Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
one of the most productive regions of the holy land. It was in ancient times the cornfield of Syria,
and as such the constant subject of warfare between Philistines and Israelites, and the refuge of the
latter when the harvests in the central country were ruined by drought. (2 Kings 8:1-3)
Septuagint
(The seventy). The Septuagint or Greek version of the Old Testament appears at the present
day in four principal editions:—
•Biblia Polyglotta Complutensis, A.D. 1514-1617,
•The Aldine Edition, Venice, A.D. 1518.
•The Roman Edition, edited under Pope Sixtus V., A.D. 1587.
•Fac-simile Edition of the Codex Alexandrinus, by H. H. Baber, A.D. 1816. [TARGUMS] The
Jews of Alexandria had probably still less knowledge of Hebrew than their brethren in Palestine
their familiar language was Alexandrian Greek. They had settled in Alexandria in large numbers
soon after the time of Alexander, and under the early Ptolemies. They would naturally follow the
same practice as the Jews in Palestine; and hence would arise in time an entire Greek version. But
the numbers and names of the translators, and the times at which different portions were translated
are all uncertain. The commonly-received story respecting its origin is contained in an extant letter
ascribed to Aristeas, who was an officer at the court of Ptolemy Philadelphus. This letter which
is dressed by Aristeas to his brother Philocrates, gives a glowing account of the origin of the
Septuagint; of the embassy and presents sent by King Ptolemy to the high priest at Jerusalem, by
the advice of Demetrius Phalereus, his librarian, 30 talents of gold and 70 talents of silver, etc.;
the Jewish slaves whom he set free, paying their ransom himself the letter of the king: the answer
of the high priest; the choosing of six interpreters from each of the twelve tribes and their names;
the copy of the law, in letters of gold; the feast prepared for the seventy two, which continued for
seven days; the questions proposed to each of the interpreters in turn, with the answers of each;
their lodging by the seashore and the accomplishment of their work in seventy. two days, by
conference and comparison. This is the story which probably gave to the version the title of the
Septuagint, and which has been repeated in various forms by the Christian writers. But it is now
generally admitted that the letter is spurious and is probably the fabrication of an Alexandrian Jew
shortly before the Christian era. Still there can be no doubt that there was a basis of fact for the
fiction; on three points of the story there is no material difference of opinion and they are confirmed
by the study of the version itself:—
•The version was made at Alexandria.
•It was begun in the time of the earlier Ptolemies, about 280 B.C.
•The law (i.e. the Pentateuch) alone was translated at first. The Septuagint version was highly
esteemed by the Hellenistic Jews before the coming of Christ. Wherever, by the conquests of
Alexander or by colonization, the Greek language prevailed wherever Jews were settled and the
attention of the neighboring Gentiles was drawn to their wondrous history and law there was found
the Septuagint, which thus became, by divine Providence the means of spreading widely the
knowledge of the one true God and his promises of it Saviour to come, throughout the nations.
To the wide dispersion of this version we may ascribe in great measure that general persuasion
which prevailed over the whole East of the near approach of the Redeemer, and led the Magi to
recognize the star which, reclaimed the birth of the King of the Jews. Not less wide was the
influence of the Septuagint in the spread of the gospel. For a long period the Septuagint was the
Old Testament of the far larger part of the Christian Church. Character of the Septuagint. The
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William Smith