The Ancient History of the Egyptians, Carthagininas, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Macedonians, and Grecians Volume 6 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1820 Excerpt: ... their neighbours. Antiechus defeated them with great slaughter, and delivered the country from their oppression. This action acquired him the title of Soter, which signifies a deliverer. Sect. VI. Ptolemy Philadelfihus causes the books of the Holy Scri/ilurcs to be translated into Greek. a The tumult of the wars, which a diversity of interests had kindled among the successors of Alexander, throughout the whole extent of their territories, did not prevent Ptolemy Philadelphus from devoting his utmost attention to the noble library which he had founded in Alexandria, and wherein he deposited the most valuable and curious books he was capable of collecting from all parts of the world. This prince, being informed that the Jews possessed a work which contained the law of Moses, and the history of that people, was desirous of having it translated out of the Hebrew language into the Greek, in order to enrich his library with that performance. To accomplish this design, it became necessary for him to address himself to the high-priest of the Jewish nation; but the affair happened to be attended with great difficulty. There was at that time a very considerable number of Jews in Egypt, who had been reduced to a state of slavery, by Ptolemy Soter, during the invasions of Judea in his time; and it was represented to the king, that there would be no probability of obtaining from that people either a copy or a faithful translation of their law, while he suffered such a number of their countrymen to continue in their present servitude. Ptolemy, who always acted with the utmost generosity, and was extremely solicitous to enlarge his library, did not hesitate a moment, but issued a decree for restoring all the Jewish slaves in his dominions to their full liberty, with orde...