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THE LETTER OF
A R I S T E A S
IN THE Letter of Aristeas, one of the most noteworthy and ancient recoveries in
this collection, we have come a long way from Adam and Eve, a long way from the
Flood. This writing presents a spectacle of the resiliency of the human race, which
has repeopled the Earth, with powerful nations living in pomp and splendor.
You will read here of the first great bibliophile—Ptolemy Philadelphus. He de-
sires to collect into his library at Alexandria "all the books in the world." Finally
in his passion to secure one great work—the Jewish Laws—he trades 100,000 cap-
tives for that book. This is probably the highest price ever paid for a single work.
It presents an unusual reason for the end of the Great Captivity.
The events of this narrative took place during the lifetime of the famous Queen
Arsinoe, who died 270 B. C. The exact date of the writing is uncertain.
The details of court life, the discussion of social problems of the day are of the
utmost interest and vividness. It is an odd discovery in this day and age to see the
king and his guests playing at questions and answers during their banqueting.
The structure of this absorbing work is as follows:
1. Dedication of the book to Philo-
crates. 4. Description of Jerusalem.
2. Preliminary action: (a) The temple (and the water-works
system).
(a) The proposal of the Librarian to (b) The ceremony.
liberate the Jewish captives in ex- (c) The citadel.
change for a book. (d) The city.
(b) The emancipation. (e) The countryside.
(c) The letter of Philadelphus to
Eleazar. 5. Eleazar's farewell.
(d) The reply.
(e) The names of the committee ap- 6. Eleazar's explanation of the law
pointed to translate the book. (this is profound wisdom).
3. Description of the royal presents: 7. The reception.
(a) The table (probably the most 8. The banquet (72 questions and an-
elaborate piece of furniture ever pro- swers).
duced).
(b) The other presents. 9. The translation of the Book.
CHAP. I. veals himself as the first great bibli-
At the time of the Jewish Captivity ophile. He desires to have all the
in Egypt, Ptolemy Philadelphus re- books in the world in his library; in
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LETTER OF AR ISTEAS
order to get the Laws of Moses he captives who had been transported
offers to trade 100,000 captives for from Judea to Egypt by the king's
that work exclaiming, "It is a small father, when he first obtained posses-
boon indeed!" sion of this city and conquered the
SINCE I have collected material for land of Egypt.
a memorable history of my visit to 5 It is worth while that I should tell
Eleazar the High Priest of the Jews, you this story, too, since I am con-
and because you, Philocrates, as you vinced that you, with your disposi-
lose no opportunity of reminding me, tion towards holiness and your sym-
have set great store upon receiving pathy with men who are living in ac-
an account of the motives and object cordance with the holy law, will all
of my mission, I have attempted to the more readily listen to the account
draw up clear exposition of the mat- which I purpose to set forth, since
ter for you, for I perceive that you you yourself have lately come to us
possess a natural love of learning, a from the island and are anxious to
quality which is the highest posses- hear everything that tends to build
sion of man—to be constantly at- up the soul.
tempting 'to add to his stock of 6 On a former occasion too, I sent
knowledge and acquirements' wheth- you a record of the facts which I
er through the study of history or by thought worth relating about the
actually participating in the events Jewish race,—the record which I had
themselves. obtained from the most learned high
2 It is by this means, by taking up priests of the most learned land of
into itself the noblest elements, that Egypt.
the soul is established in purity, and 7 As you are so eager to acquire the
having fixed its aim on piety, the knowledge of those things which can
noblest goal of all, it uses this as its benefit the mind, I' feel it incumbent
infallible guide and so acquires a upon me to impart to you all the in-
definite purpose. formation in my power.
3 It was my devotion to the pursuit 8 I should feel the same duty to-
of religious knowledge that led me to wards all who possessed the same
undertake the embassy to the man I disposition but I feel it especially to-
have mentioned, who was held in the wards you since you have aspirations
highest esteem by his own citizens which are so noble, and since you are
and by others, both for his virtue and not only my brother in character, no
his majesty, and who had in his pos- less than in blood, but are one with
session documents of the highest me as well in the pursuit of good-
value to the Jews in his own country ness.
and in foreign lands for the interpret- 9 For neither the pleasure derived
ation of the divine law, for their laws from gold nor any other of the pos-
are written on leather parchments in sessions which are prized by shallow
Jewish characters. minds confers the same benefit as the
4 This embassy then I undertook pursuit of culture and the study
with enthusiasm, having first of all which we expend in securing it.
found an opportunity of pleading 10 But that I may not weary you by
with the king on behalf of the Jewish a too lengthy introduction, I will
2
LETTER OF AR ISTEAS
proceed at once to the substance of ten laid before Sosibius of Tarentum
my narrative. and Andreas, the chief of the body-
11 Demetrius of Phalerum, the pres- guard, for the emancipation of the
ident of the king's library, received Jews who had been transported from
vast sum of money, for the purpose Judea by the king's father—for when
of collecting together, as far as he by a combination of good fortune
possibly could, all the books in the and courage he had brought his at-
world. tack on the whole district of Coele-
12 By means of purchase and tran- Syria and Phoenicia to a successful
scription, he carried out, to the best issue, in the process of terrorising
of his ability, the purpose of the the country into subjection, he trans-
king. ported some of his foes and others he
13 On one occasion when I was reduced to captivity.
present he was asked, How many 19 The number of those whom he
thousand books are there in the lib- transported from the country of the
rary? and he replied, 'More than two Jews to Egypt amounted to no less
hundred thousand, O king, and I than a hundred thousand.
shall make endeavour in the immedi- 20 Of these he armed thirty thou-
ate future to gather together the re- sand picked men and settled them in
mainder also, so that the total of five garrisons in the country districts.
hundred thousand may be reached. I 21 (And even before this time large
am told that the laws of the Jews are numbers of Jews had come into
worth transcribing and deserve a Egypt with the Persian, and in an
place in your library! earlier period still others had been
14 'What is to prevent you from do- sent to Egypt to help Psammetichus
ing this?' replied the king. in his campaign against the king of
'Everything that is necessary has the Ethiopians. But these were noth-
been placed at your disposal! ing like so numerous as the captives
15 'They need to be translated,' whom Ptolemy the son of Lagus
answered Demetrius 'for in the coun- transported.)
try of the Jews they use a peculiar 22 As I have already said Ptolemy
alphabet (just as the Egyptians, too, picked out the best of these, the men
have a special form of letters) and who were in the prime of life and
speak a peculiar dialect. distinguished for their courage, and
16 They are supposed to use the armed them, but the great mass of
Syriac tongue, but this is not the the others, those who were too old or
case; their language is quite differ- too young for this purpose, and the
ent.' women too, he reduced to slavery,
17 And the king when he understood not that he wished to do this of his
all the facts of the case ordered a let- own free will, but he was compelled
ter to be written to the Jewish High by his soldiers who claimed them as
Priest that his purpose (which has a reward for the services which they
already been described) might be ac- had rendered in war.
complished. 23 Having, as has already been
18 Thinking that the time had come stated, obtained an opportunity for
to press the demand, which I had of- securing their emancipation, I ad-
3
LETTER OF AR ISTEAS
dressed the king with the following was assured that God would grant a
arguments. 'Let us not be so unreas- fulfilment of my prayer.
onable as to allow our deeds to give 32 For when men from pure motives
the lie to our words. plan some action in the interest of
24 Since the law which we wish not righteousness and the performance of
only to transcribe but also to trans- noble deeds, Almighty God brings
late belongs to the whole Jewish their efforts and purposes to a suc-
race, what justification shall we be cessful issue)—the king raised his
able to find for our embassy while head and looking up at me with a
such vast numbers of them remain in cheerful countenance asked, 'How
a state of slavery in your kingdom? many thousands do you think they
25 In the perfection and wealth of will number?'
your clemency release those who are 33 Andreas, who was standing near,
held in such miserable bondage, replied, 'A little more than a hundred
since as I have been at pains to dis- thousand.'
cover, the God who gave them their 34 'It is a small boon indeed,' said
law is the God who maintains your the king, 'that Aristeas asks of us!'
kingdom. 35 Then Sosibius and some others
26 They worship the same God—the who were present said
Lord and Creator of the Universe, as [paragraph continues] 'Yes, but it
all other men, as we ourselves, O will be a fit tribute to your magnan-
king, though we call him by different imity for you to offer the enfran-
names, such as Zeus 1 or Dis. chisement of these men as an act of
27 This name was very appropri- devotion to the supreme God.
ately bestowed upon him by our first 36 You have been greatly honoured
ancestors, in order to signify that He, by Almighty God and exalted above
through whom all things are en- all your forefathers in glory and it is
dowed with life and come into being, only fitting that you should render to
is necessarily the Rider and Lord of Him the greatest thank-offering in
the Universe. your power.'
28 Set all mankind an example of 37 Extremely pleased with these ar-
magnanimity by releasing those who guments he gave orders that an addi-
are held in bondage.' tion should be made to the wages of
29 After a brief interval, while I was the soldiers by the amount of the re-
offering up an earnest prayer to God demption money, that twenty drach-
that He would so dispose the mind of mae should be paid to the owners for
the king that all the captives might every slave, that a public order
be set at liberty—(for the human should be issued and that registers of
race, being the creation of God, is the captives should be attached to it.
swayed and influenced by Him. 38 He showed the greatest enthusi-
30 Therefore with many divers pray- asm in the business, for it was God
ers I called upon Him who ruleth the who had brought our purpose to ful-
heart that the king might be con- filment in its entirety and con-
strained to grant my request. strained him to redeem not only
31 For I had great hopes with regard those who had come into Egypt with
to the salvation of the men since I the army of his father but any who
4
LETTER OF AR ISTEAS
had come before that time or had ledged that we are accustomed to
been subsequently brought into the render justice to all men and espe-
kingdom. cially to those who are unfairly in a
39 It was pointed out to him that the condition of servitude, and since we
ransom money would exceed four strive to deal fairly with all men ac-
hundred talents. cording to the demands of justice and
40 I think it will be useful to insert piety, we have decreed, in reference
a copy of the decree, for in this way to the persons of the Jews who are in
the magnanimity of the king, who any condition of bondage in any part
was empowered by God to save such of our dominion, that those who pos-
vast multitudes, will be made clearer sess them shall receive the stipulated
and more manifest. sum of money and set them at liberty
41 The decree of the king ran as fol- and that no man shall show any
lows: 'All who served in the army of tardiness in discharging his obliga-
our father in the campaign against tions.
Syria and Phoenicia and in the attack 47 Within three days after the pub-
upon the country of the Jews and be- lication of this decree, they must
came possessed of Jewish captives make lists of slaves for the officers
and brought them back to the city of appointed to carry out our will, and
Alexandria and the land of Egypt or immediately produce the persons of
sold them to others—and in the same the captives.
way any captives who were in our 48 For we consider that it will be
land before that time or were brought advantageous to us and to our affairs
hither afterwards—all who possess that the matter should be brought to
such captives are required to set a conclusion.
them at liberty at once, receiving 49 Any one who likes may give in-
twenty drachmae per head as ransom formation about any who disobey the
money. decree, on condition that if the man
42 The soldiers will receive this is proved guilty he will become his
money as a gift added to their wages, slave; his property, however, will be
the others from the king's treasury. handed over to the royal treasury.'
43 We think that it was against our 50 When the decree was brought to
father's will and against all propriety be read over to the king for his ap-
that they should have been made cap- proval, it contained all the other pro-
tives and that the devastation of their visions except the phrase 'any cap-
land and the transportation of the tives who were in the land before
Jews to Egypt was an act of military that time or were brought hither af-
wantonness. terwards,' and in his magnanimity
44 The spoil which fell to the sol- and the largeness of his heart the
diers on the field of battle was all king inserted this clause and gave or-
the booty which they should have ders that the grant of money required
claimed. for the redemption should be depos-
45 To reduce the people to slavery ited in full with the paymasters of
in addition was an act of absolute in- the forces and the royal bankers, and
justice. so the matter was decided and the
46 Wherefore, since it is acknow- decree ratified within seven days.
5
LETTER OF AR ISTEAS
51 The grant for the redemption now have the following proposal to
amounted to more than six hundred lay before you.
and sixty talents; for many infants at 5 The books of the law of the Jews
the breast were emancipated together (with some few others) are absent
with their mothers. from the library.
52 When the question was raised 6 They are written in the Hebrew
whether the sum of twenty talents characters and language and have
was to be paid for these, the king been carelessly interpreted, and do
ordered that it should be done, and not represent the original text as I
thus he carried out his decision in am informed by those who know; for
the most comprehensive way. they have never had a king's care to
protect them.
CHAP. II. 7 It is necessary that these should
Showing how the most careful re- be made accurate for your library
cords were kept of affairs of state. since the law which they contain,
Government Red Tape. A committee inasmuch as it is of divine origin, is
of six is appointed to go to the High full of wisdom and free from all
Priest in Jerusalem and arrange for blemish.
the exchange. Aristeas is put in 8 For this reason literary men and
charge of the delegation. poets and the mass of historical
WHEN this had been done, he writers have held aloof from refer-
ordered Demetrius to draw up a me- ring to these books and the men who
morial with regard to the transcrip- have lived and are living in accord-
tion of the Jewish books. ance with them, because their con-
2 For all affairs of state used to be ception of life is so sacred and reli-
carried out by means of decrees and gious, as Hecataeus of Abdera says.
with the most pains-taking accuracy 9 If it please you, O king, a letter
by these Egyptian kings, and nothing shall be written to the High Priest in
was done in a slipshod or haphazard Jerusalem, asking him to send six
fashion. elders out of every tribe—men who
3 And so I have inserted copies of have lived the noblest life and are
the memorial and the letters, the most skilled in their law—that we
number of the presents sent and the may find out the points in which the
nature of each, since every one of majority of them are in agreement,
them excelled in magnificence and and so having obtained an accurate
technical skill. translation may place it in a con-
4 The following is a copy of the me- spicuous place in a manner worthy of
morial. The Memory of Demetrius to the work itself and your purpose.
the great king. 'Since you have given 10 May continual prosperity be
me instructions O king, that the yours!'
books which are needed to complete 11 When this memorial had been
your library should be collected to- presented, the king ordered a letter
gether, and that those which are de- to be written to Eleazar on the mat-
fective should be repaired, I have de- ter, giving also an account of the
voted myself with the utmost care to emancipation of the Jewish captives.
the fulfilment of your wishes, and I 12 And he gave fifty talents weight
6
LETTER OF AR ISTEAS
of gold and seventy talents of silver my kingdom in peace and great glory
and a large quantity of precious in all the world.
stones to make bowls and vials and a 19 Moreover those of your people
table and libation cups. who were in the prime of life I have
13 He also gave orders to those who drafted into my army, and those who
had the custody of his coffers to al- were fit to be attached to my person
low the artificers to make a selection and worthy of the confidence of the
of any materials they might require court, I have established in official
for the purpose, and that a hundred positions.
talents in money should be sent to 20 Now since I am anxious to show
provide sacrifices for the temple and my gratitude to these men and to the
for other needs. Jews throughout the world and to the
14 I shall give you a full account of generations yet to come, I have de-
the workmanship after I have set be- termined that your law shall be
fore you copies of the letters. The translated from the Hebrew tongue
letter of the king ran as follows: which is in use amongst you into the
15 'King Ptolemy sends greeting and Greek language, that these books
salutation to the High Priest Eleazar. may be added to the other royal
16 Since there are many Jews books in my library.
settled in our realm who were carried 21 It will be a kindness on your part
off from Jerusalem by the Persians at and a reward for my zeal if you will
the time of their power and many select six elders from each of your
more who came with my father into tribes, men of noble life and skilled
Egypt as captives—large numbers of in your law and able to interpret it,
these he placed in the army and paid that in questions of dispute we may
them higher wages than usual, and be able to discover the verdict in
when he had proved the loyalty of which the majority agree, for the in-
their leaders he built fortresses and vestigation is of the highest possible
placed them in their charge that the importance.
native Egyptians might be intimid- 22 I hope to win great renown by
ated by them. the accomplishment of this work.
17 And I, when I ascended the 23 I have sent Andreas, the chief of
throne, adopted a kindly attitude to- my bodyguard and Aristeas—men
wards all my subjects, and more par- whom I hold in high esteem—to lay
ticularly to those who were citizens the matter before you and present
of yours—I have set at liberty more you with a hundred talents of silver,
than a hundred thousand captives, the first-fruits of my offering for the
paying their owners the appropriate temple and the sacrifices and other
market price for them, and if ever religious rites.
evil has been done to your people 24 If you will write to me concern-
through the passions of the mob, I ing your wishes in these matters, you
have made them reparation. will confer a great favour upon me
18 The motive which prompted my and afford me a new pledge of
action has been the desire to act pi- friendship, for all your wishes shall
ously and render unto the supreme be carried out as speedily as pos-
God a thank-offering for maintaining sible. Farewell!
7
LETTER OF AR ISTEAS
25 To this letter Eleazar replied ap- that Almighty God might preserve
propriately as follows: 'Eleazar the your kingdom in peace with honour,
High Priest sends greetings to King and that the translation of the holy
Ptolemy his true friend. law might prove advantageous to you
26 My highest wishes are for your and be carried out successfully.
welfare and the welfare of Queen 34 In the presence of all the people
Arsinoe, your sister, and your chil- I selected six elders from each tribe,
dren. good men and true, and I have sent
27 I also am well. I have received them to you with a copy of our law.
your letter and am greatly rejoiced 35 It will be a kindness, O righteous
by your purpose and your noble king, if you will give instruction that
counsel. as soon as the translation of the law
28 I summoned together the whole is completed, the men shall be re-
people and read it to them that they stored again to us in safety.
might know of your devotion to our Farewell!
God. 36 The following are the names of
29 I showed them too the cups the elders: Of the first tribe, Joseph,
which you sent, twenty of gold and Ezekiah, Zachariah, John, Ezekiah,
thirty of silver, the five bowls and Elisha.
the table of dedication, and the hun- 37 Of the second tribe, Judas, Si-
dred talents of silver for the offering mon, Samuel, Adaeus, Mattathias,
of the sacrifices and providing the Eschlemias.
things of which the temple stands in 38 Of the third tribe, Nehemia,
need. Joseph, Theodosius, Baseas, Ornias,
30 These gifts were brought to me Dakis.
by Andreas, one of your most hon- 39 Of the fourth tribe, Jonathan, Ab-
oured servants, and by Aristeas, both raeus, Elisha, Ananias, Chabrias. . .
good men and true, distinguished by 40 Of the fifth tribe, Isaac, Jacob,
their learning, and worthy in every Jesus, Sabbataeus, Simon, Levi.
way to be the representatives of your 41 Of the sixth tribe, Judas, Joseph,
high principles and righteous pur- Simon, Zacharias, Samuel, Selemas.
poses. 42 Of the seventh tribe, Sabbataeus,
31 These men imparted to me your Zedekiah, Jacob, Isaac, Jesias, Nat-
message and received from me an an- thaeus.
swer in agreement with your letter. I 43 Of the eighth tribe, Theodosius,
will consent to everything which is Jason, Jesus, Theodotus, John,
advantageous to you even though Jonathan.
your request is very unusual. 44 Of the ninth tribe, Theophilus,
32 For you have bestowed upon our Abraham, Arsamos, Jason, Endemias,
citizens great and never to be forgot- Daniel.
ten benefits in many ways. 45 Of the tenth tribe, Jeremiah,
33 Immediately therefore I offered [paragraph continues] Eleazar,
sacrifices on behalf of you, your sis- Zachariah, Baneas, Elisha, Dathaeus.
ter, your children, and your friends, 46 Of the eleventh tribe, Samuel,
and all the people prayed that your Joseph, Judas, Jonathes, Chabu,
plans might prosper continually, and Dositheus.
8
LETTER OF AR ISTEAS
47 Of the twelfth tribe, Isaelus, temple, for it would afford him much
John, Theodosius, Arsamos, Abietes, greater pleasure if the men whose
Ezekiel. duty it was to offer the fitting sacri-
48 They were seventy-two in all. fices were able to do so appropri-
Such was the answer which Eleazar ately on the table which he had
and his friends gave to the king's let- made.
ter. 10 He did not suppose that it was
owing to lack of gold that the former
CHAP. III. table had been made of small size,
In which is described the most ex- but there seems to have been, he
quisite and beautiful table ever pro- said, some reason why it was made
duced. Also other rich gifts, Interest- of—this dimension.
ing in the light of recent excavations 11 For had the order been given,
in Egypt. there would have been no lack of
I WILL now Proceed to redeem my means.
promise and give a description of the 12 Wherefore we must not trans-
works of art. gress or go beyond the proper meas-
2 They were wrought with excep- ure.
tional skill, for the king spared no 13 At the same time he ordered them
expense and personally superinten- to press into service all the manifold
ded the workmen individually. forms of art, for he was a man of the
3 They could not therefore scamp most lofty conceptions and nature
any part of the work or finish it off had endowed him with a keen ima-
negligently. gination which enabled him to pic-
4 First of all I will give you a de- ture the appearance which would be
scription of the table. presented by the finished work.
5 The king was anxious that this 14 He gave orders too, that where
piece of work should be of excep- there were no instructions laid down
tionally large dimensions, and he in the Jewish Scriptures, everything
caused enquiries to be made of the should be made as beautiful as pos-
Jews in the locality with regard to sible.—
the size of the table already in the 15 When such instructions were laid
temple at Jerusalem. down, they were to be carried out to
6 And when they described the the letter.
measurements, he proceeded to ask 16 They made the table two cubits 1
whether he might make a larger long, one cubit broad, one and a half
structure. cubits high fashioning it of pure sol-
7 And some of the priests and the id gold.
other Jews replied that there was 17 What I am describing was not
nothing to prevent him. thin gold laid over another founda-
8 And he said that he was anxious to tion, but the whole structure was of
make it five times the size, but he massive gold welded together.
hesitated lest it should prove useless 18 And they made a border of a
for the temple services. hand's breadth round about it.
9 He was desirous that his gift 19 And there was a wreath of wave-
should not merely be stationed in the work, engraved in relief in
9
LETTER OF AR ISTEAS
the form of ropes marvellously 28 These fruits were wrought out of
wrought on its three sides. precious stones, of the same colour
20 For it was triangular in shape and as the fruits themselves and they
the style of the work was exactly the fastened them edgeways round all
same on each of the sides, so that the sides of the table with a band of
whichever side they were turned, gold.
they presented the same appearance. 29 And after the crown of fruit had
21 Of the two sides under the bor- been put on, underneath there was
der, the one which sloped down to inserted another pattern of eggs in
the table was a very beautiful piece precious stones, and other fluting
of work, but it was the outer side and embossed work, that both sides
which attracted the gaze of the spec- of the table might be used, according
tator. to the wishes of the owners and for
22 Now the upper edge of the two this reason the wave-work and the
sides, being elevated, was sharp border were extended down to the
since, as we have said, the rim was feet of the table.
three-sided, from whatever point of 30 They made and fastened under
view one approached it. the whole width of the table a
23 And there were layers of pre- massive plate four fingers thick, that
cious stones on it in the midst of the the feet might be inserted into it, and
embossed cord-work, and they were clamped fast with linch-pins which
interwoven with one another by an fitted into sockets under the border,
inimitable artistic device. so that which ever side of the table
24 For the sake of security they people preferred, might be used.
were all fixed by golden needles 31 Thus it became manifestly clear
which were inserted in perforations that the work was intended to be
in the stones. used either way.
25 At the sides they were clamped 32 On the table itself they engraved
together by fastenings to hold them a 'maeander,' having precious stones
firm. standing out in the middle of it, ru-
26 On the part of the border round bies and emeralds and an onyx too
the table which slanted upwards and and many other kinds of stones
met the eyes, there was wrought a which excel in beauty.
pattern of eggs in precious stones, 33 And next to the 'maeander' there
elaborately engraved by a continuous was placed a wonderful piece of net-
piece of fluted relief-work, closely work, which made the centre of the
connected together round the whole table appear like a rhomboid in
table. shape, and on it a crystal and amber,
27 And under the stones which had as it is called, had been wrought,
been arranged to represent eggs the which produced an incomparable im-
artists made a crown containing all pression on the beholders.
kinds of fruits, having at its top 34 They made the feet of the table
clusters of grapes and ears of corn, with heads like lilies, so that they
dates also and apples, and seemed to be like lilies bending
pomegranates and the like, conspicu- down beneath the table, and the parts
ously arranged. which were visible represented
10