That’s the backdrop for our story, which comes to us from the Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating document that purports to tell the story of how the Septuagint – that's the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible – came to be.
In this particular scene, the king – Ptolemy II Philadelphus, ruler of Egypt in the 3rd century BCE – is eagerly awaiting the arrival of envoys from Jerusalem. These aren’t just any envoys; they’re carrying a request from Ptolemy for learned men to translate the Torah into Greek.
But here's the thing: normally, getting an audience with the king was a whole process. The Letter of Aristeas tells us that ordinary people with important matters might wait five days. Envoys from powerful cities? Maybe thirty days. Talk about bureaucratic red tape!
So, what does Ptolemy do? He completely throws protocol out the window! He’s so excited to meet these envoys, so eager to get the translation project underway, that he dismisses all the other officials waiting to see him. He wants them brought in immediately.
The text tells us that this "excited general surprise." Can you imagine the whispers and raised eyebrows? The other people waiting their turn must have been fuming! But Ptolemy, holding their master in such high esteem, considered the Jewish envoys worthy of greater honor.
He even starts pacing around, waiting impatiently for them to arrive so he can welcome them. It’s a small detail, but it paints such a vivid picture of a king practically vibrating with anticipation. What does it say about Ptolemy's view of the Jewish people, and their wisdom, that he would break all the rules for them?
It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? What are we so eager for that we'd break with tradition? And what are we willing to do to show respect for those we admire? These questions, sparked by a king’s impatience, are really at the heart of the Letter of Aristeas and the enduring story of the Septuagint.