ordered them to guard that country。
7。 Now when Alexander was dead； the government was parted among
his successors； but the temple upon Mount Gerizzim remained。 And
if any one were accused by those of Jerusalem of having eaten
things common （24） or of having broken the sabbath； or of any
other crime of the like nature； he fled away to the Shechemites；
and said that he was accused unjustly。 About this time it was
that Jaddua the high priest died； and Onias his son took the high
priesthood。 This was the state of the affairs of the people of
Jerusalem at this time。
BOOK XII。
Containing The Interval Of A Hundred And Seventy Years。
From The Death Of Alexander The Great To The Death Of Judas
Maccabeus。
CHAPTER 1。
How Ptolemy The Son Of Lagus Took Jerusalem And Judea By Deceit
And Treachery； And Carried Many Thence； And Planted Them In
Egypt。
1。 Now when Alexander； king of Macedon； had put an end to the
dominion of the Persians； and had settled the affairs in Judea
after the forementioned manner； he ended his life。 And as his
government fell among many； Antigonus obtained Asia； Seleucus
Babylon； and of the other nations which were there； Lysimachus
governed the Hellespont； and Cassander possessed Macedonia； as
did Ptolemy the son of Lagus seize upon Egypt。 And while these
princes ambitiously strove one against another； every one for his
own principality； it came to pass that there were continual wars；
and those lasting wars too； and the cities were sufferers； and
lost a great many of their inhabitants in these times of
distress； insomuch that all Syria； by the means of Ptolemy the
son of Lagus； underwent the reverse of that denomination of
Savior； which he then had。 He also seized upon Jerusalem； and for
that end made use of deceit and treachery； for as he came into
the city on a sabbath day； as if he would offer sacrifices （1）
he； without any trouble； gained the city； while the Jews did not
oppose him； for they did not suspect him to be their enemy； and
he gained it thus； because they were free from suspicion of him；
and because on that day they were at rest and quietness； and when
he had gained it； he ruled over it in a cruel manner。 Nay；
Agatharchides of Cnidus； who wrote the acts of Alexander's
successors； reproaches us with superstition； as if we； by it； had
lost our liberty； where he says thus： 〃There is a nation called
the nation of the Jews； who inhabit a city strong and great；
named Jerusalem。 These men took no care； but let it come into the
hands of Ptolemy； as not willing to take arms； and thereby they
submitted to be under a hard master； by reason of their
unseasonable superstition。〃 This is what Agatharchides relates of
our nation。 But when Ptolemy had taken a great many captives；
both from the mountainous parts of Judea； and from the places
about Jerusalem and Samaria； and the places near Mount Gerizzim；
he led them all into Egypt； （2） and settled them there。 And as he
knew that the people of Jerusalem were most faithful in the
observation of oaths and covenants； and this from the answer they
made to Alexander； when he sent an embassage to them； after he
had beaten Darius in battle； so he distributed many of them into
garrisons； and at Alexandria gave them equal privileges of
citizens with the Macedonians themselves； and required of them to
take their oaths； that they would keep their fidelity to the
posterity of those who committed these places to their care。 Nay；
there were not a few other Jews who； of their own accord； went
into Egypt； as invited by the goodness of the soil； and by the
liberality of Ptolemy。 However； there were disoders among their
posterity； with relation to the Samaritans； on account of their
resolution to preserve that conduct of life which was delivered
to them by their forefathers； and they thereupon contended one
with another； while those of Jerusalem said that their temple was
holy； and resolved to send their sacrifices thither； but the
Samaritans were resolved that they should be sent to Mount
Gerizzim。
CHAPTER 2。
How Ptolemy Philadelphus Procured The Laws Of The Jews To Be
Translated Into The Greek Tongue And Set Many Captives Free； And
Dedicated Many Gifts To God。
1。 When Alexander had reigned twelve years； and after him Ptolemy
Soter forty years； Philadelphus then took the kingdom of Egypt；
and held it forty years within one。 He procured the law to be
interpreted； and set free those that were come from Jerusalem
into Egypt； and were in slavery there； who were a hundred and
twenty thousand。 The occasion was this： Demetrius Phalerius； who
was library keeper to the king； was now endeavoring； if it were
possible； to gather together all the books that were in the
habitable earth； and buying whatsoever was any where valuable； or
agreeable to the king's inclination； （who was very earnestly set
upon collecting of books；） to which inclination of his Demetrius
was zealously subservient。 And when once Ptolemy asked him how
many ten thousands of books he had collected； he replied； that he
had already about twenty times ten thousand； but that； in a
little time； he should have fifty times ten thousand。 But be said
he had been informed that there were many books of laws among the
Jews worthy of inquiring after； and worthy of the king's library；
but which； being written in characters and in a dialect of their
own； will cause no small pains in getting them translated into
the Greek tongue； （3） that the character in which they are
written seems to be like to that which is the proper character of
the Syrians； and that its sound； when pronounced； is like theirs
also； and that this sound appears to be peculiar to themselves。
Wherefore he said that nothing hindered why they might not get
those books to be translated also； for while nothing is wanting
that is necessary for that purpose； we may have their books also
in this library。 So the king thought that Demetrius was very
zealous to procure him abundance of books； and that he suggested
what was exceeding proper for him to do； and therefore he wrote
to the Jewish high priest； that he should act accordingly。
2。 Now there was one Aristeus； who was among the king's most
intimate friends； and on account of his modesty very acceptable
to him。 This Aristeus resolved frequently； and that before now；
to petition the king that he would set all the captive Jews in
his kingdom free； and he thought this to be a convenient
opportunity for the making that petition。 So he discoursed； in
the first place； with the captains of the king's guards； Sosibius
of Tarentum； and Andreas； and persuaded them to assist him in
what he was going to intercede with the king for。 Accordingly
Aristeus embraced the same opinion with those that have been
before mentioned； and went to the king； and made the following
speech to him： 〃It is not fit for us； O king； to overlook things
hastily； or to deceive ourselves； but to lay the truth open。 For
since we have determined not only to get the laws of the Jews
transcribed； but interpreted also； for thy satisfaction； by what
means can we do this； while so many of the Jews are now slaves in
thy kingdom？ Do thou then what will be agreeable to thy
magnanimity； and to thy good nature： free them from the miserable
condition they are in； because that God； who supporteth thy
kingdom； was the author of their laws as I have learned by
particular inquiry； for both these people； and we also； worship
the same God the framer of all things。 We call him； and that
truly； by the name of GREEK； ＇or life； or Jupiter；＇ because he
breathes life into all men。 Wherefore do thou restore these men
to their own country； and this do to the honor of God； because
these men pay a peculiarly excellent worship to him。 And know
this further； that though I be not of kin to them by birth； nor
one of the same country with them； yet do I desire these favors
to be done them； since all men are the workmanship of God； and I
am sensible that he is well…pleased with those that do good。 I do
therefore put up this petition to thee； to do good to them。〃
3。 When Aristeus was saying thus； the king looked upon him with a
cheerful and joyful countenance； and said； 〃How many ten
thousands dost thou suppose there are of such as want to be made
free？〃 To which Andreas replied； as he stood by； and said；〃 A few
more than ten times ten thousand。〃 The king made answer； 〃And is
this a small gift that thou askest； Aristeus？〃 But Sosibius； and
the rest that stood by； said that he ought to offer such a
thank…offering as was worthy of his greatness of soul； to that
God who had given him his kingdom。 With this answer he was much
pleased； and gave order； that when they paid the soldiers their
wages； they should lay down ＇a hundred and＇ twenty drachmas （4）
for every one of the slaves？ And he promised to publish a
magnificent decree； about what they requested； which should
confirm what Aristeus had proposed； and especially what God
willed should be done； whereby he said he would not only set
those free who had been led away captive by his father and his
army； but those who were in this kingdom before； and those also；
if any such there were； who had been brought away since。 And when
they said that their redemption money would amount to above four
hundred talents； he granted it。 A copy of which decree I have
determined to preserve； that the magnanimity of this king may be
made known。 Its contents were as follows： 〃Let ail those who were
soldiers under our father； and who； when they overran Syria and
Phoenicia； and laid waste Judea； took the Jews captives； and made
them slaves； and brought them into our cities； and into this
country； and then sold them； as also all those that were in my
kingdom before them； and if there be any that have been lately
brought thither； … be made free by those that possess them； and
let them accept of ＇a hundred and＇ twenty drachmas for every
slave。 And let the soldiers receive this redemption money with
their pay； but the rest out of the king's treasury： for I suppose
that they were made captives without our father's consent； and
against equity； and that their country was harassed by the
insolence of the soldiers； and