Guide
What Is the Letter of Aristeas?
2nd Century BCE
Restricted
This pseudepigraphic account attributed to an official of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285–246 BCE) explains the origin of the Greek translation of the Torah known as the Septuagint. Written in Greek, likely in the second century BCE, the work explains that the translation was commissioned by Ptolemy at the request of his librarian, who wished to collect all the books in the world. The translation was completed in seventy-two days by seventy-two men. Versions of this narrative also appear in Josephus’ Jewish Antiquities and in the Babylonian Talmud.
Related Primary Sources
Primary Source
Jewish War Captives Settle in Alexandria
Letter of Aristeas 12–15, 34b–40
But I thought that there was an opportune moment concerning matters about which I frequently asked Sosibius of Tarentum and Andreas, the head…
Primary Source
The Priestly Service
Letter of Aristeas 92–95
Now the service of the priests is not to be surpassed by anything in physical strength or in its state of decorum and silence. For all, of their own accord, work diligently at a greatly laborious…
Primary Source
The State of Agriculture
Letter of Aristeas 107–108, 112–115
It was not without reason that the first settlers constructed the city with fitting proportions, and they planned wisely. For the country is broad and beautiful, and some parts are flat, such as…
Primary Source
The Beauty of the Law
Letter of Aristeas 176–177
And they came with the gifts that had been sent and the remarkable parchments on which the legislation had been written in golden writing in Judean characters, the parchment being worked amazingly…
Primary Source
The Circumstances of the Septuagint’s Translation
Letter of Aristeas 1–11, 32, 308–317 (selections)
Having composed a noteworthy narrative, O Philocrates, about the meeting that we had with Eleazar, the high priest of the Judeans, since you place a high value, as you constantly mention, on hearing…
Primary Source
The Letter of Aristeas’ Description of the Temple
Letter of Aristeas 83–91, 96–104
An official from Hellenistic Egypt describes the Jerusalem Temple.
Primary Source
Letter of Aristeas on Separation from Non-Jews
Letter of Aristeas 130–152 (selections)
“You observe,” he said, “what kind of result is produced by conduct and associations, since people who associate with evildoers become perverted, and they are miserable in the whole of life. But if…
Related Guide
What Are the Pseudepigrapha?
ca. 200 BCE–200 CE