Professor James Aitken gives us an in-depth introduction of The Septuagint, also known as the Greek Old Testament. The translation of the Bible to Greek was a long and continuous effort of Greek speaking Egyptian Jews, starting in the 3rd century BCE, in Egypt. The project was meant to serve the Greek speaking Jewish Community in Egypt but eventually played an essential role in the spread of Early Christianity.
Professor James Aitken is teaching Hebrew and Early Jewish Studies at the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge. His interests lie in the text and language of the Hebrew Bible, and in the literature and history of ancient Judaism. A particular area of research is the Greek version of the Bible (the Septuagint), including its language, exegesis and place within second temple Jewish society. He also works on Hebrew semantics and upon issues in ancient Jewish literature and history.