Letter of Aristeas

1917 printed page 25 / §§15–18

Printed page 25 Original marginal section labels beginning on this page: §15, §16, §17, §18. The opening continues §14 from the preceding page. as already explained, I{1} addressed the king somewhat as follows: "It would surely be unreasonable, O king, to let our deeds give the lie to our words. For, as the laws which we are proposing not only to transcribe but also to translate are binding on all Jews, what justification shall we find for our mission, whilst large numbers of the race continue in slavery in thy kingdom ? Nay, with a perfect and bounteous heart release those who are held fast in miseries, since the same God who gave them their law directs thy kingdom, as my research has taught me. For the God who sees and created all things whom they worship is He whom all men worship, and we too, O king, though we address Him by other names as Zeus and Dis; and by these names they of old time not inappropriately signified that He, through whom all things receive their life and being, is the Director and Lord of all.{2} Outdo, then, all men in magnanimity, and set at liberty those who are held in bondage." The king kept silence for a while, and I{1} inwardly prayed to God to dispose his mind to a general release. (For the human race, being God's creation, is swayed and moved by Him; and therefore I called with many and divers prayers upon Him that rules the heart, that he might be constrained to fulfil my desire. For I had a good hope, in bringing forward a proposal concerning the deliverance of men,{3} that God would cause the fulfilment of my desires; for when men piously think that they are working for righteousness and the furtherance of good deeds, it is God Almighty who directs their actions TRANSLATOR’S NOTES (1917) — printed page 25 {1} Lit. " we." {2} The two accusative forms of _Ζεύς_, viz. _Ζῆνα_ and _Δία_, are here derived from _ζῆν_ (to live), and _διά_ (through). This etymology is found in Orphic and other writings ; see the Orphic fragment quoted by Blass on Acts xvii. 28. {3} Cf. § 292. It is unnecessary to read " the men."