THE

SEPTUAGINT VERSION

OF

THE OLD TESTAMENT:

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Sir LANCELOT CHARLES LEE BRENTON, Bart.

SAMUEL BAGSTER AND SONS LIMITED

80 WIGMORE STREET - LONDON - W1

1870

Order of Books

Abbreviations and Signs used in the Notes

Heb. for Hebrew.

Gr. for Greek.

Lit. for Literally.

q. d. for quasi dicat.

Comp. for Compare.

A. V. for Authorised Version.

Alex. for Alexandrine Text.

Ald. for Aldine Text.

App. for Appendix.

+ for Sign of addition.

— for Sign of ommission.

sc. for scilicet, that is to say.

INTRODUCTION

An Historical Account of the Septuagint Version

The earliest version of the Old Testament Scriptures which is extant, or of which we possess any certain knowledge, is the translation executed at Alexandria in the third century before the Christian era: this version has been so habitually known by the name of the Septuagint, that the attempt of some learned men in modern times to introduce the designation of the Alexandrian version (as more correct) has been far from successful.

The history of the origin of this translation was embellished with various fables at so early a period, that it has been a work of patient critical research in later times to bring into plain light the facts which may be regarded as well authenticated.

We need not wonder that but little is known with accuracy on this subject; for, with regard to the ancient versions of the Scriptures in general, we possess no information whatever as to the time or place of their execution, or by whom they were made: we simply find such versions in use at particular times, and thus we gather the fact that they must have been previously executed. If, then, our knowledge of the origin of the Septuagint be meagre, it is at least more extensive than that which we possess of other translations.

After the conquests of Alexander had brought Egypt under Macedonian rule, the newly-founded city of Alexandria became especially a place where the Greek language, although by no means in its purest form, was the medium of written and spoken communication amongst the varied population there brought together. This Alexandrian dialect is the idiom in which the Septuagint version was made.

Amongst other inhabitants of Alexandria the number of Jews ...