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legislator himself have a right mind without such a
contemplation； nor would any thing he should write tend to the
promotion of virtue in his readers； I mean； unless they be taught
first of all； that God is the Father and Lord of all things； and
sees all things； and that thence he bestows a happy life upon
those that follow him； but plunges such as do not walk in the
paths of virtue into inevitable miseries。 Now when Moses was
desirous to teach this lesson to his countrymen； he did not begin
the establishment of his laws after the same manner that other
legislators did； I mean； upon contracts and other rights between
one man and another； but by raising their minds upwards to regard
God； and his creation of the world； and by persuading them； that
we men are the most excellent of the creatures of God upon earth。
Now when once he had brought them to submit to religion； he
easily persuaded them to submit in all other things： for as to
other legislators； they followed fables； and by their discourses
transferred the most reproachful of human vices unto the gods；
and afforded wicked men the most plausible excuses for their
crimes； but as for our legislator； when he had once demonstrated
that God was possessed of perfect virtue； he supposed that men
also ought to strive after the participation of it； and on those
who did not so think； and so believe； he inflicted the severest
punishments。 I exhort； therefore； my readers to examine this
whole undertaking in that view； for thereby it will appear to
them； that there is nothing therein disagreeable either to the
majesty of God； or to his love to mankind； for all things have
here a reference to the nature of the universe； while our
legislator speaks some things wisely； but enigmatically； and
others under a decent allegory； but still explains such things as
required a direct explication plainly and expressly。 However；
those that have a mind to know the reasons of every thing； may
find here a very curious philosophical theory； which I now indeed
shall wave the explication of； but if God afford me time for it；
I will set about writing it （6） after I have finished the present
work。 I shall now betake myself to the history before me； after I
have first mentioned what Moses says of the creation of the
world； which I find described in the sacred books after the
manner following。
BOOK I。
Containing The Interval Of Three Thousand Eight Hundred And
Thirty…Three Years。
From The Creation To The Death Of Isaac。
CHAPTER 1。
The Constitution Of The World And The Disposition Of The
Elements。
1。 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth。 But
when the earth did not come into sight； but was covered with
thick darkness； and a wind moved upon its surface； God commanded
that there should be light： and when that was made； he considered
the whole mass； and separated the light and the darkness； and the
name he gave to one was Night； and the other he called Day： and
he named the beginning of light； and the time of rest； The
Evening and The Morning； and this was indeed the first day。 But
Moses said it was one day； the cause of which I am able to give
even now； but because I have promised to give such reasons for
all things in a treatise by itself； I shall put off its
exposition till that time。 After this； on the second day； he
placed the heaven over the whole world； and separated it from the
other parts； and he determined it should stand by itself。 He also
placed a crystalline ＇firmament＇ round it； and put it together in
a manner agreeable to the earth； and fitted it for giving
moisture and rain； and for affording the advantage of dews。 On
the third day he appointed the dry land to appear； with the sea
itself round about it； and on the very same day he made the
plants and the seeds to spring out of the earth。 On the fourth
day he adorned the heaven with the sun； the moon； and the other
stars； and appointed them their motions and courses； that the
vicissitudes of the seasons might be clearly signified。 And on
the fifth day he produced the living creatures； both those that
swim； and those that fly； the former in the sea； the latter in
the air： he also sorted them as to society and mixture； for
procreation； and that their kinds might increase and multiply。 On
the sixth day he created the four…footed beasts； and made them
male and female： on the same day he also formed man。 Accordingly
Moses says； That in just six days the world； and all that is
therein； was made。 And that the seventh day was a rest； and a
release from the labor of such operations； whence it is that we
Celebrate a rest from our labors on that day； and call it the
Sabbath； which word denotes rest in the Hebrew tongue。
2。 Moreover； Moses； after the seventh day was over（1） begins to
talk philosophically； and concerning the formation of man； says
thus： That God took dust from the ground； and formed man； and
inserted in him a spirit and a soul。（2） This man was called Adam；
which in the Hebrew tongue signifies one that is red； because he
was formed out of red earth； compounded together； for of that
kind is virgin and true earth。 God also presented the living
creatures； when he had made them； according to their kinds； both
male and female； to Adam； who gave them those names by which they
are still called。 But when he saw that Adam had no female
companion； no society； for there was no such created； and that he
wondered at the other animals which were male and female； he laid
him asleep； and took away one of his ribs； and out of it formed
the woman； whereupon Adam knew her when she was brought to him；
and acknowledged that she was made out of himself。 Now a woman is
called in the Hebrew tongue Issa； but the name of this woman was
Eve； which signifies the mother of all living。
3。 Moses says further； that God planted a paradise in the east；
flourishing with all sorts of trees； and that among them was the
tree of life； and another of knowledge； whereby was to be known
what was good and evil； and that when he brought Adam and his
wife into this garden； he commanded ；hem to take care of the
plants。 Now the garden was watered by one river；（3） which ran
round about the whole earth； and was parted into four parts。 And
Phison； which denotes a multitude； running into India； makes its
exit into the sea； and is by the Greeks called Ganges。 Euphrates
also； as well as Tigris； goes down into the Red Sea。（4） Now the
name Euphrates； or Phrath； denotes either a dispersion； or a
flower： by Tiris； or Diglath； is signified what is swift； with
narrowness； and Geon runs through Egypt； and denotes what arises
from the east； which the Greeks call Nile。
4。 God therefore commanded that Adam and his wife should eat of
all the rest of the plants； but to abstain from the tree of
knowledge； and foretold to them； that if they touched it； it
would prove their destruction。 But while all the living creatures
had one language； （5） at that time the serpent； which then lived
together with Adam and his wife； shewed an envious disposition；
at his supposal of their living happily； and in obedience to the
commands of God； and imagining； that when they disobeyed th