486 A SHORT VIEW OF seRIrTtRE nItTORY. men for several ages. It happened that the larger half of this library was burned by Julius Cresar in bis Alexandrian war : The other part was by continual recruits, enlarged to a vaster number than the whole library before : but it was finally burned and destroyedby the Saracens, in the year of our Lord 642. 11. Q. In what manner is this translation reported to be made ? A. Aristeas, the most ancient writer on this subject, and Josephus the historian, who follows him, acquaint us, that after this Ptolemy had gained the favour of the Jews, bypay- ing the ransom of ahundred thousand of their countrymen, who were enslaved in Egypt, he procured six elders out of every tribe of Israel, which were in all seventy -two, to come to his court ; and after a trial of their wisdom, by some particular question being put to each of them, he appointed them to translate the law of Moses, by conferring together about the sense of it, in the isle of Pharos: Which being afterwards read to him, and approved by him, he gave them a liberal reward. Upon this account, this translation is called the Septuagint, that is, the translation of the seventy, or seventy- two elders. 12. Q. But did not this story, in following times grow much more fabulous ? A. Philo the Jew, who lived about our Saviour's time, reports, that each of these seventy -two elders were put into a distinct cell, and were required to translate the whole bible apart; and that they performed it so exactly alike, word for word, that it was approved as miraculous and divine : And even several fathers of the christian church, being too credulous and fond of miracles, have received this story, and conveyed it down in their writings. 13. Q. How doth it appear to be a fable? A,. The great imperfection of this translation, discovers that it was no divine work, nor performed by miracle : Besides, the several contra- dictions, and the uncertainties that are mingled up and down with this story, do - utterly overthrow the credit of it. 14. Q. Upon the whole view of things, what is the best account of this translation? A. In the reign of Ptolemy Phil - adelphus, there was such a version made of the five books of Moses, by the Jews of Alexandria, into the Greek language, probably for their own use, and for the use of their countrymen: For the Jews in their dispersions had used themselves to the Greek tongue, the conquests of Alexander and his Grecian army having spread their language through the world : And when Ptolemy Philadelphus erected such a noble library, he was desi- rous to have this book deposited there. Whether his request or command gave any occasion to this translation, is hard to determine. 15. Q. Were not the other sacred writings translated into Greek also, as well as the five books of Moses ? A. When the
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