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I heard somewhere (I don't remember the details) that the Septuagint ceased to be read in the Jewish community. Why?

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  • To use for what?
    – Daniel
    Sep 21, 2015 at 19:36
  • @Daniel to read from it
    – mil
    Sep 21, 2015 at 19:42
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    So you're suggesting that Rabbi Akiva ruled that it is forbidden to read the Septuagint?
    – Daniel
    Sep 21, 2015 at 19:43
  • That's what I remember reading few years ago. Again I need clarification since I might misunderstood what I wrote, this is why I am asking this question in the first place.
    – mil
    Sep 21, 2015 at 19:47
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    @DoubleAA I edited the question now because I am not in the mood to exchange such talk :)
    – mil
    Sep 21, 2015 at 20:35

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The specific type of Greek was not known to Jews anymore, and the text became corrupted. Originally, it was felt that the Koine translation of the Torah, and specifically only the Torah, was good enough. The Greek words had specific connotations and the translation was good enough for the majority of people to get all the different layers of understanding out of the text. Koine Greek eventually became unknown with the nuance required, the text became corrupted away from the original text of the 70 elders as the Greek text didn't get the same care as the Hebrew. So, Greek just degraded away to the point where it was ruled that it cannot be used anymore.

Tefillin and mezuzot may be written only in Assyrian script. Permission was granted to write Torah scrolls in Greek as well. That Greek language has, however, been forgotten from the world. It has been confused and has sunk into oblivion. Therefore, at present, all three sacred articles may be written using Assyrian script alone.

Rambam, Hilkhoth ST"M 1:19

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