The division of his empire into four great monarchies, took place about twelve years after the death of Alexander,—312 years B.C. Ptolemy, Lysimachus, Cassander, and Seleucus, four generals of Alexander, made this division among themselves, as had been foretold by Daniel. Ptolemy had Egypt, Libya, Arabia, Cœlosyria, and Palestine. Cassander, the son of Antipater, obtained Macedonia and Greece. Lysimachus acquired Thrace, Bithynia, and some other provinces on the other side of the Hellespont and the Bosphorus. And Seleucus had Syria, and all that part of Asia Major, which extended to the other side of the Euphrates, and as far as the river Indus.
24. Lagus was the father of the Ptolemies who reigned in Egypt after Alexander's death.
25. Ptolemy Soter reigned in Egypt thirty-eight years. From him the succeeding king took the title of Ptolemy, as they sometimes did that of Lagides from Lagus his father.
26. Ptolemy, surnamed Soter, made himself master of Jerusalem by stratagem; he entered the city on the Sabbath, under pretence of offering sacrifice, and while the Jews suspected nothing, but spent the day in ease and idleness, he surprised the city without resistance, and made the citizens captives. He sent several colonies of Jews into Egypt, and put great confidence in them.
27. Ptolemeus Philadelphus, son of Ptolemeus Soter, reigned forty years—two of them in the life time of his father. He being a great favorer of learning, built a most magnificent library at Alexander. Demetrius Phalereus, to whom he had committed the care of procuring all sorts of books, and out of all countries, persuaded him to employ seventy-two Jews in translating the Holy Scriptures out of the original Hebrew into the Greek tongue; which was done in the seventh year of his reign. The king also dismissed many captive Jews, and dedicated many presents to the temple of God at Jerusalem.
28. Ptolemy Evergetes reigned twenty-five years.
29. Ptolemy Philopator reigned seventeen years.
30. Ptolemy Epiphanes reigned twenty-five years.
31. Ptolemy Philometer reigned thirty-four years.
After the death of Cleopatra, the Egyptian Queen,
