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rainbow was the bow of God＇。 And when God had said and promised
thus； he went away。
9。 Now when Noah had lived three hundred and fifty years after
the Flood； and that all that time happily； he died； having lived
the number of nine hundred and fifty years。 But let no one； upon
comparing the lives of the ancients with our lives； and with the
few years which we now live； think that what we have said of them
is false； or make the shortness of our lives at present an
argument； that neither did they attain to so long a duration of
life； for those ancients were beloved of God； and ＇lately＇ made
by God himself； and because their food was then fitter for the
prolongation of life； might well live so great a number of years：
and besides； God afforded them a longer time of life on account
of their virtue； and the good use they made of it in astronomical
and geometrical discoveries； which would not have afforded the
time of foretelling ＇the periods of the stars＇ unless they had
lived six hundred years； for the great year is completed in that
interval。 Now I have for witnesses to what I have said； all those
that have written Antiquities； both among the Greeks and
barbarians； for even Manetho； who wrote the Egyptian History； and
Berosus； who collected the Chaldean Monuments； and Mochus； and
Hestieus； and； besides these； Hieronymus the Egyptian； and those
who composed the Phoenician History； agree to what I here say：
Hesiod also； and Hecatseus； Hellanicus； and Acusilaus； and；
besides these； Ephorus and Nicolaus relate that the ancients
lived a thousand years。 But as to these matters； let every one
look upon them as he thinks fit。
CHAPTER 4。
Concerning The Tower Of Babylon； And The Confusion Of Tongues。
1。 Now the sons of Noah were three； … Shem； Japhet； and Ham； born
one hundred years before the Deluge。 These first of all descended
from the mountains into the plains； and fixed their habitation
there； and persuaded others who were greatly afraid of the lower
grounds on account of the flood； and so were very loath to come
down from the higher places； to venture to follow their examples。
Now the plain in which they first dwelt was called Shinar。 God
also commanded them to send colonies abroad； for the thorough
peopling of the earth； that they might not raise seditions among
themselves； but might cultivate a great part of the earth； and
enjoy its fruits after a plentiful manner。 But they were so ill
instructed that they did not obey God； for which reason they fell
into calamities； and were made sensible； by experience； of what
sin they had been guilty： for when they flourished with a
numerous youth； God admonished them again to send out colonies；
but they； imagining the prosperity they enjoyed was not derived
from the favor of God； but supposing that their own power was the
proper cause of the plentiful condition they were in； did not
obey him。 Nay； they added to this their disobedience to the
Divine will； the suspicion that they were therefore ordered to
send out separate colonies； that； being divided asunder； they
might the more easily be Oppressed。
2。 Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and
contempt of God。 He was the grandson of Ham； the son of Noah； a
bold man； and of great strength of hand。 He persuaded them not to
ascribe it to God； as if it was through his means they were
happy； but to believe that it was their own courage which
procured that happiness。 He also gradually changed the government
into tyranny； seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of
God； but to bring them into a constant dependence on his power。
He also said he would be revenged on God； if he should have a
mind to drown the world again； for that he would build a tower
too high for the waters to be able to reach！ and that he would
avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers ！
3。 Now the multitude were very ready to follow the determination
of Nimrod； and to esteem it a piece of cowardice to submit to
God； and they built a tower； neither sparing any pains； nor being
in any degree negligent about the work： and； by reason of the
multitude of hands employed in it； it grew very high； sooner than
any one could expect； but the thickness of it was so great； and
it was so strongly built； that thereby its great height seemed；
upon the view； to be less than it really was。 It was built of
burnt brick； cemented together with mortar； made of bitumen； that
it might not be liable to admit water。 When God saw that they
acted so madly； he did not resolve to destroy them utterly； since
they were not grown wiser by the destruction of the former
sinners； but he caused a tumult among them； by producing in them
divers languages； and causing that； through the multitude of
those languages； they should not be able to understand one
another。 The place wherein they built the tower is now called
Babylon； because of the confusion of that language which they
readily understood before； for the Hebrews mean by the word
Babel； confusion。 The Sibyl also makes mention of this tower； and
of the confusion of the language； when she says thus： 〃When all
men were of one language； some of them built a high tower； as if
they would thereby ascend up to heaven； but the gods sent storms
of wind and overthrew the tower； and gave every one his peculiar
language； and for this reason it was that the city was called
Babylon。〃 But as to the plan of Shinar； in the country of
Babylonia； Hestiaeus mentions it； when he says thus： 〃Such of the
priests as were saved； took the sacred vessels of Jupiter
Enyalius； and came to Shinar of Babylonia。〃
CHAPTER 5。
After What Manner The Posterity Of Noah Sent Out Colonies； And
Inhabited The Whole Earth。
1。 After this they were dispersed abroad； on account of their
languages； and went out by colonies every where； and each colony
took possession of that land which they light upon； and unto
which God led them； so that the whole continent was filled with
them； both the inland and the maritime countries。 There were some
also who passed over the sea in ships； and inhabited the islands：
and some of those nations do still retain the denominations which
were given them by their first founders； but some have lost them
also； and some have only admitted certain changes in them； that
they might be the more intelligible to the inhabitants。 And they
were the Greeks who became the authors of such mutations。 For
when in after…ages they grew potent； they claimed to themselves
the glory of antiquity； giving names to the nations that sounded
well （in Greek） that they might be better understood among
themselves； and setting agreeable forms of government over them；
as if they were a people derived from themselves。
CHAPTER 6。
How Every Nation Was Denominated From Their
First Inhabitants。
1。 Now they were the grandchildren of Noah； in honor of whom
names were imposed on the nations by those that first seized upon
them。 Japhet； the son of Noah； had seven sons： they inhabited so；
that； beginning at the mountains Taurus and Amanus； they
proceeded along Asia； as far as the river Tansis； and along
Europe to Cadiz； and settling themselves on the