It’s a fascinating document, purporting to be written by a Greek official named Aristeas to his brother Philocrates. In it, he describes the process of commissioning the translation of the Torah into Greek – the Septuagint – but it also offers a vibrant snapshot of Judea and its capital.
Aristeas explains that he felt it important to document the gifts given during this diplomatic mission. But before diving into the meeting with Eleazar the High Priest, he paints a picture of the land itself. He writes, "When we arrived in the land of the Jews we saw the city situated in the middle of the whole of Judea on the top of a mountain of considerable altitude."
Can you picture it? Jerusalem, perched high, a beacon in the landscape. It wasn't just any city; it was the heart of Judea, both geographically and spiritually.
And then there's the Temple itself. Aristeas doesn't hold back in his description, noting, "On the summit the temple had been built in all its splendour. It was surrounded by three walls more than seventy cubits high and in length and breadth corresponding to the structure of the edifice." A cubit, for context, is an ancient unit of measurement, roughly the length of a forearm. So, imagine walls towering over you, vast in scale.
He continues, "All the buildings were characterized by a magnificence and costliness quite unprecedented." It sounds absolutely breathtaking, doesn’t it? A place of unparalleled grandeur. Aristeas is clearly impressed, emphasizing the sheer opulence and artistry that went into constructing this sacred space.
What strikes me most about this passage isn't just the physical description, but the sense of wonder that permeates Aristeas’s words. He's not just listing facts; he's conveying the impact this place had on him. It makes you wonder, doesn't it? What would it have been like to see it with your own eyes? To feel the energy of that holy place? It's a testament to the enduring power of Jerusalem, a place that continues to inspire awe and reverence even millennia later.