Letter of Aristeas

1917 printed page 33 / §§45–49

Printed page 33 Original marginal section labels beginning on this page: §45, §46, §47, §48, §49. The opening continues §44 from the preceding page. done great services to our countrymen which can never pass out of mind. We therefore straightway offered sacrifices on thy behalf and on behalf of thy sister and thy children and thy friends,{1} and the whole people prayed that thy undertakings might ever prosper, and that Almighty God would preserve thy kingdom in peace with honour, and that the translation{2} of the holy Law might be to thy profit and carefully executed. And in the presence of them all we selected six elders from each tribe, good men and true, whom we are also sending with _a copy of_ the Law. Thou wilt then do well, righteous King, to give orders that, so soon as the translation {2} of the books be accomplished, the men be restored to us again in safety. Farewell. THE NAMES OF THE TRANSLATORS "And their names{3} are, of the first tribe, Joseph, Ezekias,{4} Zacharias, John, Ezekias,{4} Elisha: of the second, Judas, Simon, Samuel,{5} Adaius,{6} Mattathias, Eschlemias{7}: of the third, Nehemias, Joseph, Theodosius, Baseas, Ornias, Dakis: of the fourth, Jonathas, Abraius, Elisha, Ananias, Zacharias,{8} Chelkias{8}: of the fifth, Isaac, Jacob, Jesus, Sabbataius, Simon, Levi : of the sixth, Judas, Joseph, Simon, Zacharias, Samuel,{5} Selemias: of the seventh, Sabbataius, Zedekias, Jacob, Isaac, Iesias,{9} Natthaius: of the eighth, Theodosius, TRANSLATOR’S NOTES (1917) — printed page 33 {1} A court title. {2} Or "transcription." {3} The names, according to Josephus, form a postscript to the letter. {4} One of these names is probably corrupt. {5} Text "Somoelus." {6} Either Adaiah (עדיה) or Iddo (עדוא). {7} Representing שלמיה, which is more correctly represented by _Σελεμίας_ in § 48. {8} The names Zacharias, Chelkias are derived from the list in the Syriac version of Epiphanius, _De mens. et pond._, who uses the narrative of Aristeas (see Appendix, p. 111 f.). In the MSS of Aristeas _Χαβρίας_ stands in place of Zacharias and the sixth name in this tribe has disappeared. {9} Probably = Jesse (Epiphan. אישי). TRANSCRIPTION CAUTIONS (2026, editorial) - Greek/Hebrew in notes 6–9 manually restored from enlarged scan; a second specialist check of accents and letterforms is desirable before publication.