against equity； and that their country was harassed by the
insolence of the soldiers； and that； by removing them into Egypt；
the soldiers have made a great profit by them。 Out of regard
therefore to justice； and out of pity to those that have been
tyrannized over； contrary to equity； I enjoin those that have
such Jews in their service to set them at liberty； upon the
receipt of the before…mentioned sum； and that no one use any
deceit about them； but obey what is here commanded。 And I will
that they give in their names within three days after the
publication of this edict； to such as are appointed to execute
the same； and to produce the slaves before them also； for I think
it will be for the advantage of my affairs。 And let every one
that will inform against those that do not obey this decree； and
I will that their estates be confiscated into the king's
treasury。〃 When this decree was read to the king； it at first
contained the rest that is here inserted； and omitted only those
Jews that had formerly been brought； and those brought
afterwards； which had not been distinctly mentioned； so he added
these clauses out of his humanity； and with great generosity。 He
also gave order that the payment； which was likely to be done in
a hurry； should be divided among the king's ministers； and among
the officers of his treasury。 When this was over； what the king
had decreed was quickly brought to a conclusion； and this in no
more than seven days' time； the number of the talents paid for
the captives being above four hundred and sixty； and this；
because their masters required the ＇hundred and＇ twenty drachmas
for the children also； the king having； in effect； commanded that
these should be paid for； when he said in his decree； that they
should receive the forementioned sum for every slave。
4。 Now when this had been done after so magnificent a manner；
according to the king's inclinations； he gave order to Demetrius
to give him in writing his sentiments concerning the transcribing
of the Jewish books； for no part of the administration is done
rashly by these kings； but all things are managed with great
circumspection。 On which account I have subjoined a copy of these
epistles； and set down the multitude of the vessels sent as gifts
＇to Jerusalem＇； and the construction of every one； that the
exactness of the artificers' workmanship； as it appeared to those
that saw them； and which workman made every vessel； may be made
manifest； and。 this on account of the excellency of the vessels
themselves。 Now the copy of the epistle was to this purpose：
〃Demetrius to the great king。 When thou； O king； gavest me a
charge concerning the collection of books that were wanting to
fill your library； and concerning the care that ought to be taken
about such as are imperfect； I have used the utmost diligence
about those matters。 And I let you know； that we want the books
of the Jewish legislation； with some others； for they are written
in the Hebrew characters； and being in the language of that
nation； are to us unknown。 It hath also happened to them； that
they have been transcribed more carelessly than they ought to
have been； because they have not had hitherto royal care taken
about them。 Now it is necessary that thou shouldst have accurate
copies of them。 And indeed this legislation is full of hidden
wisdom； and entirely blameless； as being the legislation of God；
for which cause it is； as Hecateus of Abdera says； that the poets
and historians make no mention of it； nor of those men who lead
their lives according to it； since it is a holy law； and ought
not to be published by profane mouths。 If then it please thee； O
king； thou mayst write to the high priest of the Jews； to send
six of the elders out of every tribe； and those such as are most
skillful of the laws； that by their means we may learn the clear
and agreeing sense of these books； and may obtain an accurate
interpretation of their contents； and so may have such a
collection of these as may be suitable to thy desire。〃
5。 When this epistle was sent to the king； he commanded that an
epistle should be drawn up for Eleazar； the Jewish high priest；
concerning these matters； and that they should inform him of the
release of the Jews that had been in slavery among them。 He also
sent fifty talents of gold for the making of large basons； and
vials； and cups； and an immense quantity of precious stones。 He
also gave order to those who had the custody of the chest that
contained those stones； to give the artificers leave to choose
out what sorts of them they pleased。 He withal appointed； that a
hundred talents in money should be sent to the temple for
sacrifices； and for other uses。 Now I will give a description of
these vessels； and the manner of their construction； but not till
after I have set down a copy of the epistle which was written to
Eleazar the high priest； who had obtained that dignity on the
occasion following： When Onias the high priest was dead； his son
Simon became his successor。 He was called Simon the Just （5）
because of both his piety towards God； and his kind disposition
to those of his own nation。 When he was dead； and had left a
young son； who was called Onias； Simon's brother Eleazar； of whom
we are speaking； took the high priesthood； and he it was to whom
Ptolemy wrote； and that in the manner following： 〃King Ptolemy to
Eleazar the high priest； sendeth greeting。 There are many Jews
who now dwell in my kingdom； whom the Persians； when they were in
power； carried captives。 These were honored by my father； some of
them he placed in the army； and gave them greater pay than
ordinary； to others of them； when they came with him into Egypt；
he committed his garrisons； and the guarding of them； that they
might be a terror to the Egyptians。 And when I had taken the
government； I treated all men with humanity； and especially those
that are thy fellow citizens； of whom I have set free above a
hundred thousand that were slaves； and paid the price of their
redemption to their masters out of my own revenues； and those
that are of a fit age； I have admitted into them number of my
soldiers。 And for such as are capable of being faithful to me；
and proper for my court； I have put them in such a post； as
thinking this ＇kindness done to them＇ to be a very great and an
acceptable gift； which I devote to God for his providence over
me。 And as I am desirous to do what will be grateful to these；
and to all the other Jews in the habitable earth； I have
determined to procure an interpretation of your law； and to have
it translated out of Hebrew into Greek； and to be deposited in my
library。 Thou wilt therefore do well to choose out and send to me
men of a good character； who are now elders in age； and six in
number out of every tribe。 These； by their age； must be skillful
in the laws； and of abilities to make an accurate interpretation
of them； and when this shall be finished； I shall think that I
have done a work glorious to myself。 And I have sent to thee
Andreas； the captain of my guard； and Aristeus； men whom I have
in very great esteem； by whom I have sent those first…fruits
which I have dedicated to the temple； and to the sacrifices； and
to other uses； to the value of a hundred talents。 And if thou
wilt send to us； to let us know what thou wouldst have further；
thou wilt do a thing acceptable to me。〃
6。 When this epistle of the king was brought to Eleazar； he wrote
an answer to it with all the respect possible： 〃Eleazar the high
priest to king Ptolemy； sendeth greeting。 If thou and thy queen
Arsinoe； （6） and thy children； be well； we are entirely
satisfied。 When we received thy epistle； we greatly rejoiced at
thy intentions； and when the multitude were gathered together； we
read it to them； and thereby made them sensible of the piety thou
hast towards God。 We also showed them the twenty vials of gold；
and thirty of silver； and the five large basons； and the table
for the shew…bread； as also the hundred talents for the
sacrifices； and for the making what shall be needful at the
temple； which things Andreas and Aristeus； those most honored
friends of thine； have brought us； and truly they are persons of
an excellent character； and of great learning； and worthy of thy
virtue。 Know then that we will gratify thee in what is for thy
advantage； though we do what we used not to do before； for we
ought to make a return for the numerous acts of kindness which
thou hast done to our countrymen。 We immediately； therefore；
offered sacrifices for thee and thy sister； with thy children and
friends； and the multitude made prayers； that thy affairs may be
to thy mind； and that thy kingdom may be preserved in peace； and
that the translation of our law may come to the conclusion thou
desirest； and be for thy advantage。 We have also chosen six
elders out of every tribe； whom we have sent； and the law with
them。 It will be thy part； out of thy piety and justice； to send
back the law； when it hath been translated； and to return those
to us that bring it in safety。 Farewell。〃
7。 This was the reply which the high priest made。 But it does not
seem to me to be necessary to set down the names of the seventy
＇two＇ elders who were sent by Eleazar； and carried the law； which
yet were subjoined at the end of the epistle。 However； I thought
it not improper to give an account of those very valuable and
artificially contrived vessels which the king sent to God； that
all may see how great a regard the king had for God； for the king
allowed a vast deal of expenses for these vessels； and came often
to the workmen； and viewed their works； and suffered nothing of
carelessness or negligence to be any damage to their operations。
And I will relate how rich they were as well as I am able；
although perhaps the nature of this history may not require such
a description； but I imagine I shall thereby recommend the
elegant taste and magnanimity of this king to those that read
this history。
8。 And first I will describe what belongs to the table。 It was
indeed in the king's mind to make this table vastly large in its
dimensions； but then he gave orders that they should learn what
was the magnitude of the tab