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shall wave the explication of； but if God afford me time for it；
I will set about writing it （6） after I have finished the present
work。 I shall now betake myself to the history before me； after I
have first mentioned what Moses says of the creation of the
world； which I find described in the sacred books after the
manner following。
BOOK I。
Containing The Interval Of Three Thousand Eight Hundred And
Thirty…Three Years。
From The Creation To The Death Of Isaac。
CHAPTER 1。
The Constitution Of The World And The Disposition Of The
Elements。
1。 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth。 But
when the earth did not come into sight； but was covered with
thick darkness； and a wind moved upon its surface； God commanded
that there should be light： and when that was made； he considered
the whole mass； and separated the light and the darkness； and the
name he gave to one was Night； and the other he called Day： and
he named the beginning of light； and the time of rest； The
Evening and The Morning； and this was indeed the first day。 But
Moses said it was one day； the cause of which I am able to give
even now； but because I have promised to give such reasons for
all things in a treatise by itself； I shall put off its
exposition till that time。 After this； on the second day； he
placed the heaven over the whole world； and separated it from the
other parts； and he determined it should stand by itself。 He also
placed a crystalline ＇firmament＇ round it； and put it together in
a manner agreeable to the earth； and fitted it for giving
moisture and rain； and for affording the advantage of dews。 On
the third day he appointed the dry land to appear； with the sea
itself round about it； and on the very same day he made the
plants and the seeds to spring out of the earth。 On the fourth
day he adorned the heaven with the sun； the moon； and the other
stars； and appointed them their motions and courses； that the
vicissitudes of the seasons might be clearly signified。 And on
the fifth day he produced the living creatures； both those that
swim； and those that fly； the former in the sea； the latter in
the air： he also sorted them as to society and mixture； for
procreation； and that their kinds might increase and multiply。 On
the sixth day he created the four…footed beasts； and made them
male and female： on the same day he also formed man。 Accordingly
Moses says； That in just six days the world； and all that is
therein； was made。 And that the seventh day was a rest； and a
release from the labor of such operations； whence it is that we
Celebrate a rest from our labors on that day； and call it the
Sabbath； which word denotes rest in the Hebrew tongue。
2。 Moreover； Moses； after the seventh day was over（1） begins to
talk philosophically； and concerning the formation of man； says
thus： That God took dust from the ground； and formed man； and
inserted in him a spirit and a soul。（2） This man was called Adam；
which in the Hebrew tongue signifies one that is red； because he
was formed out of red earth； compounded together； for of that
kind is virgin and true earth。 God also presented the living
creatures； when he had made them； according to their kinds； both
male and female； to Adam； who gave them those names by which they
are still called。 But when he saw that Adam had no female
companion； no society； for there was no such created； and that he
wondered at the other animals which were male and female； he laid
him asleep； and took away one of his ribs； and out of it formed
the woman； whereupon Adam knew her when she was brought to him；
and acknowledged that she was made out of himself。 Now a woman is
called in the Hebrew tongue Issa； but the name of this woman was
Eve； which signifies the mother of all living。
3。 Moses says further； that God planted a paradise in the east；
flourishing with all sorts of trees； and that among them was the
tree of life； and another of knowledge； whereby was to be known
what was good and evil； and that when he brought Adam and his
wife into this garden； he commanded ；hem to take care of the
plants。 Now the garden was watered by one river；（3） which ran
round about the whole earth； and was parted into four parts。 And
Phison； which denotes a multitude； running into India； makes its
exit into the sea； and is by the Greeks called Ganges。 Euphrates
also； as well as Tigris； goes down into the Red Sea。（4） Now the
name Euphrates； or Phrath； denotes either a dispersion； or a
flower： by Tiris； or Diglath； is signified what is swift； with
narrowness； and Geon runs through Egypt； and denotes what arises
from the east； which the Greeks call Nile。
4。 God therefore commanded that Adam and his wife should eat of
all the rest of the plants； but to abstain from the tree of
knowledge； and foretold to them； that if they touched it； it
would prove their destruction。 But while all the living creatures
had one language； （5） at that time the serpent； which then lived
together with Adam and his wife； shewed an envious disposition；
at his supposal of their living happily； and in obedience to the
commands of God； and imagining； that when they disobeyed them；
they would fall into calamities； he persuaded the woman； out of a
malicious intention； to taste of the tree of knowledge； telling
them； that in that tree was the knowledge of good and evil； which
knowledge； when they should obtain； they would lead a happy life；
nay； a life not inferior to that of a god： by which means he
overcame the woman； and persuaded her to despise the command of
God。 Now when she had tasted of that tree； and was pleased with
its fruit； she persuaded Adam to make use of it also。 Upon this
they perceived that they were become naked to one another； and
being ashamed thus to appear abroad； they invented somewhat to
cover them； for the tree sharpened their understanding； and they
covered themselves with fig…leaves； and tying these before them；
out of modesty； they thought they were happier than they were
before； as they had discovered what they were in want of。 But
when God came into the garden； Adam； who was wont before to come
and converse with him； being conscious of his wicked behavior；
went out of the way。 This behavior surprised God； and he asked
what was the cause of this his procedure； and why he； that before
delighted in that conversation； did now fly from it； and avoid
it。 When he made no reply； as conscious to himself that he had
transgressed the command of God； God said； 〃I had before
determined about you both； how you might lead a happy life；
without any affliction； and care； and vexation of soul； and that
all things which might contribute to your enjoyment and pleasure
should grow up by my providence； of their own accord； without
your own labor and pains…taking； which state of labor and
pains…taking would soon bring on old age； and death would not be
at any remote distance： but now thou hast abused this my
good…will； and hast disobeyed my commands； for thy silence is not
the sign of thy virtue； but of thy evil conscience。〃 However；
Adam excused his sin； and entreated God not to be angry at him；
and laid the blame of what was done upon his wife； and said that
he was deceived by her； and thence became an offender； while she
again accused the serpent。 But God allotted him punishment；
because he weakly submitted to the counsel of his wife； and said
the ground should not henceforth yield its fruits of its own
accord； but that when it should be harassed by their labor； it
should bring forth some of its fruits； and refuse to bring forth
others。 He also made Eve liable to the inconveniency of breeding；
and the sharp pains of bringing forth children； and this because
she persuaded Adam with the same arguments wherewith the serpent
had persuaded her； and had thereby brought him into a calamitous
condition。 He also deprived the serpent of speech； out of
indignation at his malicious disposition towards Adam。 Besides
this； he inserted poison under his tongue； and made him an enemy
to men； and suggested to them； that they should direct their
strokes against his head； that being the place wherein lay his
mischievous designs towards men； and it being easiest to take
vengeance on him； that way。 And when he had deprived him of the
use of his feet； he made him to go rolling all along； and
dragging himself upon the ground。 And when God had appointed
these penalties for them； he removed Adam and Eve out of the
garden into another place。
CHAPTER 2。
Concerning The Posterity Of Adam； And The Ten Generations From
Him To The Deluge；
1。 Adam and Eve had two sons： the elder of them was named Cain；
which name； when it is interpreted； signifies a possession： the
younger was Abel； which signifies sorrow。 They had also
daughters。 Now the two brethren were pleased with different
courses of life： for Abel； the younger； was a lover of
righteousness； and believing that God was present at all his
actions； he excelled in virtue； and his employment was that of a
shepherd。 But Cain was not only very wicked in other respects；
but was wholly intent upon getting； and he first contrived to
plough the ground。 He slew his brother on the occasion following
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