Letter of Aristeas

1917 printed page 57 / §§169–175

Printed page 57 Original marginal section labels beginning on this page: §169, §170, §171, §172, §173, §174, §175. The opening continues §168 from the preceding page. actions exercise righteousness towards all men, remembering the sovereignty of God. So then all that is said concerning meats and the unclean creeping things and wild animals relates to righteousness and righteous dealings between man and man." To my mind, then, he appeared{1} to make an excellent defence in every particular. He added, moreover, with regard to the calves and rams and he-goats that are offered, that men must take these from the herds and flocks and sacrifice tame animals, and nothing that is wild, that so the offerers of the sacrifices, bearing in mind the symbolic meaning of the legislator, may have no arrogant thoughts upon their conscience. For he that presents the sacrifice makes an offering of his own soul and all its affections. I think that his discourse on these matters was worth repeating; and therefore have I been led on, knowing thy love of learning, dear Philocrates, to explain to thee the sanctity and natural{2} meaning of the Law. (VII) RECEPTION OF THE TRANSLATORS AT ALEXANDRIA So Eleazar, when he had offered sacrifice and selected the men and made ready many gifts for the king, sent us on our way in great security. And when we reached Alexandria, the king was informed of our arrival. On our admission to the court, Andreas and I gave friendly greetings to the king and delivered the letter from Eleazar. The king was so anxious to meet the delegates that he gave orders to dismiss all the other officials and to summon the men. This proceeding excited universal TRANSLATOR’S NOTES (1917) — printed page 57 {1} Text emended; the MSS have "he thought." {2} Or "inward": the exact sense is uncertain.