A King, Seventy-Two Scribes, and a Library: A Model for Engaging Religious Minorities

Legend says an ancient king commissioned seventy-two Jewish scribes to translate Hebrew scripture for his famous library, a story retold for centuries by Jews, Christians, Muslims, and pagans alike. This talk explores what that story, true or not, reveals about how power can engage religious minorities: with respect, support, and no strings attached. It’s an ancient story with timely lessons for pluralism today. Stephen Bay is Kennedy Center Research Fellow, an Associate Professor in Comparative Arts and Letters and a faculty affiliate of the Ancient and Near Eastern Studies program at the Kennedy Center. Part of the Kennedy Center's fall 2026 lecture series, "Religion, Identity, and Public Life."