This letter, which details the translation of the Torah into Greek (the Septuagint), offers a glimpse into the intellectual life of the Hellenistic world, and, surprisingly, a king's search for suitable entertainment.
The king, deeply engaged in conversation, posed a simple yet profound question: "How ought a man to occupy himself during his hours of relaxation and recreation?" It’s a timeless query, isn’t it? What should we do when we're not working? What truly nourishes the soul?
The answer he received is particularly interesting. The king was told, "To watch those plays which can be acted with propriety and to set before one's eyes scenes taken from life and enacted with dignity and decency is profitable and appropriate." Entertainment wasn't just about mindless escapism. It was about witnessing stories that reflected life, presented with dignity and decency. The goal was to learn, to be edified, even through amusement. This wasn’t just about killing time; it was about cultivating virtue.
The speaker continues, "For there is some edification to be found even in these amusements, for often some desirable lesson is taught by the most insignificant affairs of life." It’s a powerful reminder that even the simplest stories can hold profound truths. The everyday dramas, the comedies, the tragedies — they all offer opportunities for reflection and growth.
And the ultimate compliment? "But by practicing the utmost propriety in all your actions, you have shown that you are a philosopher and you are honoured by God on account of your virtue." To be considered a philosopher not through dry academic study, but through the way one lives their life, through the conscious choice of virtuous action – that was the mark of true honor, and of divine favor.
So, what does this little snippet from the Letter of Aristeas tell us? Perhaps that even in leisure, there's an opportunity for growth, for learning, for connecting with something deeper. Maybe the question isn’t just "How do we relax?" but "How do we relax in a way that makes us better?" It’s a question worth pondering, isn’t it? A question as relevant today as it was centuries ago.