The number seventy and the Septuagint

By tradition, the LXX (Septuagint) was created by seventy (Roman numeral LXX is the Arabic number 70) translators.
The name comes from the Latin word "septuaginta" ≈ "seventy" with "interpreters" implied, where the Latin word "septum" ≈ "seven" and the Latin word "ginta" ≈ "times ten".

Jesus, Paul, etc., used the Greek LXX so the LXX should not be discounted.

Whenever the LXX is different than the HOT (Hebrew Old Testament) one should look carefully as the HOT was modified to make it more consistent, etc., in the centuries after the time of Jesus. It appears that some words in the HOT were modified. This appears to include what might have been critical of the religious elite.

Details are left as a future topic.

The "seventy weeks" prophecy in Daniel is well-known and important. Here we look only at the number "seventy" and "weeks" with the years implied.

The Hebrew word "שבעים" (sib-im) ≈ "seventy"
The Hebrew word "שבעים" (sa-bu-im) ≈ "weeks"

The corresponding Greek word for the Septuagint is "εβδομήκοντα" (eh-vtho-MEE-kon-ta) ≈ "seventy" with the translation word inferred.

The modern Greek word "εβδομήντα" (eh-vtho-MEEN-ta) ≈ "seventy".
The modern Greek word "κοντά" (kon-TA) ≈ "near/about".

Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. [kjv]

שבעים שבעים … [he]

εβδομηκοντα εβδομαδες συνετμηθησαν επι τον λαον σου και επι την πολιν την αγιαν σου του συντελεσθηναι αμαρτιαν και του σφραγισαι αμαρτιας και απαλειψαι τας ανομιας και του εξιλασασθαι αδικιας και του αγαγειν δικαιοσυνην αιωνιον και του σφραγισαι ορασιν και προφητην και του χρισαι αγιον αγιων [lxx]

Without diacritical marks, the Hebrew is the same written word for both "seventy" and "weeks", but the pronunciation is different. In Daniel 9:24, the word is repeated twice, once for "seventy" and once for "weeks".

Daniel 9:24

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KJV: Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Hebrew: שבעים שבעים נחתך על עמך ועל עיר קדשך לכלא הפשע ולחתם חטאות ולכפר עון ולהביא צדק עלמים ולחתם חזון ונביא ולמשח קדש קדשים׃

Greek: εβδομηκοντα εβδομαδες συνετμηθησαν επι τον λαον σου και επι την πολιν την αγιαν σου του συντελεσθηναι αμαρτιαν και του σφραγισαι αμαρτιας και απαλειψαι τας ανομιας και του εξιλασασθαι αδικιας και του αγαγειν δικαιοσυνην αιωνιον και του σφραγισαι ορασιν και προφητην και του χρισαι αγιον αγιων

Latin: septuaginta ebdomades adbreviatae sunt super populum tuum et super urbem sanctam tuam ut consummetur praevaricatio et finem accipiat peccatum et deleatur iniquitas et adducatur iustitia sempiterna et impleatur visio et prophetes et unguatur sanctus sanctorum

Wycliffe: Seuenti woukis of yeeris ben abreggid on thi puple, and on thin hooli citee, that trespassyng be endid, and synne take an ende, and that wickidnesse be doon awei, and euerlastynge riytfulnesse be brouyt, and that the visioun, and prophesie be fillid, and the hooli of seyntis be anoyntid.

Luther: Siebenzig Wochen sind bestimmt über dein Volk und über deine heilige Stadt, so wird dem Übertreten gewehret und die Sünde zugesiegelt und die Missetat versöhnet und die ewige Gerechtigkeit gebracht und die Gesichte und Weissagung zugesiegelt und der Allerheiligste gesalbet werden.

Seuenti woukis of yeeris ben abreggid on thi puple, and on thin hooli citee, that trespassyng be endid, and synne take an ende, and that wickidnesse be doon awei, and euerlastynge riytfulnesse be brouyt, and that the visioun, and prophesie be fillid, and the hooli of seyntis be anoyntid. [wy]

Wycliffe explicitly adds the Middle English word "yeeris" ≈ "years".

The modern Greek word "εβδομάδα" (eh-vtho-MA-tha) ≈ "week" literally means a "group of seven" and is made up of two parts.

The modern Greek word "επτά" (eh-PTA) ≈ "seven".
The modern Greek word "ομάδα" (o-MA-tha) ≈ "group" from which we get the word "nomad".

The ancient Greek word "ἑπτά" ≈ "seven" and is the source of English words such as "heptagon".

septuaginta ebdomades adbreviatae sunt super populum tuum et super urbem sanctam tuam ut consummetur praevaricatio et finem accipiat peccatum et deleatur iniquitas et adducatur iustitia sempiterna et impleatur visio et prophetes et unguatur sanctus sanctorum [v]

Latin has two words for week. Both appear in the above verse.

The Latin word "septimana" ≈ "week" from the Latin word for seven from the Latin word "septimus" ≈ "seventh" as in the seventh month of the Roman year which we call "September".
The Latin word "hebdomada" ≈ "week" from the Greek word for week.

The LXX agrees with the HOT in almost all places.

There are, however, places where they differ.

Details are left as a future topic.

Proverbs 17:1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. [kjv]

κρεισσων ψωμος μεθ ηδονης εν ειρηνη η οικος πληρης πολλων αγαθων και αδικων θυματων μετα μαχης [lxx]

Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house full of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife. [bs3]

The LXX adds, or the HOT subtracts, the "many good things". The LXX has "unjust sacrifices". The HOT does not have "unjust".

Can a sacrifice be "unjust"? Jesus says he wants "mercy" of the "strong" and not "sacrifice" of the "harmed".

More: The Christian Hedonism fallacy

Isaiah 18:2 That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled ! [kjv]

ο αποστελλων εν θαλασση ομηρα και επιστολας βυβλινας επανω του υδατος πορευσονται γαρ αγγελοι κουφοι προς εθνος μετεωρον και ξενον λαον και χαλεπον τις αυτου επεκεινα εθνος ανελπιστον και καταπεπατημενον νυν οι ποταμοι της γης [lxx]

KJV (King James Version): "vessels" of "bulrushes".
LXX: "messages" of "papyrus".

The KJV translates the Hebrew as "bulrushes". The LXX has the "βύβλινος" ≈ "made of papyrus" that came from "βῠ́βλος" ≈ "papyrus, book" and that became the word for "book".

More: Scrolls and books

More: 2 Timothy 3:1-12 Silly women in the she shed

Deuteronomy 32:8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. [kjv]

οτε διεμεριζεν ο υψιστος εθνη ως διεσπειρεν υιους αδαμ εστησεν ορια εθνων κατα αριθμον αγγελων θεου [lxx]

When the Most High divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God. [bs3]

Which makes more sense?

KJV: "children" or "sons" of "Israel" (based on the HOT)
LXX: "angels" or "messengers" of "God".

Danie l is visited by an "angel" who is concerned about various "peoples" or "nations".

Deuteronomy 32:8

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KJV: When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

Hebrew: בהנחל עליון גוים בהפרידו בני אדם יצב גבלת עמים למספר בני ישראל׃

Greek: οτε διεμεριζεν ο υψιστος εθνη ως διεσπειρεν υιους αδαμ εστησεν ορια εθνων κατα αριθμον αγγελων θεου

Brenton: When the Most High divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God.

Here is what an angel told Daniel in Daniel 10 which would have been about 550 B.C..

Daniel 10:20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. [kjv]

και ειπεν ει οιδας ινα τι ηλθον προς σε και νυν επιστρεψω του πολεμησαι μετα αρχοντος περσων και εγω εξεπορευομην και ο αρχων των ελληνων ηρχετο [lxx]

10:21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. [kjv]

The angel is fighting "with" the prince of Persia and then the prince of Greece shall come. Is the angel fighting for or against those powers? is it clear. Is the "prince" the leader of those powers or the power behind those leaders?

It would appear that the angel could be traveling through time to take care of needed business, first with the prince of Persia, and, later, with the prince of Greece.

More: Daniel 8: Horns of Greece