Texts in Conversation
The Letter of Aristeas advises the king to frighten his enemies the way God does, by granting reprieves and only displaying his power. Wisdom of Solomon 12 says the same of God, whose sovereign strength lets him spare all and judge with forbearance.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Letter of Aristeas 1:194
Letter of Aristeas to Philocrates
Pseudepigrapha, Hebrew Bible Expansions
he himself discharged all his duties in the spirit of justice.' Welcoming this answer, he asked another how he might become an object of dread to his enemies. And he replied, 'If while maintaining a vast supply of arms and forces he remembered that these things were powerless to achieve a permanent and conclusive result. For even God instils fear into the minds of men by granting reprieves and making merely a display of the greatness of his power.' This man the king praised and then said to the next, What is the highest good in life? And he answered 'To know that God is Lord of the Universe, and that in our finest achievements it is not we who attain success but God who by his power brings all things to fulfilment and leads us to the goal.'
Wisdom of Solomon 12:16
Deuterocanon
15 But being righteous, you rule all things righteously, deeming it a thing alien from your power to condemn one who doesn’t deserve to be punished. 16 For your strength is the source of righteousness, and your sovereignty over all makes you forbear all. 17 For when men don’t believe that you are perfect in power, you show your strength, and in dealing with those who know it, you confuse their boldness. 18 But you, being sovereign in strength, judge in gentleness, and with great forbearance you govern us; for the power is yours whenever you desire it. 19 But you taught your people by such works as these, how the righteous must be kind. You made your sons have good hope, because you give repentance when men have sinned.
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Notes and References
“... The next question (§ 194) continues the focus on the king’s military leadership. Earlier the king had asked about how to be regarded with favor by his friends. Now that is turned around to ask about how he can provoke fear in his enemies. As the previous respondent replied to the king, so this one answers in similar fashion. Reliance upon arms will have no bearing on the king’s objectives. In an implicit recommendation for the king to imitate God, this respondent advises that reprieves (i.e., leniency towards enemies) and demonstration of his sovereign power will produce fear. We see a similar sentiment in Wis 12:16–18: 16. For your strength is the beginning of righteousness, and your sovereignty over all causes you to spare all. 17. For you show your strength when people doubt the completeness of your power, and you rebuke any insolence among those who know it 18. Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge with fairness, and with great forbearance you govern us, for you have the power to prevail whenever you choose. ...”
Wright, Benjamin G., III
The Letter of Aristeas: ‘Aristeas to Philocrates’ or ‘On the Translation of the Law of the Jews’
(pp. 344-345) De Gruyter, 2015
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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