8

have been built when the Israelites had resided some time in Egypt for they are presumed to be the builders. But there was another of the same name, the antient On, that is previously mentioned in the same translation; and was prior to their coming into these parts. It is said that Joseph, before the coming of his brethren, had married the daughter of the priest of On at the recommendation of Pharaoh : which On the Seventy very properly translate Heliopolis. Και έδωκεν αυτῳ [Φαραω] την Ασενεθ θυγατέρα Πετεφρή ἱερέως Ηλιοπολεως αυτῷ εις γυναίκα. There was therefore another city called On, or Heliopolis; antecedent to the city of Onias, allowing it to be as antient as they pretend, and manifestly a different city. But, in truth, the whole of this interpretation, that On was Heliopolis, is an impudent interpolation, and calculated for a particular end. Some of the Hellenistic Jews therefore did not seem willing to have the credit of their place and temple rest upon this reading, "one shall be called the city of "the sun;" and at the same time the original reading, Air haheres, "the city of destruction," would overthrow all the good they intended to draw from the application: so that it could not stand with their pretensions. There was therefore another expedient thought of; and, instead of the former reading, they substituted Air hazedek, that is, "one of them.

1

3. Genes. 41. v. 45.

"shall be called the city of righteousness;" as if they were diffident of the grounds that they went on before; and knew that the prophecy, as it was first moulded, could not relate to their temple.

I cannot quit this subject, without some strictures on Josephus for the part he takes in the pretensions of Onias; and the mistakes he is guilty of in the process of this story. He informs us, that Onias the son of Onias petitioned Ptolemy Philometor for leave to build a temple in honour of God; and desired a grant of that ground that lay unoccupied in the nome of Heliopolis, where had stood an antient Egyptian temple, that was now in ruins. It seems, "it was the spot where Isaiah, who lived six "hundred years before, had prophesied a temple should be erected by one of his nation." TUTO de 9 Τετο δε εξέλετο, θαῤῥων μάλιςα τῷ προφήτη Ησαΐα, ός, ετεσιν εμφα προσθεν ἑξακοσίοις πλεον γεγονως, προειπεν, ὡς δει παντως εν Αιγυπτῳ οικοδομηθῆναι ναον τῷ μεγίσῳ Θεῳ ὑπ' ανδρος Ιεδαις. Onias therefore, on the strength of this prophecy, writes a letter to Ptolemy and his queen Cleopatra: which, as it has never, as I know of, been animadverted upon, I will quote at large, together with the answer that was sent in return. The letter was written from Alexandria.

ΤΟ

Πολλας και μεγαλας υμιν χρείας τετελεκώς εν τοις

Jos. Antiq. Jud. lib. 13. cap. 3.

10 Ibid.

κατα πολεμον εργοις μετά της τε Θες βοηθείας, και γενομε μας εν τη Κοίλη Συρία και Φοινικη, και εις Λεοντων δε πολιν τὴν Ἡλιοπολιτε συν τοις Ιεδαίοις, και εις άλλες τοσες αφι κόμενός τε έθνες, και πλέιςες ευρών παρα το καθηκον εχοντας ιερα, και δια τετό δυσνος αλληλοις, ὁ και Αιγυπτίοις συμβε βηκε δια το πλήθος των ιερων, και το τσερι της θρησκείας ουχ ὁμοδόξειν· επιτηδειοτατον τοπον ἑυρων εν τω προσαγορευομένῳ της Αγρίας Βεβάσεως οχυρώματι, βρύοντα ποικίλης ύλης και των ἱερων ζωων μέσον δέομαι συγχωρησαι μοι, το αδεσποτον ανακαθαραντι ἱερον και συμπεπτωκός, οικοδόμησαι ναον τῷ μεγιςῷ Θεῷ, καθ ̓ ὁμοίωσιν τε ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις, τοις αυτοίς μετροις, ύπερ τε σε και της γυναικός και των τεκνων ἵν ̓ ἔχωσιν δι την Αίγυπτον κατοικεντες Ιεδαίοι, εις αυτο συνιόντες κατά την προς άλληλες ὁμονοίαν, ταις σαις εξυπηρέτειν χρείαις. Και γαρ Ησαΐας ὁ προφητης τετο προειπεν Είσαι θυσιαςήριον ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, Κυρίῳ τῳ Θέῳ· και πολλα δε προεφήτευσεν αλλά τοιαύτα δια τον τοπον,

εν

The epistle is so diffuse and lax, that it is not easy to reduce it to English. The tenor of it is nearly this.

"Having in the war which you have been engaged "in, performed, by the blessing of God, many and "signal services in your behalf, both in Cale Syria "and Phenicia; and having observed since my ar"rival both at Leontopolis in the province of Heliopolis, and at other places where the Jews reside, "that most of them have temples contrary to what “ they ought to have, and on that account are illdisposed to one another; (a circumstance I have

.46

"observed among the Egyptians, which takes its

66

"rise from the multitude of their temples, and "want of uniformity in their worship) and having "lit upon a most convenient spot, within an inclosure formerly dedicated to the goddess called the Agria Bubastis; which place is full of all kinds "of materials, and abounding with sacred animals: "I humbly beg of you to give me leave to clear "this temple that has no owner, and is in ruins ; "and to build there a temple to the most high God, upon the same model and the same scale as that "at Jerusalem; for your sake, and the sake of your 66 queen and your children: that the Jews who live "in Egypt may be able to meet together in one

place with proper uniformity; and be ready at "hand to perform any services you may require. I "must moreover assure you, that the prophet "Isaiah foretold that such a thing should be: There "shall be an altar in Egypt to the Lord God. He "likewise prophesied of many other circumstances "relating to this place."

From this letter we may see the scope and intention of Josephus in his history; and with what caution and allowance he is to be read. His design was to aggrandize his own nation, by giving an account of their divine establishment originally and by displaying a series of great events, that from the earliest times had happened in their favour. In doing which he had Moses and the prophets before him. But, as he was to adapt his history to the turn and disposition of those he wrote to; he often de

viates from his guides; and is apt to add, as well as to diminish; according as he thinks it may best suit the taste of those to whom his writings are addressed: being not sufficiently attentive to the strict truth, if he can but dress up his history to advantage. In respect to this letter; some people would except to the propriety of an address in this manner upon a subject of so great importance: especially as Onias was at Alexandria, the residence of the court; and might have made his petition in person. It may likewise be thought particular to include the wife in an address to a king. It seems likewise improbable that a ruined temple should be full of so many things necessary for his purpose ; βρύοντα ποικιλης ύλης, και των ἱερων ζώων μεσον ; that is, “ variety of "materials, and beasts for the service of the altar :" especially, when we come to know that, if such a temple did exist, it was upon the verge of a desert. It is hard to account for the many temples that the Jews are said to have had in Egypt; unless he means synagogues and gortuxa: but those were not unlawful. Nor does it seem politic in Onias, when he had a point to carry, to speak against the national worship of the Egyptians, and the diversity of their rites and customs: it is not probable he would make his court by such means. Besides, the Greeks adopted the gods of the countries they came to: nor could any thing be urged against the variety of rites in Egypt, but what would affect equally those of Greece. But, setting aside appearances,