CHAPTER VI - Textual condition of the Septuagint, and problems arising out of it

Summary

1. When the work of the Seventy-two had been accomplished, the Jews of Alexandria (so the legend goes) were bidden to invoke curses, after their manner, upon any who should dare to add to the version or take from it, or alter it in other ways (Aristeas ad fin.: ἐκέλευσαν διαράσασθαι, καθὼς ἔθος αὐτοῖς ἐστιν εἴ τις διασκευάσει προστιθεὶς ἤ μεταφέρων τι τὸ σύνολον τῶν γεγραμμένων ἤ ποιούμενος ἀφαίρεσιν). The imprecation, it has been acutely observed, may point to an early deterioration of the text of the Greek Pentateuch, which the Pseudo-Aristeas desired to check. This inference is insecure, for the story is sufficiently explained by a reference to such passages as Deut. iv. 2, xii. 32; but it is certain that textual corruption began before the Christian era. There are traces of it in the writings of Philo, which cannot be due to blunders in Philo's own text.

E.g. in quis rer. div. her. 56 Philo quotes Gen. xv. 15 in the form now universal in MSS. of the LXX. (μετʾ εἰρήνης τραφεὶς ἐν γήρει καλῷ), adding the comment: οὐκοῦν…τὸ τέλειον γένος…εἰρήνη καὶ ἐλευθερία βεβαιοτάτη ἐντρεφόμενον κτλ. […]