Septuagint

Septuagint, THE, or ALEXANDRIAN VERSION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT (from Latin septuaginta, seventy), is a translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Hellenistic Greek, probably undertaken during the reign of Ptolemy (II.) Philadelphus (284-47 B.C.). The name is probably due to the legend related in the Letter of Aristeas, a forgery of early date, the author of which represents himself as a contemporary of King Ptolemy. According to this account, Ptolemy, in his zeal for learning, sent to Palestine for Jews to translate the books of the Old Testament. The seventy-two (not seventy) learned men commissioned to execute the task were placed in seclusion on the island of Pharos, and at the end of seventy-two days the version on which they had agreed was dictated to the librarian Demetrius Internal evidence, furnished by the Septuagint itself, shows that the details of this story are fictitious. It was certainly translated by Alexandrian, not Palestinian, Jews, and differences of style and treatment show that it was the work of independent translators, separated by considerable intervals of time. The Septuagint furnishes valuable materials for Old Testament criticism; for differences in the arrangement of the books, as well as various omissions and additions, show that it was translated from a different text from that which has been preserved. It eventually supplanted the Hebrew Scriptures in Palestine itself, and from it are taken the quotations of Christ recorded by the Evangelists. The Septuagint has much literary value as the great monnment of Hellenistic Greek. [HELLENIST.]