Letter of Aristeas

1917 printed page 32 / §§41–44

Printed page 32 Original marginal section labels beginning on this page: §41, §42, §43, §44. The opening continues §40 from the preceding page. thee. They bring with them dedicatory offerings for the temple, and for sacrifices and other purposes an hundred talents of silver. And shouldest thou also write to us concerning my desires, thou wilt do a favour and a friendly service; and be assured that thy wishes will receive instant fulfilment. Farewell." To this letter Eleazar replied appropriately{1} as follows :— "Eleazar the High Priest to King Ptolemaeus, his sincere friend, greeting. Do thou fare well and the queen Arsinoe, thy sister, and the children,{2} so will it be well and as we desire; we too are in good health. On receiving thy letter we greatly rejoiced because of thy purpose and noble resolve, and we collected the whole people and read it to them, in order that they might know thy pious reverence for our God. We shewed them also the vials which thou sentest, twenty of gold and thirty of silver, the five bowls, and the table as dedicatory offerings, and the hundred talents of silver for the offering of sacrifices and for such repairs as the temple may require. These gifts were brought by Andreas, one of thy honoured courtiers, and Aristeas, good men and true and of excellent learning, who in all ways worthily reflect thy high principles and righteousness. They have also imparted to us thy message, and have heard from our lips a reply in accordance with thy letter. For in all things which are to thy profit, even though thy request is contrary to our natural impulses,{3} will we do thy bidding; this indeed is a mark of friendship and affection. For thou too hast in divers manners TRANSLATOR’S NOTES (1917) — printed page 32 {1} Or "to the best of his ability." Perhaps "so far as he could write Greek," the writer excusing the use of this language by a Jew of Palestine (Wendland). {2} Arsinoe II, here referred to, is said to have been childless but to have adopted the children of Arsinoe I. {3} Lit. "contrary to nature."