A number of versions have been founded on the Seventy. r. The old Latin or Veers Rala ; 2. The Coptic and Sahidic ; 3. The Ethiopic ; 4. The Armenian ; 5. The Georgian ; 6. Various Syriac versions ; 7. Some Arabic versions ; 8. The Sla vonic ; 9. The Gothic.
Great value unquestionably belongs to this ver sion. In the criticism and interpretation of the O. T., it holds a conspicuous place. Yet most of the translator! were incompetent. They often mistook the sense of the original ; and indulged in many liberties with regard to the text. They in serted glosses, and paraphrased with unmeaning latitude. Their errors are neither few nor small. It must be recollected, however, that the text is in a state of irremediable disorder. The labours of Origen, however laudable the motive that prompted them, introduced great confusion. On the whole, the translation is free rather than litenzl. Figures, metaphors, and anthropomorphic expressions are frequently resolved. Still the document is impor tant, both in the criticism and exposition of the O. T. It is difficult to say whether Palestinian exegesis had an influence upon Alexandrian hennen eutics ; or that the position is proved by the charac ter qf the Septuagint. Frankel has endeavoured to establish it, with great learning and ingenuity. But Herzfeld objects ; and he is a man who usually can give a good reason for his statements (Ges chichte des Volkes Israel, vol. iii. p. 548, et seq.) (For a more copious account of the Septuagint, the reader is referred to Davidson's Treatise on Biblical Criticism ; and Text of the O. T. Con sidered, etc., 2d edition (1859). On the Penta teuch part, the best work is that of Thiersch, De Pentatezethi Versione Alexandrina, libri fres, Er 1S41, Svo, in which the character of the diction employed by the translator is minutely and admirably investigated. See also Toepler, De
Pentateuch/ interpretationis Alexandrina indole critica et hermenentica, Hal. Sax. Svo ; Pliischke, lectiones Alexandrince et Ifebraico, etc., Bonn, 1837, 8vo. This writer would correct the present Hebrew text by the Seventy in many cases ; which is preposterous. Vorstudien zu der &plea s-into, von Dr. Z. Frankel ; Leipzig, i841, Svo, is the most important work on the Septuag,int that has appeared for many years. It -was followed by Ueber den Eizejlziss der Pala-stinischen Exegese auf die Alexandrinisclie Hermeneutik, Leipzig, r85r. The prolegonzena to Tischendorf's 3d edi. tion ; Bleek's Einleitung in das elite Testament, p, 750, et seq. Gfrorer, Xritische Geschichte des Ur christenthums, Erster Band, Zweite Abtheilzeng, Stuttgart, 1831, Svo ; Hahne, yudisch-Alexandri nische Philosophie, 'Th. ii., Halle, 1834, Svo ; Fabricii Bibliotheca Sacra, ed. Harless, vol. iii. ; Michaelis's Oriental. Bibliothek, and Neue Orient. Biblioth. ; Eichhorn's Allgenz. Bibliothek and. Re pertorium ; Studer, De Versionis Alexandrinx orisine, historia, usu, et ablaze critic°, Bernm, 1823, Svo ; Grabe's Prolegomena to his edition of the Seventy ; Holmes's Prafatio to his edition ; Cred ner's Beitragr Einleitung, u. s. w.,vol. fivo, Halle, 1S3S ; Amersfoordt, Dirsertatio de variis lectionibus Holsnesianis, Lugd. Bat. 1815, 4to ; Valckenaer, Diatribe a'e Aristobulo yuckaa, ed. Joh. Luzac., Lugd. Bat. rSo6, 4to).