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at all hurt the name of Chus； for the Ethiopians； over whom he
reigned； are even at this day； both by themselves and by all men
in Asia； called Chusites。 The memory also of the Mesraites is
preserved in their name； for all we who inhabit this country ＇of
Judea＇ called Egypt Mestre； and the Egyptians Mestreans。 Phut
also was the founder of Libya； and called the inhabitants
Phutites； from himself： there is also a river in the country of
Moors which bears that name； whence it is that we may see the
greatest part of the Grecian historiographers mention that river
and the adjoining country by the apellation of Phut： but the
name it has now has been by change given it from one of the sons
of Mesraim； who was called Lybyos。 We will inform you presently
what has been the occasion why it has been called Africa also。
Canaan； the fourth son of Ham； inhabited the country now called
Judea； and called it from his own name Canaan。 The children of
these ＇four＇ were these： Sabas； who founded the Sabeans； Evilas；
who founded the Evileans； who are called Getuli； Sabathes founded
the Sabathens； they are now called by the Greeks Astaborans；
Sabactas settled the Sabactens； and Ragmus the Ragmeans； and he
had two sons； the one of whom； Judadas； settled the Judadeans； a
nation of the western Ethiopians； and left them his name； as did
Sabas to the Sabeans： but Nimrod； the son of Chus； staid and
tyrannized at Babylon； as we have already informed you。 Now all
the children of Mesraim； being eight in number； possessed the
country from Gaza to Egypt； though it retained the name of one
only； the Philistim； for the Greeks call part of that country
Palestine。 As for the rest； Ludieim； and Enemim； and Labim； who
alone inhabited in Libya； and called the country from himself；
Nedim； and Phethrosim； and Chesloim； and Cephthorim； we know
nothing of them besides their names； for the Ethiopic war（17）
which we shall describe hereafter； was the cause that those
cities were overthrown。 The sons of Canaan were these： Sidonius；
who also built a city of the same name； it is called by the
Greeks Sidon
Amathus inhabited in Amathine； which is even now called Amathe by
the inhabitants； although the Macedonians named it Epiphania；
from one of his posterity： Arudeus possessed the island Aradus：
Arucas possessed Arce； which is in Libanus。 But for the seven
others； ＇Eueus；＇ Chetteus； Jebuseus； Amorreus； Gergesus； Eudeus；
Sineus； Samareus； we have nothing in the sacred books but their
names； for the Hebrews overthrew their cities； and their
calamities came upon them on the occasion following。
3。 Noah； when； after the deluge； the earth was resettled in its
former condition； set about its cultivation； and when he had
planted it with vines； and when the fruit was ripe； and he had
gathered the grapes in their season； and the wine was ready for
use； he offered sacrifice； and feasted； and； being drunk； he fell
asleep； and lay naked in an unseemly manner。 When his youngest
son saw this； he came laughing； and showed him to his brethren；
but they covered their father's nakedness。 And when Noah was made
sensible of what had been done； he prayed for prosperity to his
other sons； but for Ham； he did not curse him； by reason of his
nearness in blood； but cursed his prosperity： and when the rest
of them escaped that curse； God inflicted it on the children of
Canaan。 But as to these matters； we shall speak more hereafter。
4。 Shem； the third son of Noah； had five sons； who inhabited the
land that began at Euphrates； and reached to the Indian Ocean。
For Elam left behind him the Elamites； the ancestors of the
Persians。 Ashur lived at the city Nineve； and named his subjects
Assyrians； who became the most fortunate nation； beyond others。
Arphaxad named the Arphaxadites； who are now called Chaldeans。
Aram had the Aramites； which the Greeks called Syrians； as Laud
founded the Laudites； which are now called Lydians。 Of the four
sons of Aram； Uz founded Trachonitis and Damascus： this country
lies between Palestine and Celesyria。 Ul founded Armenia； and
Gather the Bactrians； and Mesa the Mesaneans； it is now called
Charax Spasini。 Sala was the son of Arphaxad； and his son was
Heber； from whom they originally called the Jews Hebrews。 （18）
Heber begat Joetan and Phaleg： he was called Phaleg； because he
was born at the dispersion of the nations to their several
countries； for Phaleg among the Hebrews signifies division。 Now
Joctan； one of the sons of Heber； had these sons； Elmodad；
Saleph； Asermoth； Jera； Adoram； Aizel； Decla； Ebal； Abimael；
Sabeus； Ophir； Euilat； and Jobab。 These inhabited from Cophen； an
Indian river； and in part of Asia adjoining to it。 And this shall
suffice concerning the sons of Shem。
5。 I will now treat of the Hebrews。 The son of Phaleg； whose
father Was Heber； was Ragau； whose son was Serug； to whom was
born Nahor； his son was Terah； who was the father of Abraham； who
accordingly was the tenth from Noah； and was born in the two
hundred and ninety…second year after the deluge； for Terah begat
Abram in his seventieth year。 Nahor begat Haran when he was one
hundred and twenty years old； Nahor was born to Serug in his
hundred and thirty…second year； Ragau had Serug at one hundred
and thirty； at the same age also Phaleg had Ragau； Heber begat
Phaleg in his hundred and thirty…fourth year； he himself being
begotten by Sala when he was a hundred and thirty years old； whom
Arphaxad had for his son at the hundred and thirty…fifth year of
his age。 Arphaxad was the son of Shem； and born twelve years
after the deluge。 Now Abram had two brethren； Nahor and Haran： of
these Haran left a son； Lot； as also Sarai and Milcha his
daughters； and died among the Chaldeans； in a city of the
Chaldeans； called Ur； and his monument is shown to this day。
These married their nieces。 Nabor married Milcha； and Abram
married Sarai。 Now Terah hating Chaldea； on account of his
mourning for Ilaran； they all removed to Haran of Mesopotamia；
where Terah died； and was buried； when he had lived to be two
hundred and five years old； for the life of man was already； by
degrees； diminished； and became shorter than before； till the
birth of Moses； after whom the term of human life was one hundred
and twenty years； God determining it to the length that Moses
happened to live。 Now Nahor had eight sons by Milcha； Uz and Buz；
Kemuel； Chesed； Azau； Pheldas； Jadelph； and Bethuel。 These were
all the genuine sons of Nahor； for Teba； and Gaam； and Tachas；
and Maaca； were born of Reuma his concubine： but Bethuel had a
daughter； Rebecca； and a son； Laban。
CHAPTER 7。
How Abram Our Forefather Went Out Of The Land Of The Chaldeans；
And Lived In The Land Then Called Canaan But Now Judea。
1。 Now Abram； having no son of his own； adopted Lot； his brother
Haran's son； and his wife Sarai's brother； and he left the land
of Chaldea when he was seventy…five years old； and at the command
of God went into Canaan； and therein he dwelt himself； and left
it to his posterity。 He was a person of great sagacity； both for
understanding all things and persuading his hearers； and not
mistaken in his opinions； for which reason he began to have
higher notions of virtue than others had； and he determined to
renew and to change the opinion all men happened then to have
concerning God； for he was the first that ventured to publish
this notion； That there was but one God； the Creator of the
universe； and that； as to other ＇gods＇； if they contributed any
thing to the happiness of men； that each of them afforded it only
according to his appointment； and not by their own power。 This
his opinion was derived from the irregular phenomena that were
visible both at land and sea； as well as those that happen to the
sun； and moon； and all the heavenly bodies； thus： … 〃If ＇said he＇
these bodies had power of their own； they would certainly take
care of their own regular motions； but since they do not preserve
such regularity； they make it plain； that in so far as they
co…operate to our advantage； they do it not of their own
abilities； but as they are subservient to Him that commands them；
to whom alone we ought justly to offer our honor and
thanksgiving。〃 For which doctrines； when the Chaldeans； and other
people of Mesopotamia； raised a tumult against him； he thought
fit to leave that country； and at the command and by the
assistance of God； he came and lived in the land of Canaan。 And
when he was there settled； he built an altar； and performed a
sacrifice to God。
2。 Berosus mentions our father Abram without naming him； when he
says thus： 〃In the tenth generation after the Flood； there was
among the Chaldeans a man righteous and great； and skillful in
the celestial science。〃 But Hecatseus does more than barely
mention him； for he composed； and left behind him； a book
concerning him。 And Nicolaus of Damascus； in the fourth book of
his History； says thus： 〃Abram reigned at Damascus； being a
foreigner； who came with an army out of the land above Babylon；
called the land of the Chaldeans： but； after a long time； he got
him up； and removed from that country also； with his people； and
went into the land then called the land of Canaan；