Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Commentary · Chapter 10

Commentary on Genesis and Exodus · Commentary · Chapter 10

p. 96CHAP. X.

1. The Method and parts of the Chapter.

THis Chapter hath three parts, according to the severall generations of the three sonnes of Noah, Iapheth, Cham, Sem: by whom the world was replenished: the generation of Iapheth is expressed, from v. 1. to v. 6. their names. v. 2, 3, 4. their habitation and place of dwelling. v. 5. the generation of Cham rehearsed, from v. 6. to 21. their severall names together with their habitation: then followeth the generation of Sem, their names, from v. 22. to v. 30. their habitation, vers. 30.

2. The grammaticall sense, or difference of translations.

S. alt.2. Thobel, Meso…eh. S. Thubal, Mesech. H. Thubal, Mesech, &c.

4. Citij. Rhodij. H.S. Cethim Dodanim. H. C…tt…m, Donanim, &c.

differ pronunt. Chald. alt Ch. alt. Tr.7. Regma, Sabathaca. S. H. Ch. Raamah. Sabtecha. T. B. G. A. heb. Ragmah.

8. A gyant, foreign, in the earth. S. a mighty man, &c. ghibb…r. robustus, strong.

9. A giant hunter. S. a mighty hunter. H. B. G. a mighty man, Ch. mighty in hunting. T. P. heb.

10. Arach. S. H. Erech. cat. Eerech, &c. in the land of Babylon. Ch. Sennaer, or Sinhar▪ cat. sic & heb.

11. Out of that land came Assur. S. H. cum caeter. Out of this land he came into Assur. Tr. built the streets of the City. H. Rahoboth the City, caeter. rachab. breadth.

H. app. pr…. prop. S. alter. Ch. alter. Ch. plu. pro. sing. differ. pronunt. S. add.12. Dasem. S. Resen: caet.

14 Cappadoces. Ch. Captharim, caeter.

18. Cynaeum. S.H. Ch. Cynaum, caet. cum s. Sini. Eveum. Arachaum, S. H. T. Evaeos, Arachaeos. Ch. Hi…i, Archi, Sini. B. G. heb.

By these were spread. H. foreign. after this. S. & caet. achar, afterward.

19. Gerar. Gaza. S. Ierar. Gaza. H. Gerer. Azzah. cat. gnazah.

21. The elder brother of Iapheth. H. B. G. Ch. the brother of Iapheth the Elder foreign. S.T. hagadhe. Iapheth the great: for Iapheth was the elder, as shall be seene afterward.

24 Arphaxad begat Cainan. S. the rest have not Cainan. Likewise another Cainan is rehearsed by the 70. among the sonnes of Sem, v. 23.

27. Iazal. H. Aizal. S. Vzal. Ch. B. G. Vxal. Vzal.

3. The explanation of doubtfull questions.

QVEST. I. Of the number of the heads of the Gentiles.

Vers. 1. THese are the generations, &c. The fathers have curiously endevoured to bring the chiefe heads of the fathers of the Gentiles rehearsed in this Chapter, to the number of 72. and therefore Augustine following some Greeke translations, maketh Elisha to be the 8. sonne of Iapheth, and so reckoneth 15. in all to come of Iapheth: whereas there are but onelyonly 14. of Chams progeny, he counteth only 31. leaving out the Philistims: Epiphanius 32. of Sem Augustine reckoneth 27. Epiphanius but 25. accounting Peleg with Heber, and Ioktan, together with his posterity. But the true reckoning is this: of Iapheth 14. of Cham beside the Philistims, 31. of Sem, 26. are rehearsed, which makes in all 71. and with their three fathers, Iapheth, Cham, Sem, 74. and with the Philistims, 75. Iun. the Hebrewes make but 70. in all beside the fathers, to answer to the 70. persons, that descended into Aegypt of Iacob.

QVEST. II. Of the names of the Gentiles.

1. NEither are all the heads and fathers of the Gentiles here named, but those which were the chiefe and most famous, and such as were best knowne and nearest situate to the Jewes: and therefore least mention is made of Iapheths generation, which inhabited further off among the Gentiles, Calvin. …. Concerning the names which the nations retained of their fathers, many are worne out by continuance of time:Ioseph. 1. lib. Antiquit. many changed by the Grecians, that gave them new names, as Iosephus thinketh, many altered by warre and conquest, Oecolamp. yet the names were not so altered, but that in the time of the Prophets and long after, they were knowne, and so in Scripture mentioned by these appellations.

QVEST. III. Whether these heads made so many distinct nations.

FUrther, 1. Neither is it like, that these heads, and fathers here rehearsed made so many divers distinct languages and nations: for the Cananites, that contained eleven sundry people, v. 16, 17. spake all but one language: and the text saith, they were divided according to their families, v. 5. that is, divers families concurred together according to their language to make one nation. Iunius. 2. Neither is it probable, that the whole world was at the first distributed among the three sonnes of Noah by lot,Epiphan. in Ancho…o. as Epiphanim writeth, or as Berosus, that Noah taking a view of the whole world sayling by Sea, did appoint the three parts of the world, Europa to Iapheth, Affrica to Cham, Asia to Sem: for in the ages succeeding: many p. 97countreyes were discovered, unknowne before. But it is most probable, that the coasts and confines of the large and wide countreys, were inhabited by these fathers of the world, into the which afterward their posterity was spread and dispersed: and that Moses especially describeth the habitation and dwelling of those nations, which were nearest and best knowne to the Israelites: and in processe of time the three parts of the world were for the most part possessed, Europa by Iapheths posteritie, Africa by Chams, Asia by Sems: yet so, that in all these coasts, some of each were intermingled: as the Medes in Asia came of Madai of Iapheth, the Cananites in Asia of Chus of Cham.

Now the reasons, why mention is made of these generations may be these: 1. to shew the effect of that blessing, which the Lord gave to Noah and his sonnes to multiply and increase. 2. to demonstrate the judgement of God upon the posterity of Cham, and his blessing upon Sem, according to Noahs prophesie. 3. to acquaint the Israelites with the nations of the Gentiles, from whom they were to expect their inheritance: 4. to open a way to the understanding of the Scripture, wherein the names of these nations doe often occurre.

QVEST. IIII. The causes why Moses rehearseth the generations of Noahs sonnes.

Vers. 2. SOnnes of Iapheth. Moses beginneth with Iapheth, not as some thinke, from the younger proceeding to the elder, for it is evident, chap. 9.24. that Cham was younger than Sem: neither for that Iapheth was the eldest, doth he name him first, for then Sem should be the youngest, because he is mentioned last: but Moses beginneth where he ended in the former chapter at Iapheth, v. 27. that he might determine the story in Sem, of whom and his posterity the rest of this booke entreateth: and because Iapheths posterity inhabited the countries furthest off, he beginneth there first. Mercer.

QVEST. V. What countries Iapheths sonnes inhabited.

Vers. 2. GOmer, Magog, Mada…, Iavan, &c. Gomer inhabited the North parts in respect of Palestina toward the West, Ezek. 38.6. whom Iosephus thinketh to be the Galatians,Gomer. or Gallogrecians called Gomerites, the same which Herodotus nameth Cimmerii, or Cimbri, lib. 4. they inhabited the inward parts of Asia, in Phrygia, neare to Troas. Wherefore Gomer cannot bee assigned to Africa, as Ierosolymitan.

2. Magog: some understand by Magog the Gothes, other the Sarmatians, Hierosolymit. the Germans: but they are most like to bee the Scythians,Magog. Mercer. which before were called Magogei▪ and this may bee an evidence thereof, because the Scythians wasting Asia, called the chiefe City, Magog, afterward named Hierapolis, as witnesseth Pliny, lib. 5. c. 23. Iunius.

3. Madai: this was the father of the Medes, who at the first were subject to the Assyrians and Chaldeans, 2 King. 17.6. but afterward the Medes surprised Babylon, Isa 13.17.Madai. Behold I will stirre up the Medes against thee.

4. Iavan: from him came the Grecians, as Ioel. 3.6. I…vanim, being the plurall of Iavan, is translated by the Septuagint, foreign, of the Greekes: Hecataeus in Strabo. lib. 9. saith,Iavan. that the Jonians came out of Asia into Grecia, from whence the Athenians had their beginning, which at the first were called Jones, and their countrey Jonia. Hierosolymitan ▪ saith, they were the Macedonians, which had the principality over Greece.

5. Thubal: Epiphanius thinketh him to be the father and founder of the Thessalians:Thubal. some of the Hebrewes understand the Italians: others take Thubal for the countrey Iberia in Asia, neere to Armenia, where Ptolomy placeth the towne Thabilaca: of those Iberians Ios…phus meaneth that they were called Thubalaei, Thubalians, and not of the Iberians, that is, the Spanyards in Europe, as Pererius citeth him: sic Iunius. But seeing in Scripture Thubal and Mesech are joyned together, which is taken for Arabia: as Ezek. 27.13. and 32.6. some thinke it more like to be a countrey neare to Arabia, Perer. they cannot bee the Spanyards, as Mercerus thinketh. Of all the rest, I judge Iosephus opinion to be most probable, as shall appeare in the next place.

6. Mesech. 1. This is neither like to bee the Muscovites, as some have thought, because of the similitude of the letters, Mercer. 2. Neither is Mesech neare Arabia, as Pererius would gather out of the Psalme,Mesech. 120.5. Woe is me, that I am constrained to dwell in Mesech, and in the tents of Kedar: for although it bee agreed, that Cedar is here taken for part of Arabia, yet the other word is rather appellative, than proper in this place: and commeth of the Hebrew mashach, which signifieth, to prolong: so the sense is, why doe I sojourne so long, as both Hierome and Tremellius translate: and the Chalde read, I have sojourned, cum Asiavis, &c. cum tabernaculis Arabiani: with men of Asia, and in the tabernacles of the Arabians. 3. Wherefore it is most like, that Mesech was in Asia neare to Tubals countrey, confining upon Armenia, rather than Arabia, and to be the countrey called Cappadocia. Iosephus saith, that the Cappadocians were first called Mesochaei, Mesochians. Pliny nameth them Mossyni, Epiphanius Mossynaeci:Plin. lib. 6. c. 4. Mela. lib. 1. Geog. c. 21. and Mela witnesseth that there is a certaine hill in Armenia toward Cappadocia, called Moschicus: and Iosephus testifieth, that there was a certaine City in Cappadocia, called Mosecha, afterward Caesarea: this therefore is that Mesech which is joyned so often in the Scripture with Thubal.

7. Thiras. 1. which is neither the Turkes, as the Hierosolymitan. 2. nor the Persians, as Selomo Iarchi. 3. But as it is received of the most, this was the father of the Thracians,Thiras. who inhabited neare unto Pontus Euxinus, not so called, Thraces, tanquam, truces, of their cruell and savage nature, as of the hardnesse of the countrey, but of their first founder Thyras. Mercer. Iun.

p. 98QVEST. VI. Where the sonnes of Gomer inhabited.

Ashkenaz.Vers. 3. THe sonnes of Gomer, Ashkenaz, Riphath, Togarmah: 1. Some take Ashk…naz for the Gothes or Scithians: Genevens. Ierom. 51.27. 2. Some for Germany, Iosephus for the Rhegini, a people of Italy: sic Mercer. 3. But it is most like they were a people inhabiting Asia: as Ierosolymitan gathereth, Ierem. 51.27. where Ashkenaz is numbred among the assistants of the Medes and Persians that came against Babylon: And for the better evidence hereof, there is a lake in Bithynia called Ascania: and certaine Ilands of the Sea Aegeum,Plin. lib. 5. c. 23. are named Ascania. Pliny also maketh mention of a famous mart towne in Phrygia called Ascania: ex Iunio.

Riphath.2. Riphath called also Diphath, 1 Chron. 1.6. Epiphanius taketh them for the Caspians, Ierosolymitan, for the Phrigians, Mercerus, for the R…phei. But it is most like they were the Paphlagonians, who Iosephus saith were called Riphathaei, whereof also the mountaines Riphaei were so named.

….3. Togarma: this neither is like to be Turks, as the Jewes, nor the Germaine, as the Chalde paraphrast, Esech. 27.13. for they had no traffick with Ti…us, being so farre distant, nor yet Barbary, as the Jerosolymitan. Paraphrast: for Esech. 38.6. the Thogarmians are reckoned among those nations that assisted Gog, the Prince of Asia against the Israelites: Iosephus taketh Togarma for the Phrigians: but they are most like to be a people of Armenia the lesse, whose Kings were called Tygranes, as derived from Togarmah. Iun.

QVEST. VII. Of the sonnes of Iavan.

Vers. 4. THe sonnes of Iavan, Elisha, &c. Elisha, the Chalde Paraphrast taketh for Italia: Esech. 27.7. some for the fortunate Islands:Elisha. whereof the Poets tooke occasion so much to celebrate the campi Elysii, the Elisian fields: tharg: Hieros. for Hellas, Graecia: Iosephus for the Aeolians famous for purple Ezech. 27.7. which is most probable: Iunius. Mercer.

2. Tarshish: Iosephus taketh it for India, that yeeldeth gold, lib. 8. antiquit. and so doth Hierome: the Septuagint Ezech. 23. for Tarshish,Tarshish. reade Carthage: the Chalde paraphrast, Ierem. 10. Africa: But Tarshish is rather Cilicia, where was the City Tarsus, S. Pauls countrey, Iunius, Mercer. Act. 21.39. And hereupon because the Cilicians were chiefe Navigators and commanders of the Mediterranian sea: all those coasts along were called Tarshish.

Kittim.3. Kittim: some understand the Italians and Romanes, as the Latine translation and Chalde Paraphrast, Numer. 24.24. Iosephus and Epiphanius the Cyprians, where was the Citie Citium, the towne of Zeno Citius, chiefe of the Stoikes: Mercer. But Kittim are rather the people called Citii, inhabiting in Asia, neare to Cilicia: of whom that City in Cyprus might be so called.

Dodanim.4. Dodanim or Rhodanim, 1 Chron. 1. v. 1. for the Hebrew dale…h and resh, may easily be mistaken one for another: the Hierosolymit. understandeth Dodana in Epirus, Mercer. some the countrey by Rodanus the river of Rhone. But the Rodians of the Isle Rodes, are most like to take their beginning from hence, as the Septuagint interpret. Iun.

QVEST. VIII. Of the Isles of the Gentiles.

Vers. 5. THe Isles of the Gentiles: that is all the sea coasts upon the Mediterranean sea, not only the Islands, as Rhodes, Ciprus, but the countries bordering upon the Sea were inhabited by these sonnes of Iavan: for as Hierome citeth out of Varro and others, the Grecians, replenished the sea coasts from the mountaines Amanus and Taurus, almost to the British sea: the other sonnes of Iapheth inhabited the Asian and East parts, as is before shewed: And as yet there was no division of tongues, whereof Moses entreateth:Tradition. in Genes. c. 11. but he here speaketh thereof by way of anticipation.

QVEST. IX. Of the sonnes of Cham.

Vers. 6. THe sonnes of Ham were Chus: Ham or Cham with his posterity dispersed themselves into the Meridoniall or Sotherne parts of the world, both in Asia and Africa: whereupon the tents or Tabernacles of Cham, are taken for Aegypt, Psal 78 51. and Chemmis was the name of a great Citie in Thebais and of an Island:Herodo… ▪ in Ente… Chush is taken in Scripture both for Arabia in Asia, and the great countrey Aethiopia in Africa: Genes. 2.13. the land of Chush must needs bee understood to bee Arabia: Numb. 12. Zippora Moses wife, is said to bee Chusitis, a Chusite, or as other read an Aethiopian: and yet shee was a Madianite,Of Chus. which countrey bordered upon Arabia: so 2 Chron. 14.9. Zerah King of Chush or Aethiopia, came against Asia: which is not like to have beene King of the African Aethiopia, which was a great way distant from Palestina,Two countries of Aethiopia. neither was there cause of hostility or enmity betweene the Jewes and them, being so farre disjoyned: and the text saith, that Asa pursued the Aethiopians to Gerar, and smote the Cities about it, which did belong (as should seeme) to Z…rah: But this Gerar was in the confines of Palestina, as may appeare by the peregrination of Abraham and Isaack: Genes. 20.26. But that in some places Chush is taken for the greater Aethiopia beyond Aegypt, is evident also in the Scripture: as 2 King. 19.9. Tirhak… King of Aethiopia, came out against Senacherib, under whose dominion Arabia and the countries adjoyning in Asia were: likewise Ierem. 13.23. can the Aethiopian or Chushite change his skin? &c. Wherefore Beroaldus opinion,Bero…ld. in su…. Chronic. that would have Arabia only taken for Chush upon the reason before alleaged, wanteth sufficient ground: there was then two countries called Chush or Aethiopia, one in Asia, the other in Africa, one in the West, the other toward the East: which two countries were severed by the Arabian sea. This distinction Pererius well noteth to have beene observed by forreine writers. Homer, Herodotus, Pliny.

Mizraim.Mizraim is by a generall consent taken for Aegypt, which was so called of Aegyptus, brother to Danaus, p. 99who there reigned, having expelled his brother: which happened, as Augustine following Eusebius saith, in Iosua his time, more than 800. yeares after the floud: But according to the computation of Manethon an Aegyptian Chronographer cited by Iosephus, lib. 1. cont. Appion: it was 390. yeares after Moses leading of the Israelites out of Aegypt. [Put, otherwise called Pul. Isac. 66.19. from him came the Lybians, so the Septuagint translate: Ezech. 30.5. the inhabitants were first called Puthaei: and in Mauritania there was a river of that name called Phut: Iosephus, lib. 1. antiquit. Plin. lib. 5. c. 1.Phut. Epip…. cont. Se…ianos. Epiphanius taketh them to be the people called Axumitae beyond Aegypt, among the Troglodites: from this name some conjectu…e Phaieton to be derived, which gave occasion to the Poeticall fictions: So it is most like, that Phut and his posterity inhabited the African coasts: the people since were called Libians of Libya the daughter of Epaphus, and the country Africa, of Apher sonne of Hercules the Lybian.Solin. c. 27.

Chanaan: the posterity of this Canaan is exactly described, v. 15. these were all called by one generall name of Cananites, but distinguished into divers other people:Canaan. whose countrey was afterward given unto Abraham and his posterity.

QVEST. X. Of the Sabeans.

Vers. 7. THe sonne of Chuch, Saba, &c. These Sabeans, were neither people of Aethiopia, as Iosephus, nor yet so called, foreign, of worshipping, because the incense, which came from them was used in sacrifices: But they inhabited Arabia Faelix: of these Sabeans the Prophet Isay speaketh, 45.19. prophane authors also make mention of them: Pliny maketh them a people of Arabia famous for incense,Plin. lib. … dwelling betweene the two Seas, the Persian and Arabicke: Strabo saith also, Sabaei faelicem Arabam incolunt, &c. they inhabited the fortunate or happy Arabia: and he further describeth them by their rich commodities of incense, mirrh, cynamon, balme: wherof they have such abundance, that they use cynamon and casia, in stead of wood for the fire: they have their beds, tables, stooles, vessels of silver,Strabo lib. 16. Chavilah. and gold &c.

2. Chavilah, Iosephus, and Hierome following him to whom subscribeth, Mercer. thinke this to be the Getulians in the remote parts of Africa: but it is most like to bee a countrey not farre from the Ismalites and Amalekites in Asia, confining upon the countrey Susiana, in Persia: for the Ismalites dwelt from Havilah to Sur, Gen. 25.18. and Saul smote Amaleck from Havilah to Sur, 1 Sam. 15.7. yet this is another Chavilah from that mentioned, v. 29.

3. Sabthah: which cannot be the people Astabari in Aethiopia, so called of the river Astabarus,Lib. 1. antiq. Sab. …a…. which runneth into Nilus, as Iosephus thinketh, and M…rcerus. But these people called of the Greekes Sabbatheni, inhabited a part of Arabia Faelix neare to the Persian Sea: where Ptolomy placeth the City Sabathe: which seemeth to be the same that Pliny calleth Sabbatholes, which hath within the wals 60. temples.Plin. lib. 6. c. 2…, Rahma.

4. Rahma, Hier. Regma: Epiphanius agreeing with Iosephus, thinke this Regmah to bee the countrey Garaon, Garamantus, in Lybia: but by their merchandize of precious stones and spice, Ezech. 27.22. they are rather thought to inhabite Arabia Faelix: where Ptolomy placeth the City Ragamah.

5. Sabth…ca, the founder of the people Sacalitae, in Arabia Faelix, neare to the Persian gulph:Sebteca. Iun.

QVEST. XI. Of Sheba and Dedan.

Vers. 7. THe sonnes of Raamah, Sheba, Dedan: This Sheban is another, from Saba before mentioned: the first being written with Shin, the other with Samech: and this Sheba differeth from that Sheba, which was of Abrahams posterity. Genes. 25.3. that Shebah inhabited Arabia deserta: but this in Aethiopia. It was the Queene of this countrey that came to Salomon, 1 King. 10.1. called the Queene of the South, Matth. 12. But Arabia is more East than South, from Palestina: the Queenes of this countrey were called by the name of Candaces, Act. 8. The Sabeans that drove away Iobs cattell, were not as Pererius thinketh, and Mercerus of this people, but of the other Shabeans of Arabia deserta.

Dedan Iosephus and Hierome, place the Dedanaeans in Aethiopia, so also Mercerus: but that is not like because they did trafficke with Tyrus, Ezek. 27.20. which they could not conveniently doe,Dedan. if they dwelt in the remote and farre distant country of Aethiopia. It is more probable, that they inhabited some part of Arabia Faelix, not farre from Idumea: as may appeare, Ierem 49.8. where the name of Dedan are threatned to bee destroyed, together with Edom, as being their assistant and coadjutors in evill. But let this further bee noted, that there are two other of the same name. Dedan and Sheba, which came to Abraham by Ketura, Gen. 25. which inhabited Arabia deserta.

QVEST. XII. Of Nimrods cruelty.

Vers. 8. ANd Chus begat Nimrod. 1. Augustine, as the Septuagint also translate, thinketh he was a gyant in the stature of his body. 2. Hierome, that he first exercised tyranny and cruell dominion:August. li…. 16. de civit. 3. H…er. in …adit. Gen. Hug. annotat. in Gen. whereas before there was no such violent rule practised. 3. Wherein his ambition appeareth, to seeke to be Lord of all, Noah yet living. Calvin. 4. Iosephus saith that he provoked men to pride and contempt of God, teaching men to ascribe their happinesse to themselves, not unto God. 5. Hugo saith, he brought in Idolatry, teaching men to worship fire, that was so commodious to men, which errour the Chaldeans followed. 5. Hee is called a Hunter by a Metaphor, because hee hunted men, as beasts are chased, Ierem. 4 18.

QVEST. XIII. How Nimrod is said to be a mighty hunter before the Lord.

Vers. 9. A Mighty hunter before the Lord.] 1. which words are neither to be so taken, as if it should have been said, that Nimrod was the mightiest man under heaven, sic Vatablus, and Mercerus p. 100following Ramban. 2. Neither that Nimrod did offer in sacrifice to God, the beasts which he hunted for, Aben Ezra …. Nor yet that Nimrod did simulate, dissemblingly professe himselfe a worshipper of God, Cajetane. 4. Neither doth this clause onelyonly serve to amplifie, as Psal. 104.16. the Cedars are called the Cedars of God, that is, high trees: So Nimrod should here bee said to bee a hunter before the Lord, that is, a mighty hunter: as Ramban: for that is said before. 5. As for that fable of the Hebrewes, that Nimrod was cloathed with the same skinnes which Adam and Eve did weare, by vertue whereof both man and beast were obedient to him, we utterly reject it. 6. Neither need we to turne the word, before the Lord, against the Lord, as Augustine sheweth the use of the word foreign, which signifieth both, lib. 16. de Civit. cap 4. 7. But the right meaning is, that even in the sight and presence of God, without all feare of God, Nimrod practised tyranny and cruelty: so that it grew unto a proverb, to resemble a cruell tyrant and oppressor to Nimrod.

QVEST. XIII. Who that Nimrod was.

NImrod. 1. This Nimrod was neither the sonne of Ionithus, whom Noah should beget after the floud, who should for rule and dominion-sake associate himselfe to the stocke of Cham, Histor. schol. i… Gen. 37.Gen 37as forged Methodius fableth: for the Scripture testifieth, that he was the sonne of Chush. 2. Neither was Nimrod the father of Iupiter Belus, the father of Ninus, as Berosus Annianus, l…b. 5. antiquit. Chaldaic. who should beginne the Empire of the Babylonians, an. 130. yeare after the floud: for it is not like that Monarchie grew so soone to be so mighty, the world not yet being replenished. 3. Neither can he be Ninus, because he is said to build Ninive, vers. 11. as Meacator: for that City might be begunne by Nimrod, and enlarged by Ninus, 4. Neither can Mercators conjecture be sound,Mercator in Chronolog. that Nimrod was not the immediate sonne of Chush, because he is reckoned after the Nephew of Chush: but this might be (to omit their conjecture, that he was begotten of an harlot) either because he was borne after his nephewes Sheba and Dedan: or else the Scripture speaketh of him alone, as the most eminent person, and to take occasion thereby to touch his tyranny: sic Augustin. Mercer. 5. Neither is it like, that this Nimrod was Zoroaster, Aug. lib. …9. de Civit. Dei, cap. 3.as Epiphanius. 6. But it is most like, that this Nimrod was the same, whom forren stories call Belus, whom they make the founder of the Babylonian Monarch: and both of them were the first inventors of Idolatry: So Iosephus saith of Nimrod: and it is evident, that many Idols names among the Gentiles in those East parts were derived from Belus: as B…lial, Belzebub, Belphegor.

QVEST. XIV. Of the Countries Arach.

Vers. 10. THe beginning of his Kingdome was Babel, &c. 1. Babel was so called, because there the Lord confounded their languages: of ballall, to confound. 2. Arach: it may bee Arecha, in the Province Susiana in Persia: but more like to be Edessa in Mesopotamia neere Euphrates, not that Edessa which was afterwards called Antioch: sic Hierosolym. Hieronym. Mercer. 3. Accad is Nisibis in that part of Mesopotamia,Accad. which is corruptly of Geographers called Acabene, for Accadene, Mercer. 4. Calne, which is not Selucia, as Hierome or Ctesiphon, as Hierosolmyt. and Mercer, but rather the famous Mart Towne Callinisum, Iun. that it was a Towne of fame, may appeare, Amos 6.2. goe unto Calneh, &c. 5. Sinhar:Sinhar. this is the Countrey of Chaldaea and Mesopotamia, where is the mountaine Singaras, and the Towne Singara thereof called. Iun.

QVEST. XV. Of the building of Babel.

COncerning the building of Babel. 1. Q. Curtius seemeth to ascribe it to Belus, lib. 5. 2. Others to Semiramis, Herodotus lib. 1. Diodor. lib. …. 3. Berosus cited by Iosephus, to Nebuchadnazar: lib 1. cont. App…on. 4. Berosus Annianus maketh all three builders of Babylon: Nimrod began the Tower, an. 131. after the floud: then Belus built the City, who reigned after Nimrod 62. yeares, and he himselfe reigned 56. yeares: then Semiramis, the wife of Ninus, which reigned 24. yeares, much enlarged and fortified the Citie. To this purpose Berosus Annianus. And after all this, when Assyrian kings had made Ninive, the Imperiall seate, so that Babylon was neglected, and much decayed, at the last Nebucadnazar, having conquered the Citie of Ninive, reedified and beautified Babylon, as it is in the 4. of Dan. But yet the beginning and foundation of Babylon was laid by Nimrod, as the Scripture here testifieth, the b…ginning of his Kingdome was Babel. Hereunto agree Iosephus. Orosius▪ lib. 16. August. lib. 16. de Civit. Dei. cap. 4.

QVEST. XVI. Of Assur.

Vers. 11. OVt of that land came Assur, or he went to Assur. 1. Neither Assur is here taken for the proper name of Sems sonne,Lib. 16. de Civit· … cap. 3. who as Augustine thinketh, first obtained the dominion of Nimrod, and then went and built other Cities, whereof the first was afterward called Ninive: the same also is the opinion of Iosephus and Mercerus, following Kimchi. For it is not like that Assur of godly Sem, was such another mighty hunter as Nimrod was:Lib. 1. antiq…. and if Assur obtained Nimrods Empire, he was the mighty hunter and not Nimrod. 2. Neither is it like as Hierom writeth, de terra illa pullulavit Assyriorum imperium, that the Empire of the Assyrians did spring out of Nimrods Countrey:Hieron trad. in …. …. for it is not probable that Sem and Chams stocke were so soone confederate together. 3. Neither was this Assur the sonne of Iapheth, as Ab. Ezra, or the son of Nimrod, as Epiphanius. 4. Nor yet is Assur here taken for the King of Assyria: that Ninus King of Assur came out from the land of Sin…ar to conquer other Countries, as Pererius seemeth to thinke: for it is not like that Moses would call Ninus by the proper name of Assur, the one comming of Cham, the other of Sem. 5. But the better reading is, that out of that land, he, that is Nimrod, or some of his p. 101posterity, came into Assyria, Iun. so that Assur is here taken, neither for the King or Kingdome of Assyria, or for the proper name of Assur, but for the region and countrey of Assyria. This Iunius following Ramban, to whom consenteth Mercator; saving that hee erroneously thinketh,Mercator in Chronolog. that Nimrod and Ninus the founder of Ninive, were all one. But it is more probable, that Nimrod first came into the countrey called Assyria, and began to build that City, which was afterward inlarged by Ninus, and called by his name.

QVEST. XVII. Of the beginning and continuance of the Assyrian Monarchy.

BUt here occasion is offered, briefly to touch the beginning and continuance of the Assyrian Monarchy. 1. Ninus is held to have beene the first Monarch of the Assyrians, as Hierome saith, most historiographers consent therein: in the 43. yeere of his reigne Abraham was borne, 352. yeares after the floud: the last King of the Assyrians, was Sardanapalus. 2. The number of the Kings (comming between) is uncertaine: Velleius Paterculus reckoneth 33. Eusebius, 36. Orosius, 50. Diodorus, 30. onelyonly:In 2. Osia. The number of the Assyrian Kings. but the matter is not great: for few or none of all this number, were famous for their vertue or worthy acts: neither doth the knowledge thereof give any light to the divine stories. 3. Likewise authors disagree about the continuance of the Monarchy: 1. Some ascribe unto it too much, as the Aegyptians, 5000. yeares, as Alexander writeth in an epistle to Olympias, cited by Augustine. 2. Some give too small a time, as Herodotus, of 500. yeares, lib. 1.3. But others yeeld a longer time: as Velleius a 1070. yeares, Instinus a 1300. lib. 1. Eusebius, Cyril, Isidor, Beda, a 1240. yeares: Diodorus a 1390. which opinion is most probable:Lib. 12. de civi. De…. c. 10. for from Abrahams birth to Manasses raine under the which the Assyrian Monarchy ceased, are counted yeares an 1310. adde hereunto 40. yeeres of Ninus raine before Abrahams birth, and they make a 1350. And if the Assyrian Empire were surprized in the 40. yeare of Manasses, as Pererius thinketh, the whole time will make a 1390. yeares. Perer.

QVEST. XVIII. How long the City of Ninive stood.

Vers. 11. ANd builded Ninive, &c. Concerning the continuance also of this City of Ninive, and the finall overthrow thereof, many opinions there are. 1. It is not like, that this City was destroyed either in the 7. yeare of Ozias, as Eusebius thinketh, or in the reigne of Manasses, as Iosephus: either in the 14. yeare of his reigne: as Diodorus, or the 40. as Pererius: nor yet under Iosias, as Hierome: for in the last yeare of Iosias reigne, Pharao Necho went up against the King of Assur, 2 King. 23.29. As yet then the Kingdome of Assur flourished and Ninive also the head City thereof. 2. Neither is it like that Ninive was surprized by Ciaxares King of Medes, after whom Astiages reigned 35. yeares; whom Cyrus succeeded, as Herodotus: for thus the destruction of Ninive should fall within the 70. yeares captivity of the Israelites. But whereas the Prophet Nahum prophesieth that Ninive should bee destroyed by the Chaldeans, Nahum. 3.7. The opinion of the Hebrewes is most like, that Nabuchadnezer destroyed Ninive (and not the King of the Medes,) in the first yeare of his reigne, about the beginning of Iehoiakims reigne: for it is not like that the King of the Chaldeans could so prevaile and begin his Monarchy, till hee had conquered the King of Assur, and subdued the chiefe City the strength of his Kingdome; so then the Kingdome of Assyria, and state of Ninive continued almost 50. yeares beyond the 40. yeare of Manasses: that is 15. yeares more of Manasses reigne: and of 29. Iosias, and some part of Iehoiakims reigne: which make in all a 1440. yeares, or thereabout.

QVEST. XIX. Of Rehoboth, Calah, Resen.

Vers. 11. THe City Rehoboth, and Calah, Resen. &c. This is a great City.] 1. Rehoboth is here the proper name of a City, not to be taken appellatively for the broad streets of Ninive, as Hierosolymit. and Hierome: for the addition of the word (City) sheweth it to bee a peculiar place so called: and therefore it is called Rehoboth of the river: Genes: 36.37. likely to bee the City Oraba, which Ptolome placeth upon the river Tygris. 2. Calah, Epiphanius taketh for Thobel: Hierosolym. for the City Hariatha, which Ptolome calleth Ar…agicarta. But it was rather the chiefe City, of the countrey Calacina, or Calachena in Assyria: whereof Strabo maketh mention, as confining upon Ninive. Iun. 3. Resen, Strabo prin. lib. 16.not as the 70. read Dase: some take it for the Towne Resama in Mesopotamia, some for Arsianes in the province Susiana: Epiphanius calleth it foreign, Lobus: Hierosolym. Thelessarum: But it is most like to bee the City Bessarum in Assyria, according to Ptolome, Diodorus li. 9. Strab. li…. …16. The largenes of the City Ninive.sic Iunius. 4. Ninive was this great City (not Resen before spoken of, as Mercerus following. R. Levi:) not so great in the beginning, but at that time when Moses did thus write: the wals were in compasse 60. miles: the height of 102. feet: the breadth able to receive three carts one meeting another, it had an 150. towres, of the height of 200. feet. In this Citie, when Ionas preached, were an 120. thousand little children, which could not bee above the 5. part, so that the City may be supposed to have had no lesse than 600. thousand inhabitants: It is called a City of 3. dayes journey, that is, to walke about the compasse or circuit thereof, or as Pererius thinketh to take a view of the streets and parts thereof.

QVEST. XX. Of the sonnes of Mizraim.

Vers. 13. MIsraim begat Ludim, &c. 1. Ludim are not the Lydians of Asia minor, but a people rather confining upon the Aegyptians, and confederate with them, as Ierem. 46.9. the Prophet nameth the Aethiopians, Lybians, Lydians, as assistants to the Aegyptians: the Ludaei then are the inhabitants of the countrey Meraeotis in Aegypt; some take Ludim for Mauritania. Mercer. Hierosol. 2. The Hanamaei,Ludeans. Hananims. Hananims, are the Pentapolites or Cyrenians in Aegypt. Hieros. or rather a people in Aethiopia: Mercer. p. 1023. Lehabims, they are the Lybians in Africa, where also the people called before Phutei, inhabiting the inward parts.Lehabims. Naphtahims Pathrusims Caslahims. Capthorims, Hierom. in tradition in Genes. 4. The Naphtahims, are certaine Aethiopians in the further part of Aegypt: where there was a City called Napatha: Plin. lib. 6. c. 29. 5. Pathrusims: not the Pelusians in the edge of Aegypt, as Hierosol. or the inhabitants of Arabia Petrea, but the Pharusians rather, as Ptolome and Pliny call them: a people inhabiting the middle part of Aegypt: whereof Isay maketh mention, Isay 11.11. Mercer. 6. The Caslahims are the inhabitants of the countrey Cassiotis, and the Capthorims of the region Sethroitis, about the mouth of Nilus, bordering upon Palestina. Iun.

QVEST. XXI. Of the originall of the Philistims.

Vers. 14. OVt of whom came the Philistims. 1. These are they whom the septuagint call Allophyli, that is, aliens or strangers, and the Latines Palestini, and their countrey Palestina, which contained five regions, according to five principall Cities, of Gaza, Ascalon, Gath, Accaron, Azotus: all bordering upon the Mediterranean sea. 2. These Philistimes came of the Capthorims: for so are they called the remnant of the Isle of Capthor. Ierem. 47.4. which Capthorims cannot be the Cappadocians as the Chalde readeth here,The Capthorims are not the Capadocians. and both the Greeke and Latine interpreter. Deut. 2.28. for the Cappadocians inhabited a large countrey neare to Pontus and the hill Taurus, farre distant from Palestina: and therefore it is not like the Philistims should come from so farre: and of any other Cappadocia nearer hand, we find no mention: But these Capthorims inhabited in the nearer parts of Aegypt, as is before shewed. 3. Whereas here the Philistims are said to come from the Casluhims;Recōciliation. and in other places from the Capthorims: it may be explained thus, that the Capthorims came first up to the Casluhims, which is in the way to Palestina, and joyning with them, (being yet the chiefe ringleaders themselves) invaded the country Palestina: 4. Some thinke, that both the Philistims, and Capthorims, came of the Casluhims, Mercer: but the better reading is to make this a parenthesis (of whom came the Philistims) so that the Capthorims, shall be the seventh sonne of Mizraim. 5. Some Hebrewes will have the Philistims, and Capthorims, to come both of the Pathrasims, and Casl…hans: of whom marrying together, they say were the Philistims Giants, and the Capthorims dwarfes: But the Philistims are here said to come of the Casluhims. 5. This Palestina then was first inhabited by the Cananites, which were expelled by the Capthorims, Deut. 2.23. and though afterward it was inhabited by the Philistims, yet it was part of the land of Canaan, and so of right belonged to the land of promise.

QVEST. XXII. Of the progeny of the Cananites.

Vers. 15. ANd Canaan, begat Zidon, &c. 1. He was the founder of Sidon, a City in Phaenici…, called great Sidon, Iosu. 19.28. because it was a famous City, more ancient than Tirus, which the Prophet nameth the daughter of Sidon,…. lib. 18. Z…don. Isay 23.12. Iustinus thinketh it was so called of the abundance of fish, for in the Phaenician language, a fisherman is called Said; but it is more like that Sidon beareth the name of the founder to this day.

Cheth.2. Cheth or Heth: from him came the Hethites, that dwelt about Hebron, as it may appeare by the cave, which Abraham bought of them: Genes. 23.19. This was a warlike people, and of them were there gyants, men of great stature: of whom the Syrians were afraid, lest the King of Israel had hired them. 2 King. 7.6.

Iebusi.3. Iebusi, the founder of the City Jebus, afterward called Jerusalem, Iosua 18.28. from whence they could not be expelled till Davids time, 2 Sam. 5.

Emori.4. Emori, father of the Amortheans, or Amorites: which inhabited about Bashan and Gilead, whose king was Og: their country fell to the lot of Gad and Ruben, and the halfe tribe of Manasses, Num. 21. these Amorites were dispersed into divers parts of the land of Canaan: and therefore the whole country, beareth their name, Genes. 15.16. the wickednesse of the Amorites is not yet full: their stature of body was great: therefore compared to the Cedars: Amos 2.9. But their wickednesse was greater: as the Prophet to set forth the sinne of Israel saith, their father was an Amorite, &c. Ezech. 16.3.

Girgashi.5. Girghashi: of whom came the Gergasenes: Matt. 8. by the lake Tiberias, where was the Towne of Ptolome, called Gerasa, of Iosephus Cesaera, of Pliny Gelasa, hence some thinke the lake Genesar had the name. Mercer

Hivi.6. Hivi: of him came the Hivites: these dwelt under mount Hermon: Iosua 11.3. which is a part of mount Lebanon, Iud. 3.3. toward the East, belonging to Trachonitis: Perer. some of the Hebrewes take the Hivites and Rephaim for all one: and for that cause Genes. 15.20. where the nations of the Cananites are rehearsed, the Rephaim are named, and the Hivites omitted.

Arki.7. Arki: who built the City Areas, over against Tripolis, under Lebanon, Hierom.

Sivi.8. Sivi: of whom the desart of Sin tooke the name. Perer. and the City Sin, not farre from Lebanon Hierom. of him came the inhabiters of Capa…orsa, Hierosal. a towne in Idumea, not farre from Jebus toward the south: Ptolom.

Arvadi.9. Arvadi: of whom came the Aradians, that inhabited the Island Aradus, famous for their skill in sea-faring: Ezech. 27. v. 8.

Zemari.10. Zemari: Hierom placeth the Semareans in Colo Syria, with their city Edessa: Hierosol. taketh them for the Emisseni in Syria, whom Pliny calleth Hemiseni: But it is most like that he was the author of those that inhabited Zemaraim. Iosua 18.22. of whom also the mountaine Zemaraim was so called, 2 Chron. 13.4.

Camathi.11. Chamathi: two Cities of this name Chamath we read of in the Scripture, one in the land of Canaan, p. 103which belonged unto the possession of Nephthaly, Iosua 19.35. called Hamoth Dor, one of the Cities of refuge, Iosua 21.32. The other was a chiefe Citie of Damascus, Ierem, 49.23. Tou the King of this Hamath, was in league with David, 1 Chron. 18.9. This Chamath the sonne of Canaan was the father of the Inhabitants of this Country, which Zeiglerus would have to be Ithurea: Iosephus, and Hierome, and Hierosol. thinke this Hamath to be Antiochia, the chiefe City of Syria, Iunius taketh it for the Province Camatha, which extendeth from Lebanon to Arabia deserta, the chiefe City whereof in time past was called Amathus.

QVEST. XXIII. Of the Perizzites.

BUt whereas Genes. 15.20, 21. two other Nations are named which inhabited the promised land: the Canaanites and Perizzites, whereof no mention is made in this place. The reason hereof may bee, 1. either because those were of some of these kindreds: the one called Canaanites, as being the chiefe among them; the other might be the Samareans, as Pererius, or some other, so called, because they inhabited the plaine Countrey, in unwalled Townes, for so the word is taken, Esther 9.19. where the Jewes are called Perazim, that is, dwelling in Villages. 2. Or which is most like, as all these eleven sonnes of Canaan dwelled not in Canaan, as the Arvadians, and Camatheans: so some forrainers of other kindreds might inhabite amongst them which came not of Canaan, as the Kenites, Kenizites, Cadmonites, whose Countrey is promised to Abraham, Gen. 15.19. Such were the Philistims that came of the Capthorims, which expelled the Anims, Deut. 2.23. Iosua 13.3. There were also the Geshurites and Maachathites, Iosu. 13.13. Such also might these Perizzites be. 3. And beside these people of the Canaanites, the ancient Inhabitants being expelled and removed, might change their names, Mercer.

QVEST. XXIV. Of the borders and bounds of Canaan.

Vers. 9. THen the border of the Canaanites, &c. 1. Moses doth carefully limit the Countrey of Canaan, because it was that land, which the Lord had promised to the Israelites. 2. The foure bounds of the Countrey of Canaan, are Zidon in the North, and Gaza on the South on the West side: and on the East side the five Cities Sodoma with the rest (Zoar is not named because it was but a small Towne and of no great account, Gen. 19.20.) in the North corner, and Lasha in the South: the same is Calirrhoe (as Hierome thinketh) where was a Bath of hot waters. 3. This is the descrption of the whole land of Canaan, which comprehended the seven Nations of the Canaanites, expelled by the Hebrewes. But that land of Canaan, which is described by Iosua, 13.3. was but one Countrey on the West, toward the Sea, a part of this great Country of Canaan, which was the land of the Philistims.

QVEST. XXV. Iapheth the eldest sonne, Cham the youngest.

2. THe brother of Iapheth the elder. It is rather thus to bee read, then the elder brother of Iapheth. 1. Some thinke that Sem was the youngest sonne of Noah, and Cham the next, and Iapheth eldest: as Lyranus, Tostatus, Genebrard. But the contrary is evident, Gen. 9.24. where Cham is called the younger sonne in respect of Sem and Iapheth. 2. Neither was Sem the eldest: as Augustine thinketh, lib. 16. de Civit. Dei, cap. 3. and Cajetanus, Vatablus, and some Hebrewes, as Kimhi, for Noah was five hundred yeare old, when he beganne to beget his children, Gen. 5.32. and when the floud came he was 600. yeare old, Gen. 7.6. Now …wo yeare after the floud, Sem at an hundred yeare old begat Arphacsad, Gen. 11.10. but then the eldest sonne of Noah must be an hundred and two yeare old: it remaineth then that Iapheth was the eldest, Sem the next, Cham the youngest, Mercer. Iunius. But Sem is named first, because of his prerogative, as Isaach before Ismael, and Iacob is set before Esau. Cajetanus to make his opinion good, is forced to say, that Sem might be an hundred and two years old when he begat Arphacsad; and Pererius is also driven to this shift, to say that Noah might not be five hundred yeare old prec…sely, but five hundred and two, both which evasions, are manifestly contrary and repugnant to the text, as hath beene shewed▪

QVEST. XXVI. Of the sonnes of Sem.

Vers. 22. THe sonnes of Sem, Elam, Ashur, &c. Elam from whence came the Elamites, or Persians: Iosephus, Hieron. as Susan (the head City of Persia) was in the Province of Elam,Elam. Dan. 8.2. 2. Ashur gave the name to Assyria. 3. Arphacsad, of whom the Chasdim, that is, the Chaldeans.Asher. Arphacsad. Lud. Pererius derideth this derivation, and yet bringeth no other in stead thereof: hence was named the Countrey Arphaxitis in Assyria, Mercer. 4. Lud the founder of the Lydians in Asia minor, of the which Country rich Croesus was King: there was another Lud, one of the sonnes of Misraim, father of the Lydians in Africa, as is shewed before, quest. 20. 5. Aram, of whom came the Aramites or Syrians, whereof it is that the Scythians after their returne out of Asia and Syria, were called Aramai, Aramites,Aram. Plin. lib. 6. cap. 17. This Country of Aram or Syria, was divided into sundry regions, as the Scriptures make mention of Aram of Damascus, 1 Chron. 18.6. of Aram Maharaim, that is of the flouds, Aram Maachah, 1 Chron. 19.6. Padan Ara, Gen. 28.6.

QVEST. XXVII. The sonnes of Aram.

Vers. 23. THe sonnes of Aram, &c. 1. Vz or Huz, the founder of the region Trachonitis, Iosephus. Hier ▪ whose posterity inhabited the land of Vz, Iobs Countrey,Vz. Chul. Iob 1.1. which belonged to Idumaea, Ierem. Lament. 4.22. the Septuagint call it, foreign, Hausitis, 2. Chul: which Iosephus and Hierome take for Armenia: but it is rather the region Palmyr…n…, where Ptolimie placeth the Towne Cholle. p. 1043. Gether: Gether.which Iosephus taketh for the Bactrians, Hierome for the Carians, or Acarnanians: but it is most like to bee the middle part of Syria, about Cassiotis, where Ptolome findeth the Towne Gindarus, whence are the people Gindareni, Plin. lib. 5. c. 23. which may very well be derived of Gether, by an epenthesis the interlacing of u. 4. Mesch, Hierome saith, they are the Mocones, Moenians: Iosephus the Mesanci,Mesch. now the Inhabitants of Pasinum in Susianna: Iunius taketh it for that Countrey that lieth betweene Cilicia, and Mesopotamia, and that part of the hill Amanus, which they call Masium: which may very well take beginning of Mesch. Luther thinketh that the region Massa in India, tooke denomination from hence.

QVEST. XXVIII. Of Heber, whether the Hebrewes were named of him.

Vers. 25. VNtoUnto Heber were borne two sonnes.] Hence it appeareth, that of this Heber were the Israelites called Hebrewes: and not as some thinke were they so called of Abrahams passage or comming over the River Euphrates, and dwelling on this side: because the Hebrew gnabbar, signifieth a passage or going over. Hence also of this Heber, the Hebrew language is named, which continued in Hebers stocke, in the division of languages, Mercer.

QVEST. XXIX. Of Phaleg. Whether the division of tongues happened in his time.

THe name of the one was Phaleg, for in his dayes was the earth divided. Phaleg, signifieth to divide. 1. Some thinke that this name was given to Phaleg at his birth, by way of prophesie: and that the division of tongues happened in the end of Phalegs age, who lived 239. yeares, and was borne ann. 103. after the floud: so that this fell not out in their opinion, till 340. yeares after the floud, some ten yeares before Noahs death, who lived 350. yeares after the floud: of this opinion seemeth Hierome to be, Tostatus, Lyranus, and divers other Hebrewes. But this is not like that the divisions of tongues fell out so long after in the end of Pelegs dayes: for why should it be said, that in his dayes rather than of Reu, or Serug, or of the rest, that the earth was divided? for all these, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, were borne before Peleg died. And againe, whereas most of the Inhabitants of the world dwelt together before the building of the Tower of Babel, and all concurred to set forward that worke; it could not possible bee, if this happened 340. yeare after the floud, when the world must needs have beene exceedingly increased, that such a multitude of people could either dwell together, or assemble into one place, to intend one worke.

2. Mercerus judgement is, that this division of tongues fell not out either in the birth or end of Peleg, but about the hundred yeare or middle part of his age, some 200. yeares after the floud, because of Iocktans sonnes: And although Reu and Serug might be then borne, yet Moses rehearseth them not here, because they were all of one family and language: But if this be admitted, the reason doth not appeare, why this division should be said to be in Pelegs dayes, rather than of the other fathers, who were then alive, but were not at that time borne as Peleg was.

3. I rather approve therefore Augustines opinion, (to the which learned Iunius and Pererius subscribe,) that this division was made at the birth of Peleg, about 100. yeares after the floud: The onelyonly doubt is, that because Iocktan the younger brother of Peleg, had 13. sonnes, which all are supposed to have beene men growne, and their languages divided at the building of the Tower of Babel, this should seeme not to be done at the birth of Peleg. Augustines answer here is not sufficient, that Iocktan was elder than Peleg: for if this were granted, yet Iocktan could not bee many yeares borne before Peleg, whom Heber begat at 30. yeares: but for Iocktan to have 13. sons, men of years, when Peleg was a childe, would require the oddes at the least of forty or fifty yeares. Wherefore the better answer is, that it is not necessary to thinke that all those sonnes of Iocktan should have their tongues divided, but that most of them kept the tongue of Heber: as the eleven sonnes of Canaan spake all the Canaanitish tongue: And hereof it is, that the posterity of Heber, who consented not to that wicked enterprise at Babel, were not punished with division of tongues, nor dispersed into remote Countries, as the rest, but dwelt all toward the East: Neither is it to be supposed that all Iocktans sonnes were borne before the building of the Tower: seeing Moses stayeth in Peleg: but he setteth downe all Iocktans sonnes at once, that hee might proceed afterward in the righteous line without interruption.

QVEST. XXX. Of the sonnes of Iocktan.

Vers. 26. THen Iocktan, &c. Concerning these thirteene sonnes of Iocktan, Hierome confesseth, that he could not finde out their names; but thinketh they inhabited in the remote parts of India, and so were not so well knowne as the rest. Iunius also, a most diligent searcher of Antiquities confesseth as much.Sheba. 28. Sheba. We read of three of this name in Scripture: one Sheba came of Chus, vers. 7. which inhabited in Aethiopia; another Sheba came of Abraham, which confined upon Persia: see before, qu▪ 11· and Dionysius reckoneth the Shabeans among the Persians:Dionys. de situ orbis. the third Sheba is this of Iocktan; of whence came the Shabeans in India.

29. Havilah of Iocktan, is another beside Havilah of Chush: for the Countrey was adjoyning to Mesopotamia,Havilah: see before qu…. 10. not farre from the Ismaelites and Amalekites. But this Havilah of Iocktan, Iosephus placeth in the Region of India, called Jeria, which is the East or Portugals Indies▪

p. 105QVEST. XXXI. Where Ophir is.

OPhar: Iosephus taketh it to be Sophira, a Countrey in India which yeeldeth gold, some take it for the Island Molucca: some for Taprobana: Tostatus thinketh it is that Country, where the golden mines are kept by the Griphins and Lions, so that the accesse unto them is very hard. But this Countrey Mela placeth in Scythia, lib. 2. c. 1. if it be any where: for Plinie holdeth both to be fables, that of the Pegasi, or winged horse in Aethiopia, and this of the Griphins or winged Lions in Scythia.Plin. lib. 10. c. 29. This Ophir is most like to be in the West Indies, the same region which is called Peru, which seemeth to be derived of the Hebrew Pervaim, mentioned, 2 Chron. cap. 3. vers. 6. Hence the gold of Ophir is translated,Gold why called obrizum. Plin. lib. 33. c 3. aurum obrizum, by the Latine translator, Iob 28.16. not so called, as Plinie thinketh, quia rubet, because it is of a red and fierie colour, or as Isidore, quia obradiat, because it glistereth: but rather it may be called obrizum, quasi Opherizum, as Pererius conjectureth.

QVEST. XXXII. Of Mesha and Sephara.

3. THeir dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest to Sephar, &c. 1. Iunius taketh this Messa for the region under the hill Masius; a part of the hill Amanus, which is an hill parting Syria from Cilicia and Sephara for a Towne of Mesopotamia situated upon Euphrates; and by the Mountaine of the East, he understandeth the hilly Countrey of Chaldea. 2. Hierome out of Iosephus maketh Messia a Countrey in India: and Sephara a Mountaine there; where the sonnes of Iocktan inhabited from the River Cophen, to the Countrey Jeria: and this seemeth the more probable, that the sonnes of Iocktan were dispersed into the regions further East: because the Countries of Chaldea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and the rest thereabout, were possessed by the children of Canaan, as hath beene shewed already.Sem dwelt still in the land of Canaan. 3. Though that Sems issue were divided farre into the East, yet he himselfe remained in the land of Canaan, which hee knew (as it was revealed to Abraham) should be given to his posterity. And he is Melchisedech, that did meet Abraham, the King of Salem, Gen. 14. as shall be proved in that place against Pererius and others, that hold the contrary opinion.

QVEST. XXXIII. Cainan none of the sonnes of Sem.

Vers. 13. THese are the sonnes of Sem. 1. Hence appeareth the errour of the Septuagint, that beside the five sonnes of Sem here expressed, adde a sixth, one Cainan. 2. It is not to be thought, that every one of these families had a divers language, or made a divers Nation, as Mercerus thinketh it probable, is before shewed quest. 3. but that they sorted themselves according to their diversity of tongues, sometimes divers families of one language concurring to make one Nation,Whether all the issue of Noahs sonnes are rehearsed. Lib. 16. de. civ. dei. c. 3. sometime one family dividing it selfe into divers Nations, as appeareth in the posterity of Eber, in Abraham, of whom came the Ismaelites, and Israelites, in Isaach, of whom descended beside the chosen seed, the Edomites of Esau. 3. Hereof it is, as Augustine well conjectureth, that the issue of all the sonnes of Iapheth, Cham, Sem, are not here named: for of Iapheths seven sonnes, the Genealogie of two onelyonly is rehearsed, and of two likewise of Sems five: not that it is likely, the other had no issue, but because they were not the fathers and founders of Nations, as the rest were, but were adjoyned and numbred with the rest.

4. Places of Doctrine.

1. Doct. Hebrew text authenticall.

WHereas the Septuagint doe adde one Cainan to the sonnes of Sem, vers. 22. and another Cainan to the sonnes of Arphacsad, vers. 24. whereas there is no such addition in the Hebrew: it appeareth that the Hebrew is the authenticall language, and other translations to be amended by it.

2. Doct. The antiquity of Moses writings.

IN that Moses rehearseth the fathers and first founders of the Gentiles, by whom they were named: we see the antiquity of Moses story, more ancient than any forraine writer: who are not able to shew the derivations and beginning of the names and generations of the Nations.

5. Places of Confutation.

1. Confut. Against the fained antiquity of the Egyptians.

THe errour of the Egyptians is discovered, that boast of their antiquity: that write in their Annales, of 330. Kings before Amasis, and of their continuance for thirteene thousand yeares.Pompon. … lib. 1. c. 9. In the like errour is Mercator, that fetcheth the originall of the Egyptians from before the floud, even from the first age and beginning of the world. But they are both here confuted by Moses, who sheweth that Mizram the father of the Aegyptians, came of Ham, Noahs sonne.

2. Confut. The Scriptures not simply obscure.

WHereas vers. 2.21. it is said, these are the sonnes of Sem according to their tongues, B…ll…r. …ib. 3. de verb. inter pr. cap. 3.this being a preposterous speech, as Bellarmine calleth it, setting that first, which was last done: for as yet all the p. 106earth was of one language, Gen. 11.1. hence he woud prove among other arguments, that the Scriptures are obscure.Bellar. lib. 3. de verb. interpt. cap. 3. Whereunto we answer, 1. that this proveth not the Scriptures obscure; because sometime an hysterosis used: some things are set before in story, which were afterward done. This difficulty may easily be helped by the least direction and caveat to the Reader: and this kinde of preposterous speech is found in other forraine histories, which are notwithstanding read of all, and not laid aside for any obscurity herein pretended. 2. Though an obscurity be admitted herein, yet this proveth not an obscurity thorowout in the Scriptures: that because of some darke places, they should not at all be read of the simple. 3. And although there be many difficult places in Scriptures, yet are there also more plaine and easie: yea the most necessary matters, that concerne faith and manners, are plainly expressed in Scriptures: and what is obscurely handled, is found not to be so necessary to salvation: as Augustine well saith, In iis, quae aperte in Scripturis posita sunt, De doct. Christ. lib. 2. cap. 9.inveniuntur ea omnia, qua fidem continent moresque vivendi: in those places, which are plainly set downe in Scripture, are found all those things which concerne faith and manners.

3. Confut. The Pope Nimrod and Antichrist.

AS old Babylon was the beginning of the Kingdome of Nimrod, vers. 10. so Rome, the second or new Babylon, is the head of the Kingdome of Antichrist, the Nimrod of the world, that hunteth mens soules, as the other did tyrannize over their bodies. Muscul.

9. Places of Morall observations.

1. Moral. The wicked mixed among the righteous.

Vers. 1. WHere the sonnes of Noah are reckoned together, Cham is set in the middest betweene Sem and Iapheth: wherein is shadowed forth the state and condition of the Church, that Chamites, hypocrites, and ungodly persons, in the visible face of the Church, are mingled among the midst of the faithfull, Muscul.

2. Moral. The prosperity of the wicked continueth not long.

WHereas Nimrod of Chus, of Cham, beganne first to be Lord over his brethren: and Canaan with his sons inhabited the best parts of the world, it will be demanded, how that curse upon Canaan tooke place, that he should be a servant to his brethren. The answer is, that the ungodly may flourish for a time: we must doe as David did, Enter into Gods Sanctuary, and consider their end, Psal. 37.17. for in the end, when the wickednesse of Canaan was ripe, they were cast out of that pleasant land, and made servants to Israel of Sem.