Just. l. 16. c. 2.II. PTOLEMY PHILADELPHUS, Son of Ptolemy Soter, whom we have now discoursed of, was associated in the Kingdom from the Year of the World 3719. Justin even affirms, that his Father Ptolemy intirely quitted to his Son, and esteem’d it as a sufficient Honour to become one of his Life-Guards. But other Historians think, he continued to reign with Philadelphus to the Year 3721, which was the Year of his Death, and the first of the Reign of Philadelphus. This Prince was sirnamed Philadelphus,1 Philadelphus, that is, a Lover of his Brethren, probably by way of Irony; for upon several Pretences, he caus’d two of his Brothers to be put to death. The younger was called Argeus, and was Son of Berenice as well as himself, and the other was Son of Eurydice. Pausan. in Atticis, p. 6.He was one of the most powerful Princes that ever reign’d in Egypt. But nothing gave a Vid. Hier. in Dan. xi.greater Lustre to his Reign than his Love for Learning, the Library he founded at Alexandria, and the Version of the Septuagint, which ‘tis said he procured to be made. Epiphanius affirms, he began this Undertaking Epiphan. lib. de pond. & mentur.of the Version of the Septuagint in the seventh Year of his Reign, in the Year of the World 3727, before Christ 273, before the vulgar Era 277. We have spoken at length of this Translation under the Article of the SEVENTY INTERPRETERS, where we have shewn that what is related concerning it, is at least very doubtful, not to say worse of it. But though we retrench such of the Circumstances of this History, as are plainly fabulous, yet we adhere to the main Part of the Story, which is, that under the Reign of this Prince the Jewish Scriptures were translated out of Hebrew into Greek, either in whole or in part; or, that the Jews of Egypt then translated the Pentateuch at least, for the Use of such among them as could no longer understand the Hebrew or the Chaldee. The Authors may be consulted, who have expresly treated of these Matters.
The Antients2 are all unanimous in their Testimonies, concerning the Affection that Ptolemy bore for the Sciences, and the Care he took to collect Books and to erect a copious Library; but no other than the false Aristæus, and such as have followed him, have affirmed that Demetrius Phalareus was his Librarian. We have already seen in the History of Ptolemy the Son of Lagus, that this Philosopher was not in favour with Philadelphus, but had been banished by him; and ‘tis known he was accessory to his own Death, by causing himself to be bit by an Asp, not being able to support the Tiresomness of his Banishment. Vitruvius mentions Aristophanes, and Suidas Diogen. Laert. in Demet. l. 5. seg. 78, 79. Cicero pro Rab. &c.speaks of Zenodotus, who were Library-keepers to Philadelphus, at the Alexandrian Library. Aristæus is the only original Author who assigns this Employment to Demetrius. Josephus allows Philadelphus thirty-nine Joseph. Antiq. l. 12. c. 2.Years of Reign, Clemens Alexandrinus thirtyseven, and Ptolemy, Porphyrius, and Eusebius, but thirty-eight. Usher thinks he reigned in all eight and thirty Years, and about eight Months. He fixes his Death in the Year of the World 3758, before Christ 242, before the vulgar Era 246. He had for Successor his Son Ptolemy sirnamed Euergetes, or the Benefactor, Son of Arsinoe, who was the Daughter of Lysimachus. Philadelphus had also a Daughter called Berenice, whom he married to Antiochus Theus, King of Syria, as will be seen in the following Article.
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