The Septuagint

for Seree Cohen Zohar

Timothy Murphy September 12, 2011 - 12:17pm

The seventy-two elders

sequestered by Ptolemy

Philadelphus in chambers,

a cell for every scholar,

were told by the King of Egypt:

“Translate the books of Moshe,

your teacher, into Greek.”

 

Two days and ten weeks later

seventy-two translations

transcribed from memory

by grey-bearded rebbis

were word for word the same.

When you believe this legend,

you will know the Holy Spirit.

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Topics: 
Poetry

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About the Author

Timothy Murphy’s newest books are Mortal Stakes and Faint Thunder and Hunter’s Log, both from the Dakota Institute Press.

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