THE Auncient History Of the Septuagint VVritten in Greeke by ARISTEVS 1900. Yeares since Of his Voyage to Hierusalem as Ambassador from PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS vnto ELEAZER then Pontiffe of the IEWES Concerning the First Translation of the HOLY BIBLE by the 72. Interpreters With many other remarkable Circumstances Newly done into ENGLISH By I. DONE Tempora Tempera Tempore LONDON Printed by N. OKES 1633. ⧠TO THE Intelligent Generall READER ALthough TIME and DEATH from our Cradles to our Graues pursue vs swiftly and according to the Almighties Ordinance ouertake and seaze vpon our fraile and Terrestriall parts vpon some sooner vpon others later Yet Excellent Acts like strong Eagles breake from their seazure and soare aboue them in so sublime a pitch as neither Time with all his Power and rusty Powder with which hee blots and rubs out Brasse and Marble can quite obscure or extinguish them neither Death close in his darke-gaping Mouth the Graue their Noblenesse Witnesse this small yet Auncient History which this last Summer I made part of my Exercise to put into an English Habite That the Story is Auncient I may well say for it is 1900. yeeres since Aristeus Writ it to his Brother Philocrates which Aristeus St. Hierome in his Epistle to the Pentatucke of the Bible Great Esquire sayes was Hyperaspistes to Ptolomeus Philadelphus King of Aegypt Syria Phâ—nicia and Cilicia and Sonne of Ptolomeus Lagus one of the great Captaines of Alexander Magnus that diuided his Conquests the World amongst them This Ptolomeus Philadelphus then a most accomplish'd young Gentleman vertuously disposed and so great a louer of Learning as hee had accumulated into his Library according to some Authors 1800000. Volumes Printing Argument of the HISTORY not then risen in our Hemispheare was by the sayd Aristeus a most Noble Person and a great friend of the then captiued Iewes as an Instrument of God for the liberty and freedome of them then his people practised with Demetrius Phalerius to tell the King that his so aboundant Library was but poore because it wanted the Booke of Bookes the sacred Volume of GOD which we call the Holy Bible The King vertuously couetous thereof demanded how hee should best acquire it Aristeus wayting this desiered occasion proportioned his aduice that he should first set all the Captiued Iewes not onely in Aegypt but also in Syria c. at free liberty send Ambassadours and Presents to Eleazer their High Priest and Pontiffe The King willingly accordes thereto as to the Musick of his desires and prepares most rich presents as a Table of Massie Gold embellish't with Precious Stones Cups of Gold and Siluer likewise adorned sets at freedome the Captiued by publicke Edict Embasies with these gifts and diuers Talents of Gold and Siluer Aristeus and Andrea Prince and great Captaine of the Guard of his Person They goe deliuer his Letters of Request and Commends haue gracious entertainment returne with the 72. Interpreters Iewes Letters and also Eleazers Presents to the King and in especiall with the Sacred Volume and Word of God The good King adores the Bookes feasts the Bringers who after fall to the Businesse and Translated it out of the Hebrew into the Greeke the common learned Language of those Times made famous by the Sword of Alexander And this in briefe is the effect of this Venerable History which is by mee thus made yours And though I seeme to Anticipate thus to you yet it is as nothing for in it selfe as you may further see it is Elabourately and Eloquently Written by the sayd Aristeus and let no man wonder too much thereat as thinking our Times excels theirs in Eloquence no For who euer exceeded Demostenes the Greeke or Cicero the Latine therein Lastly to speake the Praise of History Libri sunt vasa memoriae and worthy Historicall Bookes haue in them a kinde of Diuine Permanency and as Eminent Persons should affect Noble actions so ought they to cherish the Registers as their Honourers For hath not Plutarcke made those Gyant Heroes as Theseus Romulus Alexander Iulius Caesar and the rest yet liue and himselfe more praysefully longer then them all So as an ignorant swaggering Fellow threatned his Aduersary to kill him if he had as many liues as Plutarcke Did not Alexander sigh for an other Homer Lastly if I haue in honour of the History like one holding a lighted Taper to the cleare noone-shining Sunne made an Appendix shewing the Antiquitie and Dignity of the Bookes by the said SEPTVAGINT Translated and the Excellency of their inspired Writer Moses and haue therein beene too prolixious pardon mee because of the Profoundity and Worthinesse of the matter So I referre you to that and the rest and so rest Yours Iohn Done The Elenchus or Contence of the Following Booke CHaracters of the Persons that were herein ayders imploying and imployed p. 1. Aristeus to his Brother Philocrates p. 11. The Discourse that Aristeus helde with King Ptolomy for the deliuerance of the Iewes p. 20 The Request of Demetrius Phalerius to King Ptolomy p. 30. Tenour of the Letter of King Ptolomy to Eleazer great Pontife of Ierusalem p. 33. Eleazer Pontiffe to King Ptolomy our most Illustrious friend p. 38. The names of those which were chosen of all the Lines and Tribes of the Iewes to goe into Aegypt for the Translation of the LAVV of MOSES p. 41. Of the Presents sent to Eleazer Pontiffe of the Iewes by King Ptolomeus Philadelphus p. 45 Of the Vessels Cups and Viols of Gold p. 55. Of the City of Hierusalem and Region there-abouts as it was 260. yeeres before the Birth of our Sauiour p. 61. Of the Sacrificators p. 65. Of the Great Pontiffe Eleazer p. 67 Of the Fortresse or Castle of Hierusalem p. 69. Yet â—ore of the Towne p. 71. Of the Region about Hierusalem and of the Policy of the Country-people or Pesants p. 72. What manner of men the Translators of the LAVV were p. 79. Of the Answere made by Eleazer vpon certaine points of the LAVV of MOSES p. 91. Returne of the Ambassadors into Alexandria with the Doctors Iewes and how the King adored the Holy Law seuen times with teares in his eyes p. 109 Answers of the Doctors Iewes to Questions propounded by King Ptolomeus Philadelphus p. 118. The meanes held by the 72. Doctors in their interpreting the Law p. 171. A Discourse in way of Apology concerning the truth of this Story Also diuers Opinions of both Auncient and Moderne Authorities and Fathers concerning the manner of the Translation p. 181 Lastly an Appendix in my honour of this Auncient and Famous History discoursing the Antiquity and Dignity of the Books and the excellency of their inspired Writer Moses p. 198. CERTAINE Praecognita or Characters of the chiefe Persons mentioned in the insuing HISTORY 1. Of PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS PTOLOMEVS second of that Name Surnamed Philadelphus King of Aegypt of Phaenicia and of Cypres sonne of the first Ptolomeus sonne of a One
of the Captaines of Great Alexander the third Monarch Lagus began his Reigne in the 271. yeare before the incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ This Ptolomeus Philadelphus was endoctrined in the Science of good letters by Strabo the Peripateticke in which he became so excellent that he was esteemed one of the most accomplished Princes of his Time but that which was in him the most admirable was the Bounty Debonarity Sweetnesse and Gentlenesse of his Spirit accomodated with the manners and complexions of all worthy and deseruing persons By this meanes he entred so farre and before in the grace of all the World that euery one in his thought wisht he were King And his Father knowing his right of Succession was to be so and reioycing in his hopes of him made him to bee Crowned King and deuested himselfe of all Authority without reseruing any Power Right or Preheminence to himselfe onely a Superintendency ouer the Guard of the King his Sonne glorying to be Father of such a King For the admiration he had of his high Vertues kindled and gaue occasion betweene them both of a most kind contention in mutuall offices the Son yeelding to the Father and the Father to the Sonne in all and by all through instinct of Deuotion and Piety so they gaue liuely touches to one the other in all reduceable fitting offices which was cause that the People conceiued a great fidelity and amity towardes them so as it seemed euen the diuine prouidence prepared this noble spirit to introduce that great good amongst Humanes as to make them participants of the Lawes and Diuine illuminations wherewith God had fauoured the People of the Iewes aboue all the Nations of the world And it seemeth that euen then his Almightinesse made a preparatiue for the vocation of the Ethnicks and Gentiles by communication so of his holy Law whereof Ptolomy was the ordayned Minister to call the Seuenty Interpretors into Aegypt to Translate into the Greeke Language which then was the most traded and vulgar As the Latines now in Christendome through the whole Vniuerse So as I am amazed at some fanaticall spirits that hinders vs from the knowledge of God in not giuing his Word in the Language of the People wheresoeuer as is appertaining to euery one in regard of Saluation I would aske those men what language spake those Dames of Rome Paula Eustochina Melania Susanna Fabiola Demetria Furia Flauia Blesilla and others For the institution of whom Saint Hierome Translated many Bookes of Holy Scriptures out of strange tongues into Latine which was the naturall language of the sayd Ladies I would also know who was more wise or better inspired then Saint Hierome Further it seemes they eyther are or would seeme to be ignorant of the institution of the Emperour Iustinian who ordained that those who song in the Temples that they should sing high and so intelligible that all the people might vnderstand them But to returne to Ptolomy he vndertooke to erect a Lybrary in the Capitall City of his Realme Alexandria the Charge whereof hee gaue to Demetrius Phalerius Prince and an Athenian Philosopher who erected it so sumptuously that there was not the like in all the world and it lasted vntill the first Warre of the Romanes against the Alexandrians This King had to wife Arsinöe to whom hee caused a Statue to bee raysed in height 4. Cubits of one entire Stone call'd a Topace the which had beene giuen to Berince the Mother of Ptolomy by a Prince named Philemon 2. Of ARISTEVS the Author of this HISTORIE ARISTEVS the neere Kinsman and Friend of King Ptolomeus Philadelphus is named by a Praesal in Pentatauchum Mosi St. Hierome Ptolomei 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Shield of the King or hee that definds the King with his Shield or â—earer of the Shield Royall which â—emes to me that he held some such â—ace about the King his Maister as wee call at this day the Great Esquier of the Kings body he was the principall Sollicitor for Liberty of the Iewes that then were held Slaues throughout all the Dominions of Ptolomy for hee made the first request for them and obtained it And for this cause hee was sent Embassadour with Andrea Prince of the Gardes belonging to the King vnto Hierusalem to deale with the Great Pontiffe Eleazar who sent to the King Ptolomus sixe Doctors of euery Tribe to goe on with the Translation and Version of the holy Bookes of Moses Hee writ diligently his Voyage where hee shews openly how and by what course those 72. Interpreters behaued themselues in the sayâ— Bookes b Iustin dialog cum Tryphone Irenaeus Lîb 3. Cap. 25. Clemon Alexandr lib. 1. stroÌ„ Epiphanius de mâ—ns et Ponditbus Euseb preparat lib. 8. ca. 1. Some haue beene of Opinion that they Translated all the Bible but it is more likely to many thâ— c Hieron in questionibus Hebraicis in Cap. 5 Ezechielis et in Cap. 2 Michiae Iosephi praefat in Antiquit. et lib. 12. Antiquit. Cap. 13. Philo. de â—â—â—a Mosis 〈◊〉 2. they Translated but the fiue Bookes that is Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers and Deuteronomy which they call the Pentaleucke which â— the Law of Moses for Aristeus speakes but of the Law of Moses and it is not likely that they touched the Bookes Historicall nor the Prophets for if it had beene so Aristeus would not thereof haue beene silent Moreouer that which they Translated was finished in the space of 72. dayes which is about two Moneths and a halfe and that 's a Time too small and therefore impossible to Translate all the Old Testament Neuerthelesse I am not ignorant that there was a Turning of other Bookes of the Bible that goe by the Name of the Seuenty two Interpreters But I am perswaded that they were not then done in Aegypt vnlesse that after they were returned to Hierusalem they Translated the rest of the Holy Bookes although both in that and other Opinions I submit mee to the deliberation of the Church from which I will not stray But howeuer this Translation was manifestly Miraculous which is sufficiently shewed by that our Lord Iesus Christ and his Apostles in Alegations of the Law vseth the Version of these Seuentie two Interpretors I haue spoken these few words of Aristeus to the end the Reader shall not thinke that this is that Aristeus Proconensis that could bee invisible when hee listed making folkes beleeue that hee could dye and rise againe when hee would of whom speakes Suidas Herodotus Pliny and Plutarch in the life of Romulus 3. Of ELEAZER the Great Pontiffe of the Iewes ELEAZER of whom Aristeus makes mention was brother of Simon surnamed the Iust Hee after the decease of his Brother Simon in the yeere of the raigne of Ptolomy Ptolomeus Laegus first of that Name 35. was made Chiefe of the Synagogue of the Iewes by reason that Onias Sonne of Simon his Brother was vncapable of
had expresse charge to Write for the very last the yeere since the creation of the World 2513. and of his life the 80. yeere and hath continued his Holy Stories euen to the yeere of his Death and of the world 2553. Now since that time GOD hath alwayes so prouided for the aduancement of his Glory and the edification of his Church that the perpetuall History of her and the certaine account of the yeeres of the World hath beene continued and still put in Writing by his Prophets As it is to bee seene in the Holy Bookes that treate and contayne the Gouernment of Ioshua and the Iudges then to Samuel and the Kings of the People vnto the transmigration into Babylon and of other Gouernors which haue succeeded them after their returne from thence And finally the Prophet Daniel hath declared the rest of the time that is The 490. yeeres since the sayd Deliuerance of the Iewes and returne from Babylon by the meanes of Cyrus Daniel 9. King of Persia euen to the Death and Resurrection of Christ the Redeemer promised to the holy Fathers which is our Lord Iesus the eternall Sonne of God true God and true Man who appeared liuing after his Luk 24. 1 Cor. 15. Death and Resurrection to more then fiue hundred faithfull Witnesses at one time besides his other manifestations and mounted visibly into Heauen in the yeere of the World 3961. Now if wee will search all the Histories of all the Nations of the World of whom the Writings are ariued to our Age the most Ancient time of which they make mention shal be of their Antique destruction of Troy by the Greekes The History whereof hath beene written by Dictis of the I le of Creet which is the best Testimony they haue for the present and since by Homer and many others And from this Destruction Diodorus Siculus renowned amongst the Historians began his Bookes now the same according with the common Iudgement and Calculation of knowing men comes onely to be about 358. yeeres before the building of Rome the same time then fallsâ— to bee in the 16. yeere of the Gouernment of Elon Iudge of the People of Iudgeâ— 12 Israel mentioned in the Booke of Iudges And the same was 316 yeeres before the first Olympiade the reckoning of the Annalls of the Greekes So then the sayd Destruction of Troy falls to be onely vnder the yeere of the World 2838. when therefore wee shall giue consent that their Writings the most certaine whose Narrations wee may best giue credit vntoâ— Yet the Prophet Moses shal be found much more Auncient then all the Writers of the World what Nation soeuer though they are in great number and of whom wee see yet the Old Bookes in these last times in their proper Tongues And that hee hath put his hand to the Pen and began to Write his Diuine Reuelations of the Creation and Conduct of the World euen to his time and his sacred History and Prophesies touching the Church of GOD shall at least bee 325 yeeres before all other Writers of whom there is any mention or newes in the World that is to say in the yeere of the World 25â—3 Whereupon wee note euen to this Present against all those prophane mockers that haue disgorged that enormious blasphemy amongst others that the World is eternall and of it selfe which if it were so as they dreame and that it had no such beginning as is written by Moses they might finde then by all and in all Languages many Histories of infinite times and many Chronicles of many Ages and of old times that haue praeceded Moses in the account of yeeres But wee see that there is no such and that the Holy Bible is found euen in the middle amongst all sorts of enemies that strâ—ue to destroy loose abollish burne and extermine from the World the Bookes of it and for all thereto they had so long time yet neuerthelesse they neuer could nor euer shall For wee see the sayd Bible yet in his proper Writing and Language and of all others of what Nation soeuer the most celebrated and renowned And if they could finde any History which had beene written before Moses was borne into the World yet shall it contayne their time and composition with more yeeres and ages as wee can gather from the Holy Scriptures euen to this present yeere 1633. since the Natiuity of Christ The which account of times past from the Creation vnto this present yeere shall come to amount to 5563 yeeres but such Histories neyther can bee found nor euer were But for Moses and his faithfull Writings euen prophane Authors and Histories of the Gentiles themselues haue beene euen as it were â—iuinely constrayned to â—eaâ—e testimony maâ—ger their Calâ—mnies Lyeâ— Dreames and Disguisings through and by the Invincible force of Truth And so they haue serued for Certificates to all Nations of the venerable and well knowne Antiquity of him and his Holy Writs For some of them haue noted and writ thus as a thing notorious of their times to witt That is the East Trogus Iustinus parts and of Syâ—ia it selfe there had beene an Abraham an Israel and euen a Ioseph who say they was a Sonne of the sayd Israel sold by his brethren and led into Aegypt Then how hee was receiued into the Court and held very dearely with the King to whom hee foretold the grieuous and great famine so as without the diuine Counsell by him giuen whereupon the admonished King gathered vp and made reseruation of Corne before the time of the sayd Famiâ—e Aegypt had perished And finally how his Successor Moses and all his People issued out of Aegypt came to Mount Syna how they consecrated the Seuenth day for their Sabbaoth or Resting dayâ— But I wil leaue this Discourse though diuersified from a spark of Truth that these Historians haue mixed with their owne deuices as prophaâ—â—e and in which they were poorely Aduertised and deceiued by the subtilty of Sathan as we may well know by conferring their VVriting with the Holy Bible And bee it that these Scofferâ— of GOD and his Holy Word dare be so bold to say and calumniate that MOSES and his haue suppressed and abolished all praeceâ—ent Histories making their Writings to be before all others thereby to Authorize them the better but wee will leaue those their calumnies to the iudgement of any of sound sense and vnderstanding If that could be or can haue any place or shaddow of beliefe amongst men of sound iudgement or reasonable Discourse for if they wil put into mature consideration the small meanes and contemptible quality in the world of these poore Israelites but Shepheards and breeders of Cattle and which is worse people exposed to the oppressions and hard seruitude vnder their puissant Enemies and euill disposed Neighbours Then who shall make comparison of them with great Kings and people of the Earth Babilonians Aegytians Syrians Romans and other Potentates who with all their Authority
their Edicts Forces and Armies yet had neuer power to abollish the Holy Bookes written simply by our poore Shepheards when they could not conserue their Royall Lybraries fauoured of all the World Truely this may well put to the blush these wiselings that shew themselues fooles in so speaking and discoursing without Discourse and will iudge of things without inquiry Now for the Integrity of MOSES for vs Christians wee are sufficiently cleared and satisfied by the Authority Praise of Moses of the Holy Spirit of GOD. Who hath giuen excellent Testimony by all the Scriptures both in the old and New Testament of his Originall and Linage beeing descended from the latter Leuy Nephew of the Holy Patriarch Abraham Also of his miraculous conseruation and Deliuerance from Death and Waters from whence he was drawne foorth and then had that name of MOSES in their language Then his royall education and breeding his Loue to his afflicted people and his Magnanimity to despise humane greatnesse in preferring the iust cause and sufferance of CHRIST the Redeemer then look'd for before all the Regall estate and great Treasure of Aegypt Moreouer his sufferance long and bitter for the defence of right and equity and for the deliuerance of the poore afflicted His Diuine calling to the Charge and Gouernement of his People his Patience Gentlenesse and Perseuerance with such faithfulnesse in the difficult execution of this weighty charge and the singular gift of Prophecy and of his Diuine miracles so strange and supernaturall that they haue beene admired and celebrated of all the whole World But there is one poynt aboue allâ— very remarkeable and which is more then sufficient to ouercome humane Reason and to shewe the Integrity of MOSES which is that if hee had would hee might easily and according to the manner of men occupied the Monarchy and Domination for his Children and their posterity vppon all the people of Israel And with the same the two fertile Kingdomes reduc'd vnder his hand and Conquered beyond Iordane Neuerthelesse he left his Sonne Gersom and Eliezer and their posterity priuate men and of most simple estateâ— amongst the other Leuites And the same Children remayning subiect to the Sacrificers successors of Aâ—ron and to the Magistrate and Gouernors of Israel More that he hath himselfe written and Inregistred his owne proper faults and yet more notable those of his House as of his Brother Sister and Nephews and the redoubtable iudgements of GOD's chastisements and punishments of them all Of which things all his People were witnesses in number more then sixe hundred thousand Persons And if they could haue contraried him for any falsâ—ity eyther for the present or times to come If hee had beene I say such as they could haue found any bracke in his actions or in his Writings or falsenesse in eyther his Person or any of his in his Life and his miracles in his Writings or end But in the contrary all the Hebrewes and Iewes which haue beene since that time and are now neere 3000. yeares since and that are dispersed through all the VVorld who are in so great a number that if they were revnited into a body of People and into a State their multitude should be innumerable and might astonish the most greatest Nation of the whole Vniuerse All those I say haue all receiued from their Auncient Fathers from their Kings and Princes and their Sacrificators and Auncestors from Father to Sonne and from hand to hand and with an admirable consent euen in the middle of so many confusions and dissipations haue kept and yet keepe alwayes in their Bibles the Holy VVritings of MOSES in their proper Letters and Hebrew Tongue as Bookes most True and Veritable Sacred and Diuine And such so Knowne and Acknowledged in all Nations with the excellent Testimony Authority and Holinesse of them that CHRIST himselfe hath spoken of them and the Prophets and Apostles also in their Writings and Allegations I and the most Auncient Pagans and Strangers cannot with sound sense but acknowledge them And so Reader although I haue beene as I formerly sayd something prolixe yet the Excellency of the Subiect forc'd and bound me to be so teadious herein to shew as an illustrious Addition the worthines of the Bookes and Diuine Writings as their Antiquity Dignity as also the Excellency of their Humane VVriter from the Dictate of the Most Highest And being the matter whereof wee haue formerly Entreated I held it not impertinent though I haue dealt too weakely in so worthy a Businesse but referre the rest and it to your charitable Censure FINIS