Letter of Aristeas

1917 printed page 26 / §§19–22

Printed page 26 Original marginal section labels beginning on this page: §19, §20, §21, §22. The opening continues §18 from the preceding page. and designs.) But the king, raising his head and looking at me with a cheerful countenance, said, "How many thousands{1} dost thou suppose there will be?" And Andreas, who was standing close by, replied, "A little over a hundred thousand." "Of a truth," said he, "it is but a small request which Aristeas makes of us." But Sosibius and some others who were present said, " It is indeed an action worthy of thy magnanimity to offer the release of these men as a thank-offering to the Most High God. For, as thou hast been most highly honoured by the Almighty and exalted above thy forefathers, so is it fitting that thou shouldest make the very highest of thank-offerings." And he, greatly delighted, gave orders that _the redemption money_ should be added to the _soldiers'_ pay: for every slave _the owner_ should receive twenty drachmas: a decree should be published on the subject, and the registers should be drawn up forthwith. So magnificent was his zeal, and thus did God fulfil our whole desire, constraining him to liberate not only those who had entered the country with his father's army, but also any who were there before or had since been introduced into the kingdom.{2} It was pointed out that the donation would exceed four hundred talents. And I think that it will not be without use to have on record here a copy of the decree. For the munificence of the king, who was empowered by God to be the means of deliverance to vast multitudes, will thus be made far clearer and more evident. It ran thus :— "BY THE KING'S DECREE. "All persons who served in the campaign of our father against the regions of Syria and Phoenicia and in the TRANSLATOR’S NOTES (1917) — printed page 26 {1} Gr. " tens of thousands." {2} Possibly some words have here fallen out in the MSS. TRANSCRIPTION CAUTIONS (2026, editorial) - Section 19 is aligned with the second line of a sentence begun on the previous line ("But the king"). Its exact start is unresolved; the candidate at the aligned line is "How many".