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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; 

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