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order their year in Egypt。 But Moses appointed that ú Nisan；
which is the same with Xanthicus； should be the first month for
their festivals； because he brought them out of Egypt in that
month： so that this month began the year as to all the
solemnities they observed to the honor of God； although he
preserved the original order of the months as to selling and
buying； and other ordinary affairs。 Now he says that this flood
began on the twenty…seventh ＇seventeenth＇ day of the
forementioned month； and this was two thousand six hundred and
fifty…six ＇one thousand six hundred and fifty…six＇ years from
Adam； the first man； and the time is written down in our sacred
books； those who then lived having noted down；（15） with great
accuracy； both the births and deaths of illustrious men。
4。 For indeed Seth was born when Adam was in his two hundred and
thirtieth year； who lived ：nine hundred and thirty years。 Seth
begat Enos in his two hundred and fifth year； who； when he had
lived nine hundred and twelve years； delivered the government to
Cainan his son； whom he had in his hundred and ninetieth year。 He
lived nine hundred and five years。 Cainan； when he had lived nine
hundred and ten years； had his son Malaleel； who was born in his
hundred and seventieth year。 This Malaleel； having lived eight
hundred and ninety…five years； died； leaving his son Jared； whom
he begat when he was in his hundred and sixty…fifth year。 He
lived nine hundred and sixty…two years； and then his son Enoch
succeeded him； who was born when his father was one hundred and
sixty…two years old。 Now he； when he had lived three hundred and
sixty…five years； departed and went to God； whence it is that
they have not written down his death。 Now Mathusela； the son of
Enoch； who was born to him when he was one hundred and sixty…five
years old； had Lamech for his son when he was one hundred and
eighty…seven years of age； to whom he delivered the government；
when he had retained it nine hundred and sixty…nine years。 Now
Lamech； when he had governed seven hundred and seventy…seven
years； appointed Noah； his son； to be ruler of the people； who
was born to Lamech when he was one hundred and eighty…two years
old； and retained the government nine hundred and fifty years。
These years collected together make up the sum before set down。
But let no one inquire into the deaths of these men； for they
extended their lives along together with their children and
grandchildren； but let him have regard to their births only。
5。 When God gave the signal； and it began to rain； the water
poured down forty entire days； till it became fifteen cubits
higher than the earth； which was the reason why there was no
greater number preserved； since they had no place to fly to。 When
the rain ceased； the water did but just begin to abate after one
hundred and fifty days； （that is； on the seventeenth day of the
seventh month；） it then ceasing to subside for a little while。
After this； the ark rested on the top of a certain mountain in
Armenia； which； when Noah understood； he opened it； and seeing a
small piece of land about it； he continued quiet； and conceived
some cheerful hopes of deliverance。 But a few days afterward；
when the water was decreased to a greater degree； he sent out a
raven； as desirous to learn whether any other part of the earth
were left dry by the water； and whether he might go out of the
ark with safety； but the raven； finding all the land still
overflowed； returned to Noah again。 And after seven days he sent
out a dove； to know the state of the ground； which came back to
him covered with mud； and bringing an olive branch： hereby Noah
learned that the earth was become clear of the flood。 So after he
had staid seven more days； he sent the living creatures out of
the ark； and both he and his family went out； when he also
sacrificed to God； and feasted with his companions。 However； the
Armenians call this place； （GREEK） （16） The Place of Descent； for
the ark being saved in that place； its remains are shown there by
the inhabitants to this day。
6。 Now all the writers of barbarian histories make mention of
this flood； and of this ark； among whom is Berosus the Chaldean。
For when he is describing the circumstances of the flood； he goes
on thus： 〃It is said there is still some part of this ship in
Armenia； at the mountain of the Cordyaeans； and that some people
carry off pieces of the bitumen； which they take away； and use
chiefly as amulets for the averting of mischiefs。〃 Hieronymus the
Egyptian also； who wrote the Phoenician Antiquities； and Mnaseas；
and a great many more； make mention of the same。 Nay； Nicolaus of
Damascus； in his ninety…sixth book； hath a particular relation
about them； where he speaks thus： 〃There is a great mountain in
Armenia； over Minyas； called Baris； upon which it is reported
that many who fled at the time of the Deluge were saved； and that
one who was carried in an ark came on shore upon the top of it；
and that the remains of the timber were a great while preserved。
This might be the man about whom Moses the legislator of the Jews
wrote。〃
7。 But as for Noah； he was afraid； since God had determined to
destroy mankind； lest he should drown the earth every year； so he
offered burnt…offerings； and besought God that nature might
hereafter go on in its former orderly course； and that he would
not bring on so great a judgment any more； by which the whole
race of creatures might be in danger of destruction： but that；
having now punished the wicked； he would of his goodness spare
the remainder； and such as he had hitherto judged fit to be
delivered from so severe a calamity； for that otherwise these
last must be more miserable than the first； and that they must be
condemned to a worse condition than the others； unless they be
suffered to escape entirely； that is； if they be reserved for
another deluge； while they must be afflicted with the terror and
sight of the first deluge； and must also be destroyed by a
second。 He also entreated God to accept of his sacrifice； and to
grant that the earth might never again undergo the like effects
of 'his wrath； that men might be permitted to go on cheerfully in
cultivating the same； to build cities； and live happily in them；
and that they might not be deprived of any of those good things
which they enjoyed before the Flood； but might attain to the like
length of days； and old age； which the ancient people had arrived
at before。
8。 When Noah had made these supplications； God； who loved the man
for his righteousness； granted entire success to his prayers； and
said； that it was not he who brought the destruction on a
polluted world； but that they underwent that vengeance on account
of their own wickedness； and that he had not brought men into the
world if he had himself determined to destroy them； it being an
instance of greater wisdom not to have granted them life at all；
than； after it was granted； to procure their destruction； 〃But
the injuries；〃 said he； 〃they offered to my holiness and virtue；
forced me to bring this punishment upon them。 But I will leave
off for the time to come to require such punishments； the effects
of so great wrath； for their future wicked actions； and
especially on account of thy prayers。 But if I shall at any time
send tempests of rain； in an extraordinary manner； be not
affrighted at the largeness of the showers； for the water shall
no more overspread the earth。 However； I require you to abstain
from shedding the blood of men； and to keep yourselves pure from
murder； and to punish those that commit any such thing。 I permit
you to make use of all the other living creatures at your
pleasure； and as your appetites lead you； for I have made you
lords of them all； both of those that walk on the land； and those
that swim in the waters； and of those that fly in the regions of
the air on high； excepting their blood； for therein is the life。
But I will give you a sign that I have left off my anger by my
bow ＇whereby is meant the rainbow； for they determined that the
rainbow was the bow of God＇。 And when God had said and promised
thus； he went away。
9。 Now when Noah had lived three hundred and fifty years after
the Flood； and that all that time happily； he died； having lived
the number of nine hundred and fifty years。 But let no one； upon
comparing the lives of the ancients with our lives； and with the
few years which we now live； think that what we have said of them
is false； or make the shortness of our lives at present an
argument； that neither did they attain to so long a duration of
life； for those ancients were beloved of God； and ＇lately＇ made
by God himself； and because their food was then fitter for the
prolongation of life； might well live so great a number of years：
and besides； God afforded them a longer time of life on account
of their virtue； and the good use they made of it in astronomical
and geometrical discoveries； which would not have afforded the
time of foretelling ＇the periods of the stars＇ unless they had
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 Ant