Divine justice

1,478 texts · Page 4 of 31

How the rabbis wrestled with the problem of suffering, the prosperity of the wicked, and the justice of God.

Greek and Hebrew of Letter

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

This is the picture we get from the Letter of Aristeas, where the author describes the actions of a powerful ruler who went above and beyond. He boasts, "I have set at liberty more...

Ptolemy — Andreas Before the Altar

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

That’s precisely the scene that unfolds in the Letter of Aristeas. It’s not just any letter; it’s a record, a moment frozen in time, detailing a remarkable exchange between a Jewis...

Ptolemy Requests Seventy Scholars to Translate Torah

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

That's the request King Ptolemy II Philadelphus supposedly received, and it kicks off the fascinating story we find in the Letter of Aristeas. Now, this letter, attributed to someo...

Ptolemy and the Rabbis of Letter

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

Picture the weight of it, the gleam of it. The Letter of Aristeas tells us it was two cubits long, one cubit broad, and one and a half cubits high. Now, a cubit is an ancient measu...

Precious Stone Eggs Carved Around the Table's Edge

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

Around the edge, where the surface curves upward to meet your gaze, there's a mesmerizing pattern. What is it? A series of precious stone "eggs," meticulously carved. The Letter of...

Translating the Torah of Letter

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

But nestled within this letter are descriptions of the Temple in Jerusalem, and some of its most magnificent furnishings. Today, we're focusing on just one small detail: a table. B...

Rubies and Emeralds Inlaid in the Temple Table

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

The Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating text that purports to describe the translation of the Hebrew Bible into the Septuagint, gives us a glimpse. But within its pages, there are al...

The Magnificent Table at Ptolemy's Royal Court

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

The Letter of Aristeas gives us a tantalizing glimpse. This ancient text, purporting to be a letter from an official named Aristeas to his brother Philocrates, describes the proces...

The Golden Vials Crafted for the Septuagint King

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

It wasn't just about function; it was about honoring something bigger than themselves. Take, for instance, the description we find in the Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating text tha...

Temple Remembered

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

It's not just about the bling, you know. It's about the dedication, the artistry, the sheer audacity of the project. Take, for instance, the story told in the Letter of Aristeas. W...

The Awe-Inspiring Interior of the Jerusalem Temple

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

The Letter of Aristeas asks us to do just that, to linger in the details. It’s a fascinating ancient text purporting to be a letter from an official in the court of Ptolemy II Phil...

Temple — Holy of Holies

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

It’s a question that might make you squeamish, but it also speaks to the incredible ingenuity and meticulousness of the ancient priests. The Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating docum...

Eleazar Speaks for God

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

The Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating historical text, gives us a glimpse into just such a moment. It recounts the story of how the Septuagint – the Greek translation of the Hebrew...

Viewing Jerusalem From the Heights of the Citadel

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

It's not just a letter, it's a window into a world long gone. The Letter of Aristeas is a fascinating document. It purports to be a first-hand account of how the Septuagint – that'...

Guards of Absolute Loyalty at the Temple Towers

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

In the Letter of Aristeas, we get a glimpse into just such a place – likely referring to the Temple in Jerusalem. The text describes the elaborate security measures in place. It wa...

Greek and Hebrew of Persian

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

The Letter of Aristeas, though not strictly a sacred text, offers us a fascinating glimpse, a sort of travelogue, into that world. It paints a picture, quite literally, of the land...

Life of Septuagint

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

Let’s journey back in time, to a world of kings, scholars, and a burning desire to bridge cultures. Our tale begins with a concern. A very practical concern, actually. Imagine your...

Scholars Chosen for Diplomacy and Legal Mastery

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

This letter, purportedly written by a Greek official named Aristeas, describes the process of creating the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. But it's more than...

Jewish Dietary Laws in the Second Temple Period

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

It's more than just a list of dos and don'ts; it's a reflection of a deeper understanding of the world, a worldview even. And sometimes, ancient texts can shed surprising light on ...

Dietary Laws That Teach Virtue and Self-Control

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

It's easy to dismiss them as arbitrary, ancient dietary restrictions. But what if there's something much deeper going on? Something about character, about virtue, about becoming th...

Split Hooves and Cud-Chewing as Symbols of Memory

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

It's not just about taste, folks. It's a whole symbolic system, pointing to deeper truths about ourselves and our relationship with the Divine. The Letter of Aristeas, an ancient t...

Tefillin as Reminders Fastened on the Hand

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

Are they just habits, or something more profound? Well, the Letter of Aristeas, an ancient text describing the translation of the Torah into Greek, touches on just that. It offers ...

Hidden Wisdom Behind the Laws of Kashrut

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

It's easy to dismiss them as outdated or just plain weird. But what if there's a deeper wisdom hidden within? The Letter of Aristeas, an ancient text, gives us a fascinating perspe...

Why Mice Are Unclean and What They Symbolize

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

It’s not always about hygiene, you know. Sometimes, it’s about symbolism, about mirroring human behaviors we’re meant to avoid. Take the humble mouse, for example. It seems straigh...

Eleazar Receives the Torah

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

Isn't it amazing how a single letter can sometimes open a window into a whole world? A world of ancient cultures, political intrigue, and deep-seated beliefs? That's precisely what...

Wisdom of Ptolemy

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

Let’s journey back to ancient Egypt, to the court of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, a king with a thirst for knowledge and a library that was the envy of the ancient world. He was determ...

Kingdom of Septuagint of Ptolemy

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

This ancient text, purporting to be a letter from Aristeas, an official in Ptolemy's court, describes the remarkable story of how the Septuagint – the Greek translation of the Hebr...

Story of Dorotheus

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

The air is thick with anticipation. Prayers have just been offered, not just any prayers, but blessings invoking the Almighty to shower the king with prosperity, happiness, and end...

Road to Forgiveness

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

It’s a question rulers have wrestled with for millennia. The Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating historical text, gives us a peek into just such a conversation, a moment of royal pon...

A King Asks His Advisors How to Do Good

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

Turns out, this question has been on people's minds for centuries. Let’s peek into the court of a king—specifically, a moment captured in the Letter of Aristeas. This ancient text,...

Morning and Evening Prayer of Letter

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

In the Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating text purportedly written in the 2nd century BCE, we get a glimpse into the mind of a king grappling with this very issue. The Letter of Ari...

Ptolemy Asks His Advisors for Wisdom on Ruling

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

It's fascinating to peek behind the curtains of power and see what advice they valued. The Letter of Aristeas gives us just that glimpse. It's a pseudepigraphical letter—meaning, i...

The Highest Good in Life According to Ancient Sages

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

They weren't just strategizing battles and building empires, you know. They were also pondering the big questions, just like us. The Letter of Aristeas gives us a peek into just su...

Ancient Wisdom on What Matters Most in Life

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

The ancient world grappled with these questions just as we do today. And sometimes, tucked away in texts like the Letter of Aristeas, we find little gems of wisdom, insights into w...

What Is the True Mark of Piety

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

The Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating text purportedly written in the 3rd century BCE, gives us a glimpse into just that. It recounts the story of how the Septuagint, the Greek tra...

Secrets to Good Governance at an Ancient Banquet

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

These aren't just modern questions. They're the kinds of things that leaders have been wrestling with for millennia. And they're exactly the sort of questions posed in the Letter o...

Letter from Alexandria of Greek

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

The Letter of Aristeas, an ancient text purporting to be a letter written by a Greek official in the court of Ptolemy Philadelphus (285-247 BCE), offers some surprisingly practical...

Ancient Wisdom from the King's Dialogue with Sages

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

The ancient world wrestled with these questions too, and sometimes, we find their wisdom tucked away in unexpected places. Take the Letter of Aristeas, for example. It’s not exactl...

How Ancient Advisors Taught the Art of Just Rule

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

The Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating ancient text, gives us a glimpse into just that. It recounts the story of how the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, came ...

What Is the Grossest Form of Neglect a King Can Show

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

The Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating ancient text, gives us a glimpse into that very question. Imagine being a king, surrounded by advisors, each vying for your attention. But ins...

How Ptolemy Sought to Build Monuments That Last

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

King Ptolemy, a powerful ruler in his time, certainly did. He wasn't just interested in building grand things, but in building things that endured. He wasn't thinking small. In the...

Wisdom of King Ptolemy

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

The Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating ancient text, gives us a glimpse into this very question through a series of dialogues at a royal banquet. Imagine being a fly on the wall, li...

Acting the Proper Part Toward Each Person

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

And the Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating ancient text, gives us a glimpse into just that kind of royal dilemma. The story goes that a king—presumably Ptolemy II Philadelphus, thou...

A Kingdom's Safety Rests on Its Leaders' Integrity

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

He poses a deceptively simple question: "What is it that keeps a kingdom safe?" The answer? It's not about brute force, but something far more nuanced. It's about "Care and foretho...

Why Most People Never Become Truly Virtuous

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

This letter, if you're not familiar, supposedly recounts how the Septuagint – that's the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible – came to be. But tucked inside this historical (or p...

How Should a King Spend His Leisure Time

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

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...

What Qualities Make a Ruler Serve His People Well

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

The Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating text from the Hellenistic period, gives us some food for thought on just that. It recounts the story of how the Septuagint, the Greek translat...

Counselors Reveal the Secrets of Effective Rule

Apocrypha Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

The Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating ancient text, offers a different perspective. It's a window into the world of Hellenistic Judaism, supposedly written by a Greek official name...