ON THE GREEK TRANSLATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
So much for the details respecting dates, as stated variously by many,
and as set down by us.
It is said that the Scriptures both of the law and of the prophets were
translated from the dialect of the Hebrews into the Greek language in
the reign of Ptolemy the son of Lagos, or, according to others, of
Ptolemy surnamed Philadelphus; Demetrius Phalereus bringing to this
task the greatest earnestness, and employing painstaking accuracy on
the materials for the translation. For the Macedonians being still
in possession of Asia, and the king being ambitious of adorning the
library he had at Alexandria with all writings, desired the people of
Jerusalem to translate the prophecies they possessed into the Greek
dialect. And they being the subjects of the Macedonians, selected
from those of highest character among them seventy elders, versed in
the Scriptures, and skilled in the Greek dialect, and sent them to
him with the divine books. And each having severally translated each
prophetic book, and all the translations being compared together,
they agreed both in meaning and expression. For it was the counsel
of God carried out for the benefit of Grecian ears. It was not alien
to the inspiration of God, who gave the prophecy, also to produce
the translation, and make it as it were Greek prophecy. Since the
Scriptures having perished in the captivity of Nabuchodonosor, Esdras
the Levite, the priest, in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians,
having become inspired, in the exercise of prophecy restored again the
whole of the ancient Scriptures. And Aristobulus, in his first book
addressed to Philometor, writes in these words: “And Plato followed
the laws given to us, and had manifestly studied all that is said in
them.” And before Demetrius there had been translated by another,
previous to the dominion of Alexander and of the Persians, the account
of the departure of our countrymen the Hebrews from Egypt, and the
fame of all that happened to them, and their taking possession of
the land, and the account of the whole code of laws; so that it is
perfectly clear that the above-mentioned philosopher derived a great
deal from this source, for he was very learned, as also Pythagoras, who
transferred many things from our books to his own system of doctrines.
And Numenius, the Pythagorean philosopher, expressly writes: “For
what is Plato, but Moses speaking in Attic Greek?” This Moses was a
theologian and prophet, and as some say, an interpreter of sacred
laws. His family, his deeds, and life, are related by the Scriptures
themselves, which are worthy of all credit; but have nevertheless to be
stated by us also as well as we can.