â— will here insert the Tenour and Copy of the Request made to the King by Demetrius and the Epistles which were sent for those that were franchis'd so as you may see the number and of what Quality they were and according to the Trades and Professions by which they were distinguisht and how they were Registred and inrolled The Copy of Demetrius his Request to the King was this The Request of Demetrius Phalerius to the King Ptolomeus Philadelphus GReat Sir Since it hath pleased you to give me Command to search in all places for all manner of Books to replenish and adorn your Library I have thought it fit and necessary that we procure and get the Books of the Iewish Laws and some others that we are yet wanting and unfurnish'd of and because the said Books of the Iews are Written in Hebrew Characters peculiar and best known to the Iews alone and therefore not yet fallen into your Royal hands nevertheless that they may be gained and ranked amongst your other Volumes partly for the Wisdom contained therein partly for their Sublimity and Divine height of matter of which Poets and Historians make often mention as very profitable to instruct to good manners to form and address the Republick into the fairest shape of Government by reason of the Dignity of men therein mentioned the Dignity of matters therein treated as Hecateus Abderita plainly testifieth These things seriously considered Great King it would do well may it please you to write to Ierusalem and to the High Priest there that he would send you Six men of every Tribe or Line and that they be such as are of good Parts and Quality of venerable Age best acquainted and Vers'd in their own Law that being all able Translators they may with Judgment choicely select and cull that course of Expression which may be of a piece and Harmoniously agreeing amongst themselves And this done great Sir shall hope you may accomplish a course worthy of so excellent a Design and at last suiting well with with your Desire The King having read this Request ordered Letters should be drawn and sent to Eleazar the High Preist about this matter In which were signified to him the Deliverance oâ— the Iews from their Captivityâ— With the Letter he ordained also to be made ready Cups Vessels anâ— a Table of pure Gold with fifty Taâ—lents of Gold and seventy of Silâ—ver for Oblations there to be offered with many precious Jewels and stoneâ— of very great value Commandâ—ing the Gold-smiths to finish thesâ— things with all speed and the moneâ— in Talents for the Oblations to bâ— raised forthwith And because yoâ— shall at large understand the King alacrity in this Affair I send yoâ— here the Copy of the Letter thâ— King Writ whereof the Tenour iâ— as followeth King Ptolomeus Philadelphus to Eleazer High Priest of the Jews COnsidering the great Multitude of Iews inhabiting within our Territories of whom some have been led from Ierusalem in the times when the Persians had the Power and others followed our deceased most honourable Lord and Father being joyned with him whereof many were received into his pay and ranked as his Souldiers and Military Men the most faithful and trusty of which were established in the strongest Forts for Garrisons by that means to curb the insolences of the Aegyptians We since being come to the Crown and having singular Inclinations to exercise Liberality and Munificence towards all Persons and particularly to the Citizens have infranchised and set at Liberty more than a hundred thousand ordaining that out of our Money a just ransome should be payed to all those that held them Prisoners valuing every head at a certain rate as desiring to govern with Reason and to restore them to Peace and tranquillity whom the Impetuosity Cruelty and Disorder of War hath disturb'd and diverted from Right and Equity In which we think to have done a good and pious act and a work grateful to the great God for all the great favours received of his hands making him this Offering for having signalized above all the world this our Kingdom with a most flourishing Peace Tranquillity and eminent Renown And such others as have been Slaves and Bondmen in our Army we have appointed Souldiers in our Militia and those that have been found more worthy for their Faith and Fidelity we have made Commanders and preferred them to our Court.
Further because it is our desire they and all others of their Nation spread and scattered throughout the Universe may be thankful for our favours we have resolved to cause your Law Written in Hebrew Letters to be Translated into the Greek Language and that our Royal Library be adorned therewith as it is with other Books you will do well then as a thing very agreeable to us and answering our Design and Intention if you elect out of every Tribe or Line of your Nation six of the most Aged Persons and such as shall be found of the best Breeding and Sufficience and of greatest Authority in the Service of the Law and that have the best Style in Writing to make this Translation for so will the Truth thereof be better and more easily gathered if the Set of Interpreters be men of mature Judgement and well exercised in the Law well weighing that to effect well and worthily such an Interpretation and Translation it is needful there should be Pains curious Study and Reflection which may be found in the endeavours of Many who are more sharp more subtile and more discerning than One alone Moreover we judge that by the accomplishing so great a work there will redound to us great Honour and Glory For this cause therefore we have sent unto you Andrea Captain of the Guard and Aristeus men of Honourable place in our Court who have Commission on our part to present you with Jewels for your sacrifices and an Hundred Talents of Silver for other uses Herein you will give us great content and pleasure and express a courtesie resenting Amity if you have need of any thing to require it for we will not fail to furnish and accommodate you therewith immediately To which Epistle Eleazar answered as follows Eleazar the High Priest to King Ptolomeus Philadelphus our most illustrious Friend IF you are well Sir and the Queen Arsinoe and my Lady your Sister and my Lords your Children God be praised for health is a thing to be desired and acknowledged as due unto him who is Giver thereof As for us we are in good prosperity praised be the Giver We have received your Letters which brought us great Content by reason of your Counsel Enterprise and Design as also for the love and good will you bear us Having received them we made a great Assembly of the People to whom in a long Discourse we have made known your Liberality towards our Nation and exposed to view your Presents and Oblations to the end they should understand your holy Affection and Piety towards our God Shewing publickly the twenty Vessels and Viols of Gold the thirty of Silver which you have sent the five cups of Gold with the Table of proportion and the hundred Talents of Silver to be employed for the Victims and other uses requisite to the Priests Which Jewels were to us presented by Andrea one of your Princes and Aristeus Persons truly worthy of note both for external beauty and excellency of Behaviour and condition as also rare Knowledge briefly Lords worthy in all things of your Conversation and Justice by whom we have been fully informed of your will and intention agreeing with the Tenour of your Letters Wherefore we will wholly set our selves to endeavour to accomplish your desire For although it be a difficult thing to bring well to perfect effect yet for the Times to come it will be an Argument of our great Confederation and Amity For you have obliged our Citizens with a great and as it were an in inestimable Beneficence Whereupon we have offered to God the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving 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 address your affection in all your Acts and that God the Ruler of all things will make your Realm to flourish and increase in Peace and Glory And that the Translation of the Sacred Law may redound unto your Profit and Advantage After these Sacrifices were accomplished all the People being together we chose Persons of better Rank and men of Honour and of good Life and Report being Six of every Tribe or Line which we have sent to you with the Holy Law which was left us by the Inspired Writer Moses Be it your pleasure Sir to return them us after the Translation of the Books shall be compleated These are the Names of those that were chosen from all the Lines and Tribes of the Jews to go to Aegypt to make the first Translation of the Holy Bible or Law of Moses Of the first Tribe JOsephus Ezechias Zacharias Ioannes Ezechias Heliseus Of the second Iudas Simon Somoelus Adeus Mathias Eschemias Of the third Nehemias 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 Somelus Selemias Of the seventh Sabbatens 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 Helisius Datheus The eleventh Samuel Iosephus Iudas Ioathes Chabel Desitheus The twelfth Isaelus Ioannes Theodosius Arsamenus Abiethas Ezecelus Number of all 72. Such was the Answer to the Letters of the King NOw I will declare to you the most succinctly I can possible the beauty and workmanship of the things we found in Ierusalem being with Eleazar and those also which were sent to him for all was wrought with singular Art and of most exquisite beauty the King being therein so careful and intent to perâ—orm abundantly all that was necessary for finishing so extraordinary Work that of his own proper motion he went and came visiting every one of the Master-workmen and Goldsmiths whom he kept so close to their business that he permitted them no idle time for Sport or Debauches Of the Presents sent unto Eleazer Chief Priest of the Jews by King Ptolomeus Philadelphus And first of the Table of Gold IT behoveth then that first we describe the Table for it was a work of admirable lustre The King desiring to shew therein a Master-piece of Work wherefore he demanded the measure and dimension of the Table which was in the Temple of Ierusalem and the ornaments of the same When he knew the measure he asked if they would receive a greater And being answered by some of the Priests and others if there where no let a greater might have place there The King then replyed that hâ— intended to give one five times bigger than that was there provided that might not be inconvenient for the Priests by its disproportionable quantity Further consideration ought not only to be had of the Receit and Capacity of the Place but also of its Accommodation to the Sacrifices thereon to be prepared and that he was not without consideration that the Iews had not made
Great King as one may perceive in that God hath been pleased to send you Prosperity and Happiness in all your Affairs To the other The five and Sixtieth Question Which is most profitable for the People either to choose over them a King from a private Person or to obey a King that was Son to a King The Resolution THE most profitable to the People is that which is most agreeable with Nature For although that some Kings Sons be sometimes Oppressors of the People yet those which from private Persons come to be exalted to such Sublimity and Greatness because they have experienced Poverty and endured Calamities and laborious Travels of private Persons they are more cruel then bloody Tyrants and Rule their Subjects by force and intolerable Violence Wherefore the Ordinance received and accustomed and the common fashion of doing is much more sure and far better for Government that it come from the King by Succession from Father to Son as it is with you Worthy and Great King for your Greatness and Excellency consisteth not so much in Honours Glory and great Domination as in Clemency and Benignity The which by a Gift from God draweth and attracteth the Hearts of all Persons to love you The King accepted this Answer with Praise and turn'd himself towards the last saying The six and sixtieth Question What is most profitable to a Kingdom The Resolution THat is to hold and maintain thâ— People in Peace and to givâ— order that Suits and Process of Laâ— should be immediately and withouâ— delay adjudged definitively for such things are executed when the Prince hateth the wicked and sheweth Faâ—vour and Kindness to good and hoâ—nest Men and such as be vertuous and that he esteems it a great thinâ— to have saved the Life of one of hiâ— Subjects as we have been informed you do Great King that abhorâ— all Murderers disposing and temâ—pering all by Justice In which yoâ— adorn to Eternity the Greatness oâ— your Deeds God having inspireâ— you with a Soul free from all foulâ—ness of Vice and illustrated the same with most excellent Vertue AFter these Answers there arose a great Noise of Congratulations and Applauses with an excessive joyful Acclamation and the whole Hall was full of joyful Shouts The King then commanding silence and taking his Cup invited them all to drink then addressing his Spâ—ech to the said Doctors pronounced these Words in the presence of all the Assembly I repute this day my Masters to be to me most happy by your Presences for your Answers have â—rought to me most great Profit and Instruction for the Government of my self and my Kingdom Thus all being ended he ordained â—hat to every one of the Doctors â—hould be delivered three Talents of Silver and by and by gave to every one of them a Page to wait upon â—hem at their Table So with great contentment to every one the Feast was ended with great Praise of the Kings Liberality who above all shew'd a Countenance of receiving the greatest Satisfaction and most joyful content I Have been hitherto Philocrates thus prolix in the recital of the Business which I have done for the great esteem I have had of such men and of their Wisdom marvelling at the readiness of their Answers being so pertinent to that which was proposed to them upon the sudden shewing such Elegance in their Speech as if these Questions had been long time in premeditation and that he who proposed them had thought of them long before he demanded them and yet their Answers to him were found so agreeable as if they had long before consulted together about them Wherefore it is no wonder that they seem admirable not to me only but to the Phylosophers also and to all them that were present assuring you that such things are more hard to believe than one would imagine in which I will not wonder if the Faith of the Readers be vanquished For my part what occasion have I to add Dreams or Falsities seeing that all which I have Written is to be found in the Registers of the King where it is held the greatest of Crimes to find any untruth in the least thing of the World I assure you then that this Recitation is most true containing the Discourse of all the things as they have passed in verity without mixture of any Errour for to this end that I might best know the truth I have used this Diligence to search publick Registers where we may see recited the Banquets and Feasts together with the Interrogations also of the King and the Answers which were given him and all even Word for Word from whence I have borrowed what I have here Written For you know it hath been the custom to Register and Inroul all that hath been done and said every day from the time that the King began to give Audience unto the time He went to Bed without omitting any thing that he did or was said to his Majesty A course truly very profitable and well instituted For by that means the registred Acts of the precedent day being read if any thing were omitted in what the King had said or done there might be Opportunity of amendment Therefore after I had diligently searched the Day Book of the King I have collected the same for you here by Writing as afore-said Well knowing the extraordinary great desire you have to understand all remarkable Occurrences The means used by the 72 Doctors in their Interpreting or Translating the Law THree dayes after these Feasts and Disputes were ended Demetrius conducted all these Doctors towards the Sea into an Isle and entring upon a Bank passed a Bridg which led towards the North where the place designed for this Assembly was and where they should hold their Conference for their Interpretation of the Law It was a House of Pleasant Scituation and most magnificent upon the Banks of the Sea very stately and curiously decked and trimmed where above all Conveniencies there was great silence for the tranquility of the Spirit and repose of the Understanding Moreover there was all things necessary for Life carefully provided and prepared with great convenience and ease In this place Demetrius entreated them they would dispose themselves to the Iâ—terpretation of the Law in which they began to proceed disputing and conferring together of every thing untill they came all to one general accord and consent to resolve in a true sence advisedly The which done they set down in Writing that which was by them so composed and reduced into good order the most learnedly and the most eloquently that they could by the Advice and Counsell of all they put it apart that the same might afterwards be put into the Hands of Demetrius Their Colloquies and Conferences lasted from the Morning untill nine of the Clock and so rising from these Disputes they went to take Recreation and Air for their Health after all things were sumptuously administred unto them For Dorothea who had the same
the Sacred Scriptures long before Writâ—en of which they having heard some â—â—ckling and received it as from hand to hand or drawn it from his Writings â—or heard it recounted by the Father to the Son and they from theiâ— Aâ—cestors which were the Children aâ—d Successors of the three Sons of Noah who was the second Father of humaâ—â— kind and restorer of the Nations of all the World all issuing from his Posterity after the universal Flood His three Sons as Holy Scripture hath acquainted us with where Shem Ham and Iaphet of whom are descended all the Earth And this before spoken is easily and sufficiently discovered in the Writings of the said Pagans by the proper Names of the said Children of Noah and of their Successors which of long time before these Writings and prophane Histories had been named by Moses For the Pagans testifie that the People had made of these Ancient Fathersâ— Idols and Gods As of Iaphet Iapetus they drew Iavan 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 Pronunciation came near but with alâ—eration And if we will go more high and weigh the old Times of the first Age which preceeded the Flood as we have it from that only History of Moses in the Holy Bible We shall easily perceive that the Pagan Poets and Writers have received even the Ancient Names and mingled them amongst their Fables and Dreams and drawn them from the Holy Scriptures And so it shall appear plainly that their false God Vulcan is not very hard to unmask that he was a mortal Man and one of the Sons of the other Lamech the prime Bigamist and corrupter of Marriage who descended of that accursed Race of Cain And this appears 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 he is by him called Thu-vulcain and every one any thing skill'd in the Hebrew knows that if they leave the first Letter which is servile and put to form the Name according to the manner of the Hebrews it will appear mere Vulcain for their Letter Beth B. having not a prick in him is pronounced as our v Consonant And for the name of Vulcain's Wife by Moses call'd Nehama which signifieth Fair in their Language or as speak the Latines Venusta It is a plain course to discover vain Beauty or their so much celebrated unchast and wanton Venus A goodly Race and fair Family of that accursed murtherer Cain And here may we see some of the proper Gods and Idols of the poor Pagans amongst that Anthill of such and other ill stoln Names unhandsomely fetch'd from the Holy Scriptures with and by the subtilty of the Devil to the end that a wicked Troop of execrable Gyants violent oppressors of men Thieves and Adulterous desperates shaken off and damned by the Word 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 Judgement from the knowledge of the true God at first ingraven in the Souls of men but by this counterfeit device with Posterity But to pass farther in our begun purpose touching the fabulous Writings of the Pagan Poets we shall find 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 revealed turn'd by them into Dreams and prophane Narrations As we may see in that they writ of the Creation of the World and Government of the same of the Divine vertue that sustains and interiourly nourisheth all things of the Consumption of Heaven 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 Sin All which things they might obtain and by some dark means draw from the Books of Holy Scripture and Sacred Prophets translated out of Hebrew into other Languages or understand something by means of the dispersion of the People of Israel spread through all the Provinces of the Roman Empire and through all the Quarters of the World For the Iews had for the most part leave in all Places to hold their Synagogues and to have publick Lectures of their Law and Prophets When these Poets flatterers of men turn'd all that spoken of the Person of Christ the promised Redeemer and that then was expected falsely to apply them by flattery to their Princes false Gods and Idols But let us leave all those Juglers and Lyers that durst be so prophanely bold to corrupt the pure Verity of God's Word and speak we of the Gentiles Writings how long they came after Moses and Writ since he and that even they have given Testimony to him and his Divine Writings which may at least suffice to convince all Contradictors that Moses was in Nature and before them all We understand that his reckoning is a perpetual following all the years since the Creation of the World even unto his time as it is easie to gather by his Books and his account of the Years and Lives of the first Fathers from Adam unto the Patriarch Abraham and after from his Successors as from Father to Son to wit Isaac Iacob Levi Caath Amram and then Aaron and Moses himself Children of the said Amram And that he had express charge to Write to the very last the year since the Creation of the World 2513. and of his Life the 80. Year and hath continued his Holy Stories even to the year of his Death and of the World 2553. Now since that timeâ— God hath always so provided for the advancement of his Glory and the edification of his Church that the perpetual History of her and the certain account of the years of the World hath been continued and still put in Writing by his Prophets As it is to be seen in the Holy Books that treat of and contain the Government of Ioshua and the Iudges then to Samuel and the Kings of the People unto the Transmigration into Babylon and of other Governours which have succeeded them after their return from thence And finally the Prophet Daniel hath declared the rest of the time that is The 490 years since the said Deliverance of the Jews and return from Babylon by the means of Cyrus King of Persia even to the Death and Resurrection of Christ the Redeemer promised to the Holy Fathers which is our Lord Iesus the eternal Son of God true God and true Man who appeared living after his Death and Resurrection to more than five hundred faithful Witnesses at one time besides his other manifestations and mounted visibly into Heaven in the year of the World 3961.
Miracles so strange and supernatural that they have been admired and celebrated of all the whole World But there is one point above all very Remarkable and which is more than sufficient to overcome humane Reason and to shew the Integrity of Moses which is that if he had would he might easily and according to the manner of men have had the Monarchy and Domination for his Children and their Posterity upon all the People of Israel And with the same the two fertile Kingdoms reduced under his hand and Conquered beyond Iordan Nevertheless he left his Sons Gersom and Eliezer and their Posterity private men and of most simple Estate amongst the other Levites And the same Children remaining subject to the Sacrificers Successors of Aaron and to the Magistrates and Governours of Israel More that he hath himself written and inregistred his own proper Faults and yet more notable those of his House as of his Brother Sister and Nephews and the most remarkable Judgments of God's Chastisements and Punishments of them all Of which things all his People were Witnesses in number more than six hundred thousand Persons And if they could have contraried him for any falsity either for the present or times to come If he had been I say such as they could have found any brack in his Actions or in his Writings or falseness in either his Person or any of his in his Life and his Miracles in his Writings or End But on the contrary all the Hebrews and Iews which have been since that time and are now near 3000 years since and that are dispersed through all the VVorld who are in so great a number that if they were re-united into a body of People and into a State their multitude should be innumerable and might astonish the greatest Nation of the whole Universe All those I say have received from their Ancient Fathers from their Kings and Princes and their Sacrificators and Ancestors from Father to Son and from hand to hand and with an admirable consent even in the middle of so many Confusions and Dissipations have kept and yet keep always in their Bibles the Holy VVritings of Moses in their proper Letters and Hebrew Tongue as Books most True and Veritable Sacred and Divine And such so known and acknowledged in all Nations with the excellent Testimony Authority and Holiness of them that Christ himself hath spoken of them and the Prophets and Apostles also in their VVritings and Alleagtions I and the most Ancient Pagans and Strangers cannot with sound Sense but acknowledge them And so Reader although I have been as I formerly said something prolix yet the Excellency of the Subject forc'd and bound me to be so tedious herein to shew as an illustrious Addition the worthiness of the Books and Divine Writings as their Antiquity Dignity as also the Excellency of their humane VVriter from the Dictate of the most High And being the matter whereof we have formerly treated I held it not impertinent though I have dealt too weakly in so worthy a Business but refer the rest and it to your charitable Censure FINIS * Great Esquire Argument of the History * One of the Captains of Great Alexander the third Monarch As the Latins now in Christendom 1 Praefat. in Pentateuchum Mosi 1 Iustin. dialog cum Tryphone Irenaeus Lib. 3. Cap. 25. Clemen Alexander lib. 1. stro Epiphanius de mens ponditibus Euseb. preparat lib. 8. chap. 1. 2 Hieron in questionibus Hebraicis in chap. 5. Ezechielis in cap. 2. Michiae Iosephi praefat in Antiquit. lib. 12. Antiquit. chap. 13. Philo. de vita Mosis lib. 2. Ptolomeus Lagus 1 At Virtutem non everterunt Diog. Laert. in vit Demet. 2 Diog. Laert. ibid. Excellence of this History A Drachma is 3 shillingsâ— sixpence that is 3 Pound 1 d. 10. shillings the head The Talent is 600 French Crovvns * Scripsit librum de Judaeis teste Suida Reasons for the Iews choice and diversity in Meats Order of Meats Calumniators false Reporters or Spies Some Copies call them Emplanists The delivery of the Holy Law or Sacred Books of Moses in Hebrew Characters to King Ptolomy Nature of good Officers and Subjects The Custom of Egypt was so It was a Custom to Register what was propounded and answered in the Kings of Egypts Presence Ovid. 1. de Meta. Virgil 6. Aeneid Virgil Eglog 4.5 Iosephus antiq Act. 18.20 Virgil. Aeneid Daniel 9. Luk. 24. â— 1 Cor. 15. Iudges 12. Trogus Justinus Praise of Moses