按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Balaam's prophecy； 〃Amalek was the first of the nations； but his
latter end shall be； that he perish for ever〃 Numbers 24：20。
（21） Take here part of Reland's note on this disputed passage：
〃In Josephus's copies these Hebrew words； 'days of Purim；' or '
lots；' as in the Greek copies of Esther； ch。 9：26； 28…32； is read
'days of Phurim；' or 'days of protection；' but ought to be read'
days of Parira；' as in the Hebrew； than which creation；〃 says he；
〃nothing is more certain。〃 And had we any assurance that
Josephus's copy mentioned the 〃casting of lots；〃 as our other
copies do； Esther 3：7； I should fully agree with Reland； but； as
it now stands； it seems to me by no means certain。 As to this
whole Book of Esther in the present Hebrew copy； it is so very
imperfect； in a case where the providence of God was so very
remarkable； and the Septuagint and Josephus have so much of
religion； that it has not so much as the name of God once in it；
and it is hard to say who made that epitome which the Masorites
have given us for the genuine book itself； no religious Jews
could well be the authors of it； whose education obliged them to
have a constant regard to God； and whatsoever related to his
worship； nor do we know that there ever was so imperfect a copy
of it in the world till after the days of Barchochab； in the
second century。
（22） Concerning this other Artaxerxes； called Muemon； and the
Persian affliction and captivity of the Jews under him；
occasioned by the murder of the high priest's brother in the holy
house itself； see Authent。 Rec。 at large； p。 49。 And if any
wonder why Josephus wholly omits the rest of the kings of Persia
after Artaxerxes Mnemon； till he came to their last king Darius；
who was conquered by Alexander the Great； I shall give them
Vossius's and Dr。 Hudson's answer； though in my own words； viz。
that Josephus did not do ill in admitting those kings of Persia
with whom the Jews had no concern； because he was giving the
history of the Jews； and not of the Persians ＇which is a
sufficient reason also why he entirely omits the history and the
Book of Job； as not particularly relating to that nation＇。 He
justly therefore returns to the Jewish affairs after the death of
Longimanus； without any intention of Darius II。 before Artaxerxes
Mnemon； or of Ochus or Arogus； as the Canon of Ptolemy names
them； after him。 Nor had he probably mentioned this other
Artaxerxes； unless Bagoses； one of the governors and commanders
under him； had occasioned the pollution of the Jewish temple； and
had greatly distressed the Jews upon that pollution。
（23） The place showed Alexander might be Daniel 7：6； 8：3…8；
2022； 11：3； some or all of them very plain predictions of
Alexander's conquests and successors。
BOOK 12 FOOTNOTES
（1） Here Josephus uses the very word koinopltagia； 〃eating things
common；〃 for 〃eating things unclean；〃 as does our New Testament；
Acts 10：14； 15； 28； 11：8； 9； Romans 14：14；
（2） The great number of these Jews and Samaritans that were
formerly carried into Egypt by Alexander； and now by Ptolemy the
son of Lagus； appear afterwards in the vast multitude who as we
shall see presently； were soon ransomed by Philadelphus； and by
him made free； before he sent for the seventy…two interpreters；
in the many garrisons and other soldiers of that nation in Egypt；
in the famous settlement of Jews； and the number of their
synagogues at Alexandria； long afterward； and in the vehement
contention between the Jews and Samatitans under Philometer；
about the place appointed for public worship in the law of Moses；
whether at the Jewish temple of Jerusalem； or at the Samaritan
temple of Gerizzim； of all which our author treats hereafter。 And
as to the Samaritans carried into Egypt under the same princes；
Scaliger supposes that those who have a great synagogue at Cairo；
as also those whom the Arabic geographer speaks of as having
seized on an island in the Red Sea； are remains of them at this
very day； as the notes here inform us。
（3） Of the translation of the other parts of the Old Testament by
seventy Egyptian Jews； in the reigns of Ptolemy the son of Lagus；
and Philadelphus； as also of the translation of the Pentateuch by
seventy…two Jerusalem Jews； in the seventh year of Philadelphus
at Alexandria； as given us an account of by Aristeus； and thence
by Philo and Josephus； with a vindication of Aristeus's history；
see the Appendix to Lit。 Accorap。 of Proph。 at large； p。
117152。
（4） Although this number one hundred and twenty drachmee ＇of
Alexandria； or sixty Jewish shekels＇ be here three times
repeated； and that in all Josephus's copies； Greek and Latin； yet
since all the copies of Aristeus； whence Josephus took his
relation； have this sum several times； and still as no more than
twenty drachmae； or ten Jewish shekels； and since the sum of the
talents； to be set down presently； which is little above four
hundred and sixty； for somewhat more than one hundred thousand
slaves； and is nearly the same in Josephus and Aristeus； does
better agree to twenty than to one hundred and twenty drachmae；
and since the value of a slave of old was at the utmost but
thirty shekels； or sixty drachmae； see Exodus 21：32； while in the
present circumstances of these Jewish slaves； and those so very
numerous； Philadelphus would rather redeem them at a cheaper than
at a dearer rate； … there is great reason to prefer here
Aristeus's copies before Josephus's。
（5） We have a very great encomium of this Simon the Just； the son
of Onias； in the fiftieth chapter of the Ecclesiasticus； through
the whole chapter。 Nor is it improper to consult that chapter
itself upon this occasion。
（6） When we have here and presently mention made of
Philadelphus's queen and sister Arsinoe； we are to remember； with
Spanheim； that Arsinoe was both his sister and his wife；
according to the old custom of Persia； and of Egypt at this very
time； nay； of the Assyrians long afterwards。 See Antiq。 B。 XX。
ch。 2。 sect。 1。 Whence we have； upon the coins of Philadelphus；
this known inscription； 〃The divine brother and sister。〃
（7） The Talmudists say； that it is not lawful to write the law in
letters of gold； contrary to this certain and very ancient
example。 See Hudson's and Reland's notes here。
（8） This is the most ancient example I have met with of a grace；
or short prayer； or thanksgiving before meat； which； as it is
used to be said by a heathen priest； was now said by Eleazar； a
Jewish priest； who was one of these seventy…two interpreters。 The
next example I have met with； is that of the Essenes； （Of the
War； B。 II。 ch。 8。 sect。 5；） both before and after it； those of
our Savior before it； Mark 8：6； John 6：11； 23； and St。 Paul； Acts
27：35； and a form of such a grace or prayer for Christians； at
the end of the fifth book of the Apostolical Constitutions； which
seems to have been intended for both times； both before and after
meat。
（9） They were rather political questions and answers； tending to
the good and religious government of mankind。
（10） This purification of the interpreters； by washing in the
sea； before they prayed to God every morning； and before they set
about