septilateral

[Pref. sept i- (1), and Eng. lateral.] Having seven sides. the translators came and completed their work in seventy-two days. From their number, and perhaps the time they occupied, the name Septuagint arose. But the letter of Aristeas is not now believed to be genuine, and Coptic words in the work show that the translators were from Egypt, and not from Jerusalem. The version was apparently made at Alexandria, and was commenced about B. C. 280 the Pent a teuch being the only part translated at first. It is well done. Next in value is the book of Proverbs. Job was translated from the Hebrew text, differing both by exce and defect from that now recognized. Esther, the Psalms, and the Prophets followed, seemingly between B. C. 180 and 170. Jere. miah is the best translated, and Daniel is executed so badly that Theodotion, in the second century A. D., had to do the work again. Jesus and His Apostles frequently quoted the Septuagint in place sepulture of the Hebrew. The Jews had a high opinion of the Septuagint, but on finding the Me ianic pa ages used effectively by the Christians in controversy with them, they established a fast to mourn that the Septuagint had ever been i ued, and had a new translation by Aquila brought out for the use of the synagogues. Three Christian recensions took place late in the third or early in the fourth century. The first modern edition was the Com plu tens i an in 15141517; since then several others have appeared. B. As adj .: Of, belonging to, or contained in the Septuagint (q. v.).