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[34]
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is a holy law, and ought not to be published by profane mouths.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."
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