Letter of Aristeas

1917 printed page 23 / §§9–11

Printed page 23 Original marginal section labels beginning on this page: §9, §10, §11. (II) ORIGIN OF THE SCHEME AND PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS _(a)_ THE PROPOSAL OF THE KING'S LIBRARIAN Demetrius of Phalerum,{1} as keeper of the king's library, received large grants of public money with a view to his collecting, if possible, all the books in the world ; and by purchases and transcriptions he to the best of his ability carried the king's purpose into execution. Being asked once in my{2} presence, about how many thousands of books were already collected, he replied " More than two hundred thousand,{3} O king; and I will ere long make diligent search for the remainder, so that a total of half a million may be reached. I am informed that the Jews also have certain laws which are deserving of transcription and a place in thy library." "What is to hinder thee, then," replied the king, "in this task? For all the necessary means are at thy service." And Demetrius answered, " Translation is also required. For in the Jews' land they use a peculiar script (just as Egyptians have their system{4} of letters) and speak a peculiar language. It is commonly thought that they use the Syrian{5} language, but this is an error; it is another dialect." And when the king had learnt all the facts, he gave command that a letter should be written to the high priest of the Jews, in order that the proposal above-mentioned might be carried into effect. TRANSLATOR’S NOTES (1917) — printed page 23 {1} Demetrius lived from about 345 B.C. to about 283 B.C. The last part of his life was spent at the court of Ptolemy Soter, but he was out of favour with Ptolemy Philadelphus and banished by him. He was never the royal librarian. {2} Lit. "our." {3} Gr. " tens of thousands." {4} Lit. "arrangement." {5} _i.e._ Aramaic.