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.
Timothy Murphy, a frequent contributor to Commonweal, died on June 30 at his home in Fargo, North Dakota. His books include Very Far North (2002), Mortal Stakes and Faint Thunder (2011), and Devotions (2017). Requiescat in pace.
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