Letter of Aristeas

As the story of our interview with Eleazar, the high priest of the i Jews, is a remarkable one, and because thou, Philocrates, hast* set tliy heart, as thou art constantly reminding me, on learning the object and the occasion of our mission, I have endeavoured to give thee a clear account of what took place. I know that love of learning of thine; and it is indeed man’s highest task “ever to make addition 2 to his store of learning and acquirements,” either by the study of history or by actual experience of affairs. Far in this way there is formed a pure disposition in the soul, which, assimilating what is best, and inclining towards that which is all-important, even piety, directs its course by the guidance of an unerring rule.

3 Having determined to make a close investigation into things divine, we offered our services for an embassy to the man above-named, who, owing to his virtuous character and exalted position, is held in high honour both by his countrymen and by the rest of the world, and is in possession of [documents of] the greatest service to his nation, whether at home or abroad. The object of our mission was the translation of the law of God, because in their country 4 they have it inscribed on parchment in Hebrew letters. And the interest which we displayed, when an opportunity offered itself, in bringing before the king the case of the men who were removed to Egypt from Judaea by the king’s father, who was the first possessor of the city [of Alexandria] and ruler of Egypt, this also it is worth 5 while my telling thee. For I am convinced that thou above all men, with thy leanings towards the holiness and the sentiments of the men who live in accordance with the holy law, wilt gladly listen to the story about them which we are proposing to narrate, having but recently come over from the island to us, and being anxious to gather any 6 instructive information. On a former occasion I sent thee a description of matters in my opinion worthy of record concerning the Jewish nation, which we obtained from the high priests, the most 5- learned body in that most learned of countries, Egypt. It is right to communicate such things to thee with thy eagerness to learn what may benefit the mind; I would, if possible, impart them to all who are like-minded with thee, but chiefly to thee; so sincere are thy principles, and not only does thy conduct show thee to be my brother by birth, but in thy striving after goodness thou art at one with us. For precious gold or any ether of the objects that 8 the vain-glorious hold in honour does not confer the same advantage as the training of culture and the study of these subjects. But, lest we become tedious by extending our introductory remarks to an inordinate length, we will come back to the thread of the narrative.