Letter of Aristeas

1917 printed page 52 / §§139–144

Printed page 52 Original marginal section labels beginning on this page: §139, §140, §141, §142, §143, §144. The opening continues §138 from the preceding page. "When, therefore, the law-giver, who was endowed by God to understand all things, had in his wisdom surveyed each detail, he fenced us about with impregnable palisades and walls of iron, to the intent that we should in no way have dealings with any of the other nations, pure in body and mind, released from vain ideas, reverencing the one Almighty God above the entire creation. For this reason the priests who lead{1} the Egyptians and have closely investigated many things and been conversant with the world,{2} call us " men of God," a designation which does not belong to the rest of mankind, but to him only who reverences the true God. The rest are men of meat and drink and raiment,{3} for their whole nature finds solace in these things. But with our countrymen these things are counted of nothing worth, but their reflections throughout their whole life concern the sovereignty of God. So then, lest we should become perverted by sharing the pollutions of others or consorting with base persons, he hedged us round on all sides with laws of purification in matters of meat and drink and handling and hearing and seeing. For, speaking generally, all things to the natural reason are alike, being all governed by the self-same power, and _yet_ in every detail there is a profound reason why we abstain from the use of some things and share in the use of others. For the sake of illustration I will run over one or two points and give thee an explanation. "Do not fall in with the rejected{4} view that it was out of regard for mice and weasels{5} or such creatures TRANSLATOR’S NOTES (1917) — printed page 52 {1} Or "the leading priests of the E. who have," etc. {2} Lit. "affairs." According to a conjectural reading "(our) literature"; cf. Deut. xxxiii. 1, etc. {3} Lit. "shelter." {4} Lit. "fallen down": perhaps "degraded" (Andrews). {5} Lev. xi. 29. Cf. 1 Cor. ix. 9.