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but was wholly intent upon getting； and he first contrived to
plough the ground。 He slew his brother on the occasion following
： … They had resolved to sacrifice to God。 Now Cain brought the
fruits of the earth； and of his husbandry； but Abel brought milk；
and the first…fruits of his flocks： but God was more delighted
with the latter oblation；（6） when he was honored with what grew
naturally of its own accord； than he was with what was the
invention of a covetous man； and gotten by forcing the ground；
whence it was that Cain was very angry that Abel was preferred by
God before him； and he slew his brother； and hid his dead body；
thinking to escape discovery。 But God； knowing what had been
done； came to Cain； and asked him what was become of his brother；
because he had not seen him of many days； whereas he used to
observe them conversing together at other times。 But Cain was in
doubt with himself； and knew not what answer to give to God。 At
first he said that he was himself at a loss about his brother's
disappearing； but when he was provoked by God； who pressed him
vehemently； as resolving to know what the matter was； he replied；
he was not his brother's guardian or keeper； nor was he an
observer of what he did。 But； in return； God convicted Cain； as
having been the murderer of his brother； and said； 〃I wonder at
thee； that thou knowest not what is become of a man whom thou
thyself hast destroyed。〃 God therefore did not inflict the
punishment ＇of death＇ upon him； on account of his offering
sacrifice； and thereby making supplication to him not to be
extreme in his wrath to him； but he made him accursed； and
threatened his posterity in the seventh generation。 He also cast
him； together with his wife； out of that land。 And when he was
afraid that in wandering about he should fall among Wild beasts；
and by that means perish； God bid him not to entertain such a
melancholy suspicion； and to go over all the earth without fear
of what mischief he might suffer from wild beasts； and setting a
mark upon him； that he might be known； he commanded him to
depart。
2。 And when Cain had traveled over many countries； he； with his
wife； built a city； named Nod； which is a place so called； and
there he settled his abode； where also he had children。 However；
he did not accept of his punishment in order to amendment； but to
increase his wickedness； for he only aimed to procure every thing
that was for his own bodily pleasure； though it obliged him to be
injurious to his neighbors。 He augmented his household substance
with much wealth； by rapine and violence； he excited his
acquaintance to procure pleasures and spoils by robbery； and
became a great leader of men into wicked courses。 He also
introduced a change in that way of simplicity wherein men lived
before； and was the author of measures and weights。 And whereas
they lived innocently and generously while they knew nothing of
such arts； he changed the world into cunning craftiness。 He first
of all set boundaries about lands： he built a city； and fortified
it with walls； and he compelled his family to come together to
it； and called that city Enoch； after the name of his eldest son
Enoch。 Now Jared was the son of Enoch； whose son was Malaliel；
whose son was Mathusela； whose son was Lamech； who had
seventy…seven children by two wives； Silla and Ada。 Of those
children by Ada； one was Jabal： he erected tents； and loved the
life of a shepherd。 But Jubal； who was born of the same mother
with him； exercised himself in music；（7） and invented the
psaltery and the harp。 But Tubal； one of his children by the
other wife； exceeded all men in strength； and was very expert and
famous in martial performances。 He procured what tended to the
pleasures of the body by that method； and first of all invented
the art of making brass。 Lamech was also the father of a
daughter； whose name was Naamah。 And because he was so skillful
in matters of divine revelation； that he knew he was to be
punished for Cain's murder of his brother； he made that known to
his wives。 Nay； even while Adam was alive； it came to pass that
the posterity of Cain became exceeding wicked； every one
successively dying； one after another； more wicked than the
former。 They were intolerable in war； and vehement in robberies；
and if any one were slow to murder people； yet was he bold in his
profligate behavior； in acting unjustly； and doing injuries for
gain。
3。 Now Adam； who was the first man； and made out of the earth；
（for our discourse must now be about him；） after Abel was slain；
and Cain fled away； on account of his murder； was solicitous for
posterity； and had a vehement desire of children； he being two
hundred and thirty years old； after which time he lived other
seven hundred； and then died。 He had indeed many other
children；（8） but Seth in particular。 As for the rest； it would be
tedious to name them； I will therefore only endeavor to give an
account of those that proceeded from Seth。 Now this Seth； when he
was brought up； and came to those years in which he could discern
what was good； became a virtuous man； and as he was himself of an
excellent character； so did he leave children behind him who
imitated his virtues。（9） All these proved to be of good
dispositions。 They also inhabited the same country without
dissensions； and in a happy condition； without any misfortunes
falling upon them； till they died。 They also were the inventors
of that peculiar sort of wisdom which is concerned with the
heavenly bodies； and their order。 And that their inventions might
not be lost before they were sufficiently known； upon Adam's
prediction that the world was to be destroyed at one time by the
force of fire； and at another time by the violence and quantity
of water； they made two pillars； （10） the one of brick； the other
of stone： they inscribed their discoveries on them both； that in
case the pillar of brick should be destroyed by the flood； the
pillar of stone might remain； and exhibit those discoveries to
mankind； and also inform them that there was another pillar of
brick erected by them。 Now this remains in the land of Siriad to
this day。
CHAPTER 3。
Concerning The Flood； And After What Manner Noah Was Saved In An
Ark； With His Kindred； And Afterwards Dwelt In The Plain Of
Shinar；
1。 Now this posterity of Seth continued to esteem God as the Lord
of the universe； and to have an entire regard to virtue； for
seven generations； but in process of time they were perverted；
and forsook the practices of their forefathers； and did neither
pay those honors to God which were appointed them； nor had they
any concern to do justice towards men。 But for what degree of
zeal they had formerly shown for virtue； they now showed by their
actions a double degree of wickedness； whereby they made God to
be their enemy。 For many angels（11） of God accompanied with
women； and begat sons that proved unjust； and despisers of all
that was good； on account of the confidence they had in their own
strength； for the tradition is； that these men did what resembled
the acts of those whom the Grecians call giants。 But Noah was
very uneasy at what they did； and being displeased at their
conduct； persuaded them to change their dispositions and their
acts for the better： but seeing they did not yield to him； but
were slaves to their wicked pleasures； he was afraid they would
kill him； together with his wife and children； and those they had
married； so he departed out of that land。
2。 Now God loved this man for his righteousness： yet he not only
condemned those other men for their wickedness； but determined to
destroy the whole race of mankind； and to make another race that
should be pure from wickedness； and cutting short their lives；
and making their years not so many as they formerly lived； but
one hundred and twenty only；（12） he turned the dry land into sea；
and thus were all these men destroyed： but Noah alone was saved；
for God suggested to him the following contrivance and way of
escape ： … That he should make an ark of four stories high； three
hundred cubits（13） long； fifty cubits broad； and thirty cubits
high。 Accordingly he entered into that ark； and his wife； and
sons； and their wives； and put into it not only other provisions；
to support their wants there； but also sent in with the rest all
sorts of living creatures； the male and his female； for the
preservation of their kinds； and others of them by sevens。 Now
this ark had firm walls； and a roof； and was braced with cross
beams； so that it could not be any way drowned or overborne by
the violence of the water。 And thus was Noah； with his family；
preserved。 Now he was the tenth from Adam； as being the son of
Lamech； whose father was Mathusela； he was the son of Enoch； the
son of Jared； and Jared was the son of Malaleel； who； with many
of his sisters； were the children of Cainan； the son of Enos。 Now
Enos was the son of Seth； the son of Adam。
3。 This calamity happened in the six hundredth year of Noah's
government； ＇age；＇ in the second month； （14） called by the
Macedonians Dius； but by the Hebrews Marchesuan： for so did they
order their year in Egypt。 But Moses appointed that ú Nisan