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lived six hundred years; for the great year is completed in that
interval。 Now I have for witnesses to what I have said; all those
that have written Antiquities; both among the Greeks and
barbarians; for even Manetho; who wrote the Egyptian History; and
Berosus; who collected the Chaldean Monuments; and Mochus; and
Hestieus; and; besides these; Hieronymus the Egyptian; and those
who composed the Phoenician History; agree to what I here say:
Hesiod also; and Hecatseus; Hellanicus; and Acusilaus; and;
besides these; Ephorus and Nicolaus relate that the ancients
lived a thousand years。 But as to these matters; let every one
look upon them as he thinks fit。

CHAPTER 4。

Concerning The Tower Of Babylon; And The Confusion Of Tongues。

1。 Now the sons of Noah were three; … Shem; Japhet; and Ham; born
one hundred years before the Deluge。 These first of all descended
from the mountains into the plains; and fixed their habitation
there; and persuaded others who were greatly afraid of the lower
grounds on account of the flood; and so were very loath to come
down from the higher places; to venture to follow their examples。
Now the plain in which they first dwelt was called Shinar。 God
also commanded them to send colonies abroad; for the thorough
peopling of the earth; that they might not raise seditions among
themselves; but might cultivate a great part of the earth; and
enjoy its fruits after a plentiful manner。 But they were so ill
instructed that they did not obey God; for which reason they fell
into calamities; and were made sensible; by experience; of what
sin they had been guilty: for when they flourished with a
numerous youth; God admonished them again to send out colonies;
but they; imagining the prosperity they enjoyed was not derived
from the favor of God; but supposing that their own power was the
proper cause of the plentiful condition they were in; did not
obey him。 Nay; they added to this their disobedience to the
Divine will; the suspicion that they were therefore ordered to
send out separate colonies; that; being divided asunder; they
might the more easily be Oppressed。

2。 Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and
contempt of God。 He was the grandson of Ham; the son of Noah; a
bold man; and of great strength of hand。 He persuaded them not to
ascribe it to God; as if it was through his means they were
happy; but to believe that it was their own courage which
procured that happiness。 He also gradually changed the government
into tyranny; seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of
God; but to bring them into a constant dependence on his power。
He also said he would be revenged on God; if he should have a
mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower
too high for the waters to be able to reach! and that he would
avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers !

3。 Now the multitude were very ready to follow the determination
of Nimrod; and to esteem it a piece of cowardice to submit to
God; and they built a tower; neither sparing any pains; nor being
in any degree negligent about the work: and; by reason of the
multitude of hands employed in it; it grew very high; sooner than
any one could expect; but the thickness of it was so great; and
it was so strongly built; that thereby its great height seemed;
upon the view; to be less than it really was。 It was built of
burnt brick; cemented together with mortar; made of bitumen; that
it might not be liable to admit water。 When God saw that they
acted so madly; he did not resolve to destroy them utterly; since
they were not grown wiser by the destruction of the former
sinners; but he caused a tumult among them; by producing in them
divers languages; and causing that; through the multitude of
those languages; they should not be able to understand one
another。 The place wherein they built the tower is now called
Babylon; because of the confusion of that language which they
readily understood before; for the Hebrews mean by the word
Babel; confusion。 The Sibyl also makes mention of this tower; and
of the confusion of the language; when she says thus: 〃When all
men were of one language; some of them built a high tower; as if
they would thereby ascend up to heaven; but the gods sent storms
of wind and overthrew the tower; and gave every one his peculiar
language; and for this reason it was that the city was called
Babylon。〃 But as to the plan of Shinar; in the country of
Babylonia; Hestiaeus mentions it; when he says thus: 〃Such of the
priests as were saved; took the sacred vessels of Jupiter
Enyalius; and came to Shinar of Babylonia。〃

CHAPTER 5。

After What Manner The Posterity Of Noah Sent Out Colonies; And
Inhabited The Whole Earth。

1。 After this they were dispersed abroad; on account of their
languages; and went out by colonies every where; and each colony
took possession of that land which they light upon; and unto
which God led them; so that the whole continent was filled with
them; both the inland and the maritime countries。 There were some
also who passed over the sea in ships; and inhabited the islands:
and some of those nations do still retain the denominations which
were given them by their first founders; but some have lost them
also; and some have only admitted certain changes in them; that
they might be the more intelligible to the inhabitants。 And they
were the Greeks who became the authors of such mutations。 For
when in after…ages they grew potent; they claimed to themselves
the glory of antiquity; giving names to the nations that sounded
well (in Greek) that they might be better understood among
themselves; and setting agreeable forms of government over them;
as if they were a people derived from themselves。

CHAPTER 6。

How Every Nation Was Denominated From Their
First Inhabitants。

1。 Now they were the grandchildren of Noah; in honor of whom
names were imposed on the nations by those that first seized upon
them。 Japhet; the son of Noah; had seven sons: they inhabited so;
that; beginning at the mountains Taurus and Amanus; they
proceeded along Asia; as far as the river Tansis; and along
Europe to Cadiz; and settling themselves on the lands which they
light upon; which none had inhabited before; they called the
nations by their own names。 For Gomer founded those whom the
Greeks now call Galatians; 'Galls;' but were then called
Gomerites。 Magog founded those that from him were named
Magogites; but who are by the Greeks called Scythians。 Now as to
Javan and Madai; the sons of Japhet; from Madai came the Madeans;
who are called Medes; by the Greeks; but from Javan; Ionia; and
all the Grecians; are derived。 Thobel founded the Thobelites; who
are now called Iberes; and the Mosocheni were founded by Mosoch;
now they are Cappadocians。 There is also a mark of their ancient
denomination still to be shown; for there is even now among them
a city called Mazaca; which may inform those that are able to
understand; that so was the entire nation once called。 Thiras
also called those whom he ruled over Thirasians; but the Greeks
changed the name into Thracians。 And so many were the countries
that had the children of Japhet for their inhabitants。 Of the
three sons of Gomer; Aschanax founded the Aschanaxians; who are
now called by the Greeks Rheginians。 So did Riphath found the
Ripheans; now called Paphlagonians; and Thrugramma the
Thrugrammeans; who; as the Greeks resolved; were named Phrygians。
Of the three sons of Javan also; the son of Japhet; Elisa gave
name to the Eliseans; who were his subjects; they are now the
Aeolians。 Tharsus to the Tharsians; for so was Cilicia of old
called; the sign of which is this; that the noblest city they
have; and a metropolis also; is Tarsus; the tau being by change
put for the theta。 Cethimus possessed the island Cethima: it is
now called Cyprus; and from that it is that all islands; and the
greatest part of the sea…coasts; are named Cethim by the Hebrews:
and one city there is in Cyprus that has been able to preserve
its denomination; it has been called Citius by those who use the
language of the Greeks; and has not; by the use of that dialect;
escaped the name of Cethim。 And so many nations have the children
and grandchildren of Japhet possessed。 Now when I have premised
somewhat; which perhaps the Greeks do not know; I will return and
explain what I have omitted; for such names are pronounced here
after the manner of the Greeks; to please my readers; for our own
country language does not so pronounce them: but the names in all
cases are of one and the same ending; for the name we here
pronounce Noeas; is there Noah; and in every case retains the
same termination。

2。 The children of Ham possessed the land from Syria and Amanus;
and the mountains of Libanus; seizing upon all that was on its
sea…coasts; and as far as the ocean; and keeping it as their own。
Some indeed of its names are utterly vanished away; others of
them being changed; and another sound given them; are hardly to
be discovered; yet a few there are which have kept their
denominations entire。 For of the four sons of Ham; time has not
at all hurt the name of Chus; for the Ethiopians; over

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