An important step in the history of the Bible was the translation of the Hebrew Old Testament into the Greek language. This Greek version is commonly known as the Septuagint, often designated as the LXX:
"Its (the Septuagint's] chief value lies in the fact that it is a version of a Hebrew text earlier by about a millennium than the earliest dated Hebrew manuscript extant (916 A.D.), a version in particular, prior to the formal rabbinical revision of the Hebrew which took place early in the second century A. D. It supplies the materials for the reconstruction of an older form of the Hebrew than the Massoretic text reproduced in our modern Bibles. It is, moreover, a pioneering work; there was probably no precedent in the world's history for a series of translations from one language into another on so extensive a scale. It was the first attempt to reproduce the Hebrew Scriptures in another tongue. It is one of the outstanding results of the breaking down of international barriers by the conquest of Alexander the Great and the dissemination of the Greek language, which were fraught with such vital consequences for the history of religion. The cosmopolitan city which he founded in the Delta witnessed the first attempt to bridge the gulf between Jewish and Greek thought. The Jewish commercial settlers at Alexandria, forced by circumstances to abandon their language, clung tenaciously to their faith; and the translation of the Scriptures into their adopted language, produced to meet their own needs, had the further result of introducing the outside world to a knowledge of their history and religion"—"The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia," Vol. IV, p. 2722.
This translation was produced at Alexandria. The Pentateuch translation was made about the middle of the third century n. c. from Hebrew manuscripts brought from Jerusalem. The language used was that of the common people. The work of translation was continued for about a century, being completed about the middle of the second century B.C.
Of special interest is the translation of the book of Daniel. The following quotation taken from the edition of the Septuagint published by Samuel Bagster and Sons, London, furnishes some important information:
"The real Septuagint text of the book of Daniel was, at a very early period, neglected by the church, and the version of Theodotion was substituted in its place. Hence the book of Daniel contained in almost all manuscripts and printed editions of the Septuagint belongs properly to Theodotion, and not to that version.
"Indeed, for many centuries, the, real Septuagint of Daniel was supposed to be lost: it was, however, discovered in a manuscript in the palace of Prince Chigi, at Rome. Bianchini transcribed it from this manuscript (known by the name of Codex Chisianus), and from his copy it was published by Simon de Magistris, in 1772. This edition and other separate reprints were, however, not very accurate. The manuscript itself was recollated for Holmes; and in his edition the real Septuagint of Daniel is given, as well as that of Theodotion.
"The publishers have judged it well in this edition to include this book, which is an integral part of theSeptuagint Version; for although it was justly rejected in public ecclesiastical reading, in favor of the more correct translation of Theodotion, an edition of the Septuagint is incomplete without it; and, indeed, this book, in spite of all the imperfections of the translation, affords valuable materials for comparison with New Testament phraseology, diction, and citations."
The version of Theodotion, as also one by Aquila, and another by Symmachus, appeared in the second century A. D. Only fragments of the two latter versions are now extant.
In the original Septuagint translation of the book of Daniel, the period of Daniel 8:14 is given as 2300 days, while in the Theodotion version, which afterward took the place of the original translation of this book, the number is given as 2400. Inasmuch as the authoritative English translations preserve the number 2300, it would seem that this is according to the reliable Hebrew text.
Washington, D. C.
