The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 2 – Chapter 3
CHAP. II. The ſecond Age of the World from the Flood to the promiſe made to Abraham in Ʋr of the Chaldees, containing the ſpace of 422 years, and ending in the 2078th year of the World.
SECT. I.
ON the firſt day of the firſt month of the ſix hundredth and firſt year of Noahs life, he opened the Window that was in the covering of the Ark, and looked about him, and found that the waters were dried from off the face of the Earth; yet ſo as it ſtill remained moiſt and dirty, having been ſo long a time ſoaked with ſuch a quantity of moiſture. Therefore he ſtayed yet 55 days more, namely, to the 27th day of the ſecond month, and then he and all that were with him (by the Commandment of God) went forth out of the Ark, having continued therein 375 days, or a full(c)The ſolar year exceeds the lunar 11 days, and conſiſts of 365 days, commonly, though every fourth or leap-year, conſiſts of 366 days. ſolar year, and ten days more.
Gen. 8. from 13. to 20.
SECT. II.
NOah, when they were come out of the Ark, built an Altar *Here is the firſt mention of an Altar, and Burnt-Offerings long before Moſes, or the Levitical Law. See Levit. 6.9.(probably of Earth or Turf) and offered Sacrifices and whole Burnt-Offerings thereon to the Lord, of clean Beaſts and Fowls (according to that form of Worſhip which the Lord had before preſcribed) in a grateful acknowledgment of Gods great Goodneſs and Mercy to them in their preſervation from the Flood. And God ſmelled a ſweet ſavour therefrom, that is, did graciouſly accept this Service Noah had performed, and was highly pleaſed and delighted with his Faith and thankfulneſs. And the Lord ſaid, He would not again Curſe the Ground for man's ſake, nor deſtroy every living Creature thereon by a general deluge; For he ſaw, That the imagination of mans heart was evil from his youth, and though that (among other things) juſtly provoked him before to deſtroy the World, yet he ſaw that the Children of men being ſo corrupt by Nature, if he ſhould proceed againſt them according to their deſerts (and not according to the riches of his own Mercy) he muſt be continually puniſhing and deſtroying of them; therefore though he would deal as he thought fit, with particular ſinners, yet he would not at one ſtroak deſtroy all Mankind any more. And to confirm this his gracious Decree, He promiſes that while the Earth remains, Seed-time and Harveſt, Cold and Heat, Summer and Winter, Day and Night ſhould not fail or ceaſe; that is, generally it ſhould be ſo; but yet this did not hinder, but that he might execute particular Judgments upon particular Places or Perſons to the contrary. Further God now declares, That he was reſolved to reſtore and repair the natures of things corrupted by the Flood. And then bleſſing Noah, and his Sons, he bad them be fruitful and multiply and repleniſh the Earth. And he tells them, That the fear and dread of them ſhall be upon all bruit Creatures, even to the taming and over-awing the fierceſt and ſtrongeſt of them, either by force or cunning. Whence it is that the moſt ſavage of them do fear the face of man, though ſometimes by the juſt judgment of God they do (as it were) rebel, and riſe up againſt him and hurt him. God alſo now permitteth to Noah and his Poſterity, to eat Fleſh as freely for their food as Herbs, which grew out of the ground. So that now the Lord reſtores to Noah and his Children, the lawful uſe of thoſe things which were (in a manner) taken from them by the Flood; yet there was this exception made to his general Grant, that though they might freely eat of any of the Creatures that were fit for meat, yet they might not eat Fleſh with the blood, or in the blood, but the Beaſt muſt firſt be killed and cleanſed of t… blood; Which reſtraint was in all probability made to deter them from cruelty, and ſhedding one anothers blood. And to inforce the obſervance of this Command the more upon them, he tells them that as to their own life-blood, if it were at any time ſhed by a Beaſt, of a Beaſt it ſhould be required, that is, the Beaſt ſhould be put to death for it. See Exod. 21.28. And if it were ſhed by man, of man it ſhould be required, let the Murtherer be of what quality or condition ſoever. He further declares, That whoſo ſheds mans blood (that is, wittingly, wilfully and unlawfully,) by man; (that is, by the Magiſtrate)*See Numb. 35.19, 21, 27. Rom. 13.4. ſhall his blood be ſhed; For God made man in his own Image, and though that Image be much impaired by the Fall, yet there are ſtill ſome remainders of it in man, which God cannot endure ſhould be defaced. And further, God was now pleaſed to make a Covenant with Noah and his Poſterity, and with every living Creature (which as for mans ſake they were at firſt created, ſo for mans ſin they had been in the Flood deſtroyed) that he would not any more deſtroy Man and Beaſt by an Ʋniverſal Deluge which ſhould cover the whole Earth with waters, though he might puniſh particular Countries with Floods and Inundations. And as a ſign and pledge of this Covenant, He would give them the Rain-bow, which though it was naturally in the Clouds before, yet now it ſhould be a particular token of this Covenant, and of Gods Oath *See Eſay 54.9.annexed to it, and ſhould aſſure the truth and performance of it.
Gen. 8. from 20. to the end.
Gen. 9. from 1. to 18.
SECT. III.
NOah now began to fall to Husbandry, and planted a Vineyard. But (it ſeems) not knowing at firſt the Property, Quality, and Virtue of the Wine (which was the fruit of his Vineyard, and poſſibly being over-joyed when he taſted ſuch excellent and delicious Fruits of his own Labours, and allowing himſelf a little more freedom in drinking thereof then in all likelihood he would have done, had he known the power and ſtrength of the Wine; He did (it ſeems) drink ſomething too liberally of it, and was thereby ſo diſordered, that in his drunken-ſleep he unawares uncovered himſelf; which his wicked Son Cham ſeeing, in a way of deriſion ſpake of it to his Brothers. But they were ſo far from joyning with him in this his ungracious behaviour towards his Father, that they took a Garment, and laying it upon both their Shoulders, with their faces turned from their Father, they went backed toward him, and when they came at him let it fall upon him, and ſo covered him. However, this baſe behaviour of Cham coming to Noah's knowledge, He does as a Prophet (by the inſpiration of Gods Spirit) denounce a Curſe upon him. And though he names him not, but Cainan his 4th Son *Gen. 10.6.(who poſſibly might joyn with his Father Cham in this wicked fact) yet he denounces a Curſe upon him, and his Poſterity, and particularly and moſt remarkably on the Canaanites, who were afterwards conquered and ſubdued by the Iſraelites (called here Cainan's Brethren, becauſe they were the Poſterity of Shem, who was Brother of Cham and Father of Cainan) yea and by thoſe Weſtern Nations alſo that were the Poſterity of Japhet. So that Cainan ſhould be a Servant of Servants, and his lot ſhould be a ſervile and ſlaviſh condition. Noah having thus curſed Cham, He in the next place ſolemnly and prophetically bleſſes Shem, out of whoſe Loines the Meſſias was to ſpring: He declares by the Divine Illumination of the Spirit, that God would enter into a ſpecial Covenant with the Poſterity of Shem, *This Shem lived to the 50 year of Iſaac, Gen. 11.10. and is the only perſon mentioned in the Scripture that lived to ſee his Poſterity of the 10th Generation.taking them for his peculiar people, and binding himſelf to be their God. And therefore ſpeaking of this Extraordinary Priviledge belonging to Shem, He breaks forth into a ſolomn thankſgiving to God for it, ſaying, Bleſſed be the Lord God of Shem, intimating that Shem muſt needs be bleſſed, to whom God would be a God in Covenant; ſee Pſal. 144.15. Having thus bleſſed Shem, he comes then to Japhet, (d)Frequent mention of Japetus among the Heathen, Son of Titan, and Terra.concerning whom He propheſies, That God would perſwade Japhet to dwell in the Tents of Shem, that is, that the Gentiles (the Poſterity of Japhet) after they had bin a long time ſeparated from the Church of God, namely, the Iſraelites (Shem's Off-ſpring) ſhould at laſt be perſwaded by the preaching of the Goſpel to joyn with them in the worſhip of the ſame God, and in the profeſſion of the ſame Faith, and ſo ſhould become Fellow-members of the ſame Church. See Eph. 2.13. So that this Propheſie was not to be fulfilled till the Gentiles became converts to Chriſt, and ſo came into the Tents of Shem, that is, into the Communion of the true Church and people of God.
Gen. 9. from 18. to the end.
SECT. IV.
NOah (e)Noah is thought to be the perſon whom the Heathens meant by Saturn under whom they ſay was the Golden Age. From Noah's being once overtaken with Wine, the liberty of Saturnalia might take rife. A feaſt of five days, and a time of great revel…ing and lib…ty kept in Dece…r.from the Flood to the Diviſion of the Earth, had a natural Dominion over all Mankind, and in that Age there was but one Language.
Two years after the Flood Shem being an hundred years old begat Arphaxad, who is thought to be his eldeſt Son [ſee Gen. 11.10.] though Elam and Aſſur be named before him, [Gen. 10.22.] the Scripture in Genealogies not always obſerving the Order of Birth. Arphaxad at the age of 35 begat Salah, Gen. 11.12. [Between theſe is inſerted Cainan as the Son of Arphaxad, and Father of Salah. Luke 3.35, 36. The Evangeliſt herein following the Tranſlation of the Septuagint, (f)See my H…rmony of Four Evangeliſts, pag. 20. where much more is ſpoken to this particular.which was then much in uſe, and poſſibly more known then the authentick Hebrew Text] Salah at the age of 30 years begat Heber, Gen. 11.14. When Heber had lived 34 years He had a Son born whom he called Peleg, foreſeeing that in his days the Earth would be divided [Gen. 11.16. & 10.25. and 1 Chr. 1.19.) About the time of Pelegs birth, about an 100 years after the Flood (the whole Earth being then of one Language) the Grand-Children of Noah went from thoſe Eaſtern Parts whither they firſt repaired from the Mountains of Ararat unto the plain of Shinar or Chaldea, where they impiouſly laid their Heads together to do ſomething remarkable that might get them a Name, and be a Monument of their Proweſs to after Ages. And whereas hitherto the Heads of Families did in a mild and gentle way order the reſt, (and rather by the voluntary ſubmiſſion of thoſe that were governed, then by the compulſion of power) now at the inſtigation of Nimrod *He is thought to be the Bacchus celebrated by the Poets, being Bar Chus, the Son of Chus.Son of Chus, and Grand-Child of Cham (who was a great Tyrant, Oppreſſor and Hunter of men. [See Jer. 16.16.] and that openly without fear, or regard of God (inſomuch that a Tyrant was by a common Proverb call'd another Nimrod.) They went in hand to build the City of Babel, and a Tower in it which they deſigned ſhould reach to the Skies, and ſhould be not only a ſtanding Monument of their proweſs, but ſhould ſecure them from danger in caſe another Deluge ſhould overwhelm the Earth. And accordingly in order hereunto they fall to making of Brick, and had a kind of natural pitchy ſlime (that was plentiful in thoſe parts) for mortar. And they thought to do this memorable (g)Hence the Fable took its original of the Giants fighting againſt the Gods, and making way to Heaven by heaping Mountain upon Mountain, which attempt was blaſted by Jupiters Thunderbolts. Omnis Fabula ſundatur in Hiſtoria. Verulam.thing whilſt they were together, leſt if they ſhould be afterwards, diſperſed abroad upon the face of the Earth into ſeveral Colonies, they might not have opportunity to do it.
The Lord taking notice of their Attempts, and laughing at this their arrogance and folly, by way of irony and deriſion, he ſays, Surely this people mean not to be reſtrained from any thing they have a mind to do. I will go down therefore and confound their Language. Which accordingly he did, and ſo they could not underſtand one another, nor go on with their Work. From which confuſion of Languages, the place derived its name of Babel. Hereupon thoſe among them that could make ſhift to underſtand one another agreed to go, and dwell together. And ſo that great Company was forced to diſperſe, and were ſcattered from thence upon the face of the Earth, in ſeveral Companies and Colonies. And the Language before uſed of all continued with Heber the Father of Peleg, which did give occaſion to his Poſterity to be diſtinguiſhed from all others by the Name of Hebrews, and that Language to be called the Hebrew.
But notwithſtanding this diſperſion, Nimrod (it ſeems) was a mighty man among thoſe that adhered to him, and having got Babel, Erech, Accad and Chalne in the Land of Shinar, He was not therewith content, but coveting more and larger Dominions, he advanced further into the Land of Aſſyria, and there he built Nineveh with three Cities more, as we find Gen. 10.11. For out of that Land (viz. of Shinar) went out [Nimrod] into Aſſur [or Aſſyria] and built Nineveh. And that which confirms this reading is that in Mich. 5.6. where Aſſyria is called the Land of Nimrod. And thus Nimrod laid the Foundation of the firſt Monarchy, (h)The begining of the firſt Monarchy in the year of the World, 1788. In the 132 year after the Flood, and 290 years before the promiſe made to Abraham in Ur of the Caldees.namely the Aſſyrian. Concerning which it will be requiſite I ſpeak ſomething (though briefly) for the clearing of many paſſages that we ſhall afterwards meet with in this Sacred Hiſtory.
Gen. 10. from 8. to 13.
Gen. 11. from 1. to the 10.
In the Year of the World, 1788. (juxta Bucolzerum, p. 3.) Nimrod began the Aſſyrian or firſt Monarchy, in the 132 year after the Flood, and 290 years. before the Promiſe made to Abraham in Ʋr of the Caldees.
This Monarchy ended in Belſhazzar, Anno Mundi, 3477. and ſo the continuance of it was 1689 years.
Of theſe Monarchs.
The firſt was Nimrod as we ſhewed before.
His Succeſſors are ſaid to be,
2. Belus.
3. Ninus his Son, who ſet up his Father Belus his Statue to be worſhipped, which gave (as 'tis ſaid) the firſt occaſion to Idolatry and Image-Worſhip; which Image of his, ſome ſay continued until Daniels time, when it was deſtroyed by Cyrus, upon the diſcovery of the Impoſture of Bells Prieſts. See the Hiſtory of Bell.
4. Semiramis, wife to Ninus, who obtaining of him to have all the power of Royalty put into her hands for five days, in that ſpace of time made him away, and reigned in his ſtead. After her death ſhe was feigned to be turned into a Dove (not ſure for her innocence) whence it was that the Babylonians carried a Dove in their Banners.
5. Ninyas.
As for the reſt that follow from hence to Sardanapalus, there is little mentioned of them in Hiſtory, ſave only their bare Names, and the years that they reigned.
6. Sardanapalus, who giving himſelf up to all ſhameful diſſolutions, Two of his great Commanders, viz. Belochus (Governour of Babylon) and Arbaces (Governour of Media) conſpire againſt him and overthrow him, and force him at laſt to burn himſelf in a pile of wood. Upon his fall the Empire was divided into two Principalities. Belochus poſſeſſed himſelf of Aſſyria and Chaldea. And Arbaces of Media. His Poſterity (that were eminent) were theſe, Cyaxares, Aſtiages, Darius.
The Poſterity of Belochus, *This is He that is ſaid to have humbled himſelf at the preaching of Jonah, and afterwards invaded Iſrael in the time of Menahem.that were of note were theſe:
Phul.
Tiglath-pileſax.
Salmanaſſar.
Senacharib.
Eſar-haddon.
Merodach-Baladon, who being Governour of Babylon under Eſaraddon, deſtroyed his Maſter, and ſeized upon Babylon for himſelf, and made that the Seat of the Empire, whereas before from Sardanapalus his time to Eſaraddon, Nineveh had been the Royal Seat. He is thought to be Nabulazzar or Nabopollaſſar. 'Tis like he was a famous Aſtronomer, and in honour of him an Epocha or account of Time was inſtituted and obſerved, which began on the 26th day of February, A. M. 3258.
Nabuchodonaſar the Great, who brought this Monarchy to its higheſt pitch.
Evilmerodach.
Belſhazzar, who was Conquered by Cyrus, and ſo this Monarchy was ſwallowed up by the Perſian.
SECT. V.
HAving ſhewed how Nimrod began the firſt Monarchy, it will be requiſite before we proceed any further to give a ſhort Narration how the Earth was at firſt divided among the Sons of Noah, and thoſe that deſcended from them, though it hath ſince (in ſeveral parts of it) changed its Inhabitants. And the ſcope of this account is princially to ſhew from which of them the Meſſias was to ſpring, and among which people in the mean time the Church of God was maintained. As alſo to make known the Original of ſeveral Nations, and the ſeveral Countries they inhabited, which will ſerve very much to the clearing of many places in the Scripture, as will appear in the Sequel.
Noah had three Sons, Sem, Japhet, and Ham.
De his omnibus vide Bocharti. Phaleg. lib. 2.The Inheritance of the Sons of Sem was the choiceſt of all, and contained within Aſia.
Sem had five Sons, Elam, Aſſur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram, Gen. 10.22.
Elam. Of Elam deſcended the Elamites or Perſians, Neighbours to the Medes. Suſan the Metropolis of the Suſians, is by Daniel placed in the Province of Elam, Dan. 8.2.
Aſſur. From Aſſur deſcended the Aſſyrians, and from him Aſſyria took its name. The Metropolis of which was Nineveh.
Arphaxad. From him Arphaxitis, a part of Aſſyria, ſeemeth to have received its denomination.
Lud. From him came the Lydians in Aſia the leſs, where Croeſus was King.
Aram. Of him deſcended the Aramaeans or Syrians. Hence Padan-Aram, Gen. 25.20. Aram-Naharaim, Ch. 24.10. Aram-Damaſar, 2 Sam. 8.5, 6. Aram-Zobah, Pſal. 60. Aram-Maachah, 1 Cron. 19.6. Aram-Beth-Rehob, 2 Sam. 10.6. are ſpoken of as ſeveral Provinces of Syria.
Aram had four Sons, which in the 1 Chron. 1.17. are reckoned among the Sons of Sem, viz. Huz, Hul, Gether, and Meſech.
Hur or Ʋz. He by the general conſent of the Ancients built Damaſcus. There were two beſides of this Name. Ʋz the Son of Nachor the Brother of Abraham, Gen. 22.21. Whoſe Land is called the Land of Ʋz, [Job 1.1. There was a man in the Land of Uz, whoſe name was Job.] This probably was in Arabia the deſert. And Ʋz of the Poſterity of Eſau, or Edom, Gen. 36.28. who fixed in Arabia the ſtony, on the borders of Canaan, from whom Idumaea is called the Land of Ʋz, Lam. 4.21. Rejoyce and be glad O daughter of Edom, that dwelleſt in the Land of Uz.
Hul. His Poſterity are ſaid to inhabit that part of Armenia, which is called the Country of the Palmyrenians.
Gether. He was the Father of the Bactrians, a people of Scythia, according to Joſephus.
Meſech, or Maſh, whoſe Poſterity inhabited (as ſome think) the upper part of Syria between Cilicia, and Meſopotamia about the Mountain called Maſius.
Now Arphaxad, the third Son of Sem, begat Salah, and Salah begat Eber, and Eber, beſides Peleg, had another Son named Joctan, whoſe thirteen Sons Moſes mentioneth as the Founders of ſo many Nations. Their Seat Arabia the happy, as the great Bochartus conjectureth.
Of Sheba (one of them) came the Sabaeans, who dwelt by the Red-Sea. This Son of Joctan lived on Robbery. The reſt by Commerce with other Nations. Ophir his 11th Son ſeems to have given name to that part of Arabia near the Sabaeans, where there was much gold. Another Ophir there was in India in the Iſland Taprobane. And from this mans Land 'tis probable Solomons Ships fetched Gold, 2 Chron. 9.10. called alſo Gold of Parvaim, 2 Chron. 3.6. And thus much of the Inheritance of the Sons of Sem. Japhets portion was this; To Japhet fell a conſiderable part of Aſia, and all Europe. His Poſterity did ſpread themſelves (having firſt ſat down in Aſia the leſs) moſtly towards the Northern and Weſtern parts.
Moſes reckons ſeven of his Sons, and as many Nephews.
Gomer. This mans Poſterity inhabited the North quarter of Aſia the leſs. Wherefore they are ranked among the Northern Nations, Ezek. 38.6. And therefore to them we may aſſign Phrygia, Pontus, Bythinia, and part of Galatia. And whereas they ſpread themſelves Weſtward alſo, they are withall held to be the Progenitors of thoſe people, whoſe Countries the Gallo-Grecians afterwards inhabited.
Magog. From him deſcended the Scythians, or Tartarians. Gog and Magog being that part of Sythia about Caucaſus; which the Colchi, and Armenians (whoſe Language was half Chaldaean) called Gog-Haſan (i. e. the Fort of Gog) and thence the Greeks Caucaſus.
Madai. From whom the Medes deſcended.
Javan. From him deſcended the Iones (or all that inhabited Greece from Thrace to the Iſthums of Corinth, the Macedonians being included.) Alexander is ſignified by Daniel under the Name of the King of Javan, Ch. 8.21.
The Sons of Javan were four.
Eliſha. From him Elis is denominated, the moſt ancient, and ample Region of Peloponneſus.
Tarſhiſh. From whom Tarſus the great City in Cilicia took its name. Some underſtand hereby Tarteſſus a City of the Iberians, or Spaniards. Beſides this there was another Tarſis in the Indian-Sea, whither Ships went from Ezion-Geber, 2 Chron. 20.36.
Chittim. He according to Joſephus poſſeſſed himſelf of the Iſland Cyprus, where was a City called Citium, the Native place of Zeno the Stoick. And from hence, according to him, the Hebrews called all Iſlands, and Maritime places by the name of Chethim. The Romans are by Daniel ſignified under this name. And Chittim imports the ſame thing with Latium betokening to lie hid. The opinion therefore of Joſephus is very probable, that thoſe Iſlands and Coaſts of the Mediterranean might be known to the Hebrews under the name of Chettim.
Dodanim, or rather Rhodanim. The deſcendents of him. Bochartus placeth in Gaul about the River Rhodanus, now called Rhene. Rhodanim, he ſaith, ſignifies yellow or Saffron-coloured, which agreeth well with the colour of the hair of the hair of the ancient Gauls. Wherein the Britans alſo ſhewed themſelves deſcended of the ſame ſtock as Jornandes judges.
Tubal and Meſech (the fifth and ſixth Sons of Japhet) are joined in Scripture moſt commonly togther as near to each other. Bochartus underſtands by Tubal and Meſech the Moſchi and Tibareni.
Tubal and Meſech are noted by Ezekiel to abound in Slates, and Braſs, which by the conſent of Authors fitly agreeth with the Regions of Cappadocia.
Thiras. From Thiras moſt Authors derive Thrace. By theſe were the Iſles of the Gentiles divided in their Lands, Gen. 10.5. Thus the Sons of Japhet, according to their ſeveral Languages, did plant ſeveral Colonies in all their Regions and Countries of Europe, and thoſe that border the Mediterranean-Sea, which are now called the Iſles of the Gentiles, not properly, but becauſe they ſo lay along the Sea, that they might ſeem to be Iſlands.
And thus we have ſeen what was Japhets portion, which was very large. For unto it belonged all Europe, beſides Aſia the leſs, Media, part of Armenia, Iberia, Albania, and thoſe vaſt Tracts toward the North, inhabited of old by the Scythians, and now by the Tartars. To ſay nothing of the new World, into which it is probable the Scythians paſſed by the Streights of Anian. To his Poſterity alſo belong the Northern parts, which by Jornandes (a Gothiſh Hiſtorian) are deſervedly called the Work-houſe of people, and ſheaths of Nations. We come now to conſider Chams portion.Cham's portion. Curſed Cham was not excluded from earthly bleſſings.
To his lot fell Egypt, and all Africk, a great part of Syria and Arabia, beſides Babylonia, Suſiana, Aſſyria, and other Countries, which his Grandſon Nimrod poſſeſſed himſelf of. David often calleth Egypt the Land of Cham, or Ham. In Arabia and Africk the name of Ammon (the aſpiration being taken away) was univerſally known, as appeareth by Amon a River there, and from the Promontory Ammonium, and from the people being called Ammonij, and from the Ammonian Country, where was the famous Oracle of Ammon, nay all Africa was called Ammonia.
Cham had four Sons, Chus, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan.
Chus. By the Land of Chuz in the Scripture is meant part of Arabia inhabited by the Chuſaeans, called alſo Chuthaeans; of whom were the Madianites, and Sephora the wife of Moſes. They inhabited above Egypt, upon the Perſian-Gulf, in part of Arabia the Stony, and the happy, and are thought by ſome to be the ſame with the ancient Scenites, from their dwelling in Tents.
Chus had ſix Sons, Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, Sabtocha and Nimrod. And Raamah had two, Sheba, and Dedan. All theſe inhabited about the Perſian-Sea, except Nimrod, whom Moſes affirmeth to have fixed his Seat at Babel.
Mizraim. He was the Father of thoſe that inhabited Egypt. From Mizraim Moſes deriveth ſeven people, or Nations, Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathruſim, Caſluhim (out of whom came Philiſtim) and Captorim. Joſephus ſays the Sons of Mizraim poſſeſſed all the Country lying between Gaza and Egypt, though the Philiſtim only gave name to it, from whom the Greeks called it Palaeſtina.
By Ludim, Bochartus proveth the Ethiopians to be meant, whom he will have a Colony of the Egyptians. By Andmim the Nomades of Africk, who inhabited about Ammonis. Lehabim are thought to be the ſame with the Lybians bordering upon Egypt, from whom this denomination might paſs to thoſe that inhabited the greater part of Africk. Naphtukim he placeth in Marmaria upon the Mediterranean-Sea. Parthruſim he placeth in Thebais, a Province of Egypt called Pathros, and by many diſtinguiſhed from Egypt though peopled from it. Captorim ſeem to be Neighbours to Caſluhim, from both which the Philiſtins ſeem to have deſcended, as appeareth from Amos 9.7. Are ye not as Children of the Ethiopians unto me, O Children of Iſrael, ſaith the Lord? have not I brought up Iſrael out of the Land of Egypt? and the Philiſtins from Caphtor, and the Aſſyrians from Kir?
Phut. The third Son of Cham, who divided Africk with his Brother Mizraim. To Mizraim fell Egypt, and ſo much of Africk, as reached to the lake Tritonis, which divideth Africk into two equal parts. To Phut fell all from the Lake as far as the Atlantick Ocean, as may be gathered from Herodotus, lib. 4.
Cannan. The fourth ſon of Cham. His Poſterity were Sidon (his Firſt-born) and Heth. From him deſcended the Jebuſite, the Emorite, the Girgaſite, the Hivite, the Archite, the Sinite, the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. By Canaan was inhabited the Land, which afterward bore his Name, and was conquered by the Hebrews. His Family was propagated as far as the Sea, the Phaenicians being deſcended of him. The Scripture calls Phaenicia the Land of Canaan.
Sidon was the Father of the Sidonians, whoſe City was more ancient then Tyre, and the Mother of it. For the Sidonians led a Colony thither, and founded Tyre two hundred and forty years before the building of Solomons Temple, as Joſephus reporteth. Antiq. lib. 8. c. 2.
The Children of Heth dwelt in the Land of Canaan about Hebron, and Barſheba towards the South, and from them the Anakims deſcended.
The Jebuſites held Jeruſalem, and the Caſtle or Fort of Zion until Davids time.
The Amorites paſſed the Mountains of Judea, and paſſing over Jordan made War with the Moabites. And they ſeized upon Baſan, Hesbon, and all the Country lying between the River Jabbek and Arnon. In memory whereof one of their Poets wrote a Poem, which Moſes hath inſerted into his Writings, Numb. 21.27. Wherefore they, that ſpeak in Proverbs, ſay come into Heſhbron, let the City of Sihon be built, and prepared.
The Girgaſites ſeem to have continued about Gadara over againſt Galilee beyond Jordan till Chriſts time, Matth. 8.28. And when he was come to the other ſide, to the Countrey of the Gergeſens.
The Hivites dwelt in Mount Hermon toward the Eaſt of the Land of Canaan, from whom deſcended the Gibeonites (living nigh to Jeruſalem) and the Sichemites (dwelling near to Samaria) more towards the Weſt.
The Archites inhabited Area a City in Libanus.
The Sinites had a City called Sin, not far from Area.
The Arvadites or Aradites poſſeſſed the Iſland Aradus on the Coaſt of Phaenice, at the mouth of the River Eleutherus.
The Zemarites dwelt (as 'tis thought) about Tineſa, a notable City of Coeloſyria, upon the River Orontes, and built Zemarajim in the Tribe of Benjamin.
The Hemathites were ſeated about Epiphania a City of Syria.
This was the Inheritance of the Sons of Canaan, whoſe Border was from Sidon as thou comeſt to Gerar unto Gaza, as thou goeſt unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Laſha or Lyſa a City of the Arabians in the mid way between the dead, and the Red-Sea.
Thus was the Earth (as far as we can underſtand) anciently divided, and poſſeſſed after the Flood, though it hath ſince in ſeveral parts of it changed its Inhabitants.
Gen. 10. whole Chapter.
SECT. VI.
THe years of mans life(i)Mans life was halfed or thereabout at the time of Flood, as we may ſee by comparing Gen. 11.11. with Gen. 5. And again ſhortned about another half at the building of the Tower of Babel, Ch. 10.25. & 11.29. And well nigh the third time between the Times of Abraham and Moſes, Ch. 25.7. Pſal. 90.10. were now cut ſhorter by one half then they were before, as we may ſee Gen. 11.19, &c.
We ſhewed Sect. 4. that Sem begat Arphaxad, and Arphaxad Salah, and Salah Heber, and Heber Peleg, and unto Peleg Reu was born, when he was 30 years old, Gen. 11. 18, 19.
Serug was born to Reu when he was 32 years old, Gen. 11.20.
Nahor was born to Serug when he was 30 years old, Gen. 11.22.
Terah was born to Nahor, when he was 29 years old, Gen. 11.24.
When Terah had lived 70 years, there was born unto him Haran his eldeſt Son. For though Abram be ſet firſt, Gen. 11.26. yet that was not becauſe he was eldeſt, but becauſe he was worthieſt. *The like we read before of Sem, Ch. 5.32. & Ch. 10.1.For he came not into the World till 60 years after; His Brother Nahor being between him and Haran. As for Haran he died at Ʋr of the Chaldees in his Fathers life time, and preſence, and left three Children, to wit, one Son named Lot, and two Daughters, viz. Milchah, who was afterwards married to his next Brother (and her Uncle) Nahor, and Sarai after married to his third Brother (and her Uncle) Abram, Gen. 11. from 26. to 30.
SECT. VII.
PEleg, the ſixth from Noah, died 209 years after the Birth of Rue, Gen. 11.19. Nahor, the ninth from Noah, died 119 years after the Birth of his Son Terah, Gen. 10.25.
Noah died when he had lived 950 years in all, and 350 of them after the Flood, Gen. 9.28.
In the two thouſand and eighth year of the World was Abram born, and in the 130th year of his Father Terah's life. For he was 75 years old when Terah his Father died, who lived two hundred and five years, Gen. 11.32.
In the year of the World two thouſand and eighteen Sarai (who was alſo called Iſcah, the Daughter of Haran, Abram's eldeſt Brother) was born, being ten years younger then Abram, ſee Gen. 17.17.
Reu, the ſeventh from Noah, died two hundred, and ſeven years after the Birth of Serug, Gen. 11.21.
Serug, the eighth from Noah, died two hundred years after the Birth of Nahor Gen. 11.23.
SECT. VIII.
NEar about this time Chedorlaomer King of Elam, or Elamais, a Country in Perſia, with the aſſiſtance of three other petty Kings (whereof one is called the King of Nations, becauſe (as 'tis probable) his Subjects were of ſeveral Nations) ſubdued the Kings of Pentapolis, to wit, Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Seboim, and Bela or Zoar, all which ſerved him twelve years.
Gen. 14. from 1. to 5.
SECT. IX.
TErah with Nahor, and Abram (his two Sons) now living at Ʋr of the Caldees, and there (according to the cuſtom of that place) being Idolaters, and ſerving other Gods, [Joſhuah 24.2.] God was pleaſed of his free Grace, and mercy to chuſe Abram to be the Father of his peculiar people, when there was nothing in him to move the Lord to ſhew him ſuch ſpecial favour. And accordingly God was pleaſed to call *As he raiſed this righteous man from the Eaſt, ſo he called him to his foot, to follow him, and his direction, Eſay 41.2. Gen. 15.7. Neh. 9.7. Acts 7.2, 3, 4.him about the 70th year of his age to leave that Idolatrous place, and to go into a Land which he ſhould ſhew him, promiſing to make of him a great Nation, and to bleſs him, and in him (k)That is in his Seed Chriſt, Gen. 18.18. Acts 3.25, 26. Gal. 3.18, 14. Thus the Goſpel was preached to Abram.all the Families of the Earth. Abram obeying(l)He went out by faith, not knowing whither he went, Heb. 11.8. this Call, perſwaded his Father Terah to go along with him, and alſo his Brother Nahor, and ſo with Lot his Nephew (the Son of Haran) and Sarai his Wife, they came from Ʋr (m)This Ur, which they left, was the habitation of the Prieſts and Mathematicians, who from their Art were ſtiled by the name of Chald…ans. By which name even in Chaldaea it ſelf thoſe Genetbliaci, or Caſters of Nativities were diſtinguiſhed, and known from the reſt of the Magi, or wiſe men of that Country, Dan. 2. v. 2, 10. Ch. 4.7. Ch. 5.11. And from theſe Terah, and his Sons ſeem to have learned their Idolatry, Joſhua 24.2.to Charran a City in Meſopotamia, (n)Meſopotamia is not to be taken only for that Region, which lies between Euphrates and Tygris, but in a large ſenſe, as comprehending Chaldaea under it, Acts 7.2, 3, 4.and there made their abode by reaſon of the great infirmity and ſicklineſs of Terah, who about five years after, (when he had fulfilled 205 years) there died, Gen. 11.31, 32.
Gen. 12. from 1. to 5.