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lies between Palestine and Celesyria。 Ul founded Armenia； and
Gather the Bactrians； and Mesa the Mesaneans； it is now called
Charax Spasini。 Sala was the son of Arphaxad； and his son was
Heber； from whom they originally called the Jews Hebrews。 （18）
Heber begat Joetan and Phaleg： he was called Phaleg； because he
was born at the dispersion of the nations to their several
countries； for Phaleg among the Hebrews signifies division。 Now
Joctan； one of the sons of Heber； had these sons； Elmodad；
Saleph； Asermoth； Jera； Adoram； Aizel； Decla； Ebal； Abimael；
Sabeus； Ophir； Euilat； and Jobab。 These inhabited from Cophen； an
Indian river； and in part of Asia adjoining to it。 And this shall
suffice concerning the sons of Shem。
5。 I will now treat of the Hebrews。 The son of Phaleg； whose
father Was Heber； was Ragau； whose son was Serug； to whom was
born Nahor； his son was Terah； who was the father of Abraham； who
accordingly was the tenth from Noah； and was born in the two
hundred and ninety…second year after the deluge； for Terah begat
Abram in his seventieth year。 Nahor begat Haran when he was one
hundred and twenty years old； Nahor was born to Serug in his
hundred and thirty…second year； Ragau had Serug at one hundred
and thirty； at the same age also Phaleg had Ragau； Heber begat
Phaleg in his hundred and thirty…fourth year； he himself being
begotten by Sala when he was a hundred and thirty years old； whom
Arphaxad had for his son at the hundred and thirty…fifth year of
his age。 Arphaxad was the son of Shem； and born twelve years
after the deluge。 Now Abram had two brethren； Nahor and Haran： of
these Haran left a son； Lot； as also Sarai and Milcha his
daughters； and died among the Chaldeans； in a city of the
Chaldeans； called Ur； and his monument is shown to this day。
These married their nieces。 Nabor married Milcha； and Abram
married Sarai。 Now Terah hating Chaldea； on account of his
mourning for Ilaran； they all removed to Haran of Mesopotamia；
where Terah died； and was buried； when he had lived to be two
hundred and five years old； for the life of man was already； by
degrees； diminished； and became shorter than before； till the
birth of Moses； after whom the term of human life was one hundred
and twenty years； God determining it to the length that Moses
happened to live。 Now Nahor had eight sons by Milcha； Uz and Buz；
Kemuel； Chesed； Azau； Pheldas； Jadelph； and Bethuel。 These were
all the genuine sons of Nahor； for Teba； and Gaam； and Tachas；
and Maaca； were born of Reuma his concubine： but Bethuel had a
daughter； Rebecca； and a son； Laban。
CHAPTER 7。
How Abram Our Forefather Went Out Of The Land Of The Chaldeans；
And Lived In The Land Then Called Canaan But Now Judea。
1。 Now Abram； having no son of his own； adopted Lot； his brother
Haran's son； and his wife Sarai's brother； and he left the land
of Chaldea when he was seventy…five years old； and at the command
of God went into Canaan； and therein he dwelt himself； and left
it to his posterity。 He was a person of great sagacity； both for
understanding all things and persuading his hearers； and not
mistaken in his opinions； for which reason he began to have
higher notions of virtue than others had； and he determined to
renew and to change the opinion all men happened then to have
concerning God； for he was the first that ventured to publish
this notion； That there was but one God； the Creator of the
universe； and that； as to other ＇gods＇； if they contributed any
thing to the happiness of men； that each of them afforded it only
according to his appointment； and not by their own power。 This
his opinion was derived from the irregular phenomena that were
visible both at land and sea； as well as those that happen to the
sun； and moon； and all the heavenly bodies； thus： … 〃If ＇said he＇
these bodies had power of their own； they would certainly take
care of their own regular motions； but since they do not preserve
such regularity； they make it plain； that in so far as they
co…operate to our advantage； they do it not of their own
abilities； but as they are subservient to Him that commands them；
to whom alone we ought justly to offer our honor and
thanksgiving。〃 For which doctrines； when the Chaldeans； and other
people of Mesopotamia； raised a tumult against him； he thought
fit to leave that country； and at the command and by the
assistance of God； he came and lived in the land of Canaan。 And
when he was there settled； he built an altar； and performed a
sacrifice to God。
2。 Berosus mentions our father Abram without naming him； when he
says thus： 〃In the tenth generation after the Flood； there was
among the Chaldeans a man righteous and great； and skillful in
the celestial science。〃 But Hecatseus does more than barely
mention him； for he composed； and left behind him； a book
concerning him。 And Nicolaus of Damascus； in the fourth book of
his History； says thus： 〃Abram reigned at Damascus； being a
foreigner； who came with an army out of the land above Babylon；
called the land of the Chaldeans： but； after a long time； he got
him up； and removed from that country also； with his people； and
went into the land then called the land of Canaan； but now the
land of Judea； and this when his posterity were become a
multitude； as to which posterity of his； we relate their history
in another work。 Now the name of Abram is even still famous in
the country of Damascus； and there is shown a village named from
him； The Habitation of 4bram。〃
CHAPTER 8。
That When There Was A Famine In Canaan； Abram Went Thence Into
Egypt； And After He Had Continued There A While He Returned Back
Again。
1。 Now； after this； when a famine had invaded the land of Canaan；
and Abram had discovered that the Egyptians were in a flourishing
condition； he was disposed to go down to them； both to partake of
the plenty they enjoyed； and to become an auditor of their
priests； and to know what they said concerning the gods；
designing either to follow them； if they had better notions than
he； or to convert them into a better way； if his own notions
proved the truest。 Now； seeing he was to take Sarai with him； and
was afraid of the madness of the Egyptians with regard to women；
lest the king should kill him on occasion of his wife's great
beauty； he contrived this device ： … he pretended to be her
brother； and directed her in a dissembling way to pretend the
same； for he said it would be for their benefit。 Now； as soon as
he came into Egypt； it happened to Abram as he supposed it would；
for the fame of his wife's beauty was greatly talked of； for
which reason Pharaoh； the king of Egypt； would not be satisfied
with what was reported of her； but would needs see her himself；
and was preparing to enjoy her； but God put a stop to his unjust
inclinations； by sending upon him a distemper； and a sedition
against his government。 And when he inquired of the priests how
he might be freed from these calamities； they told him that this
his miserable condition was derived from the wrath of God； upon
account of his inclinations to abuse the stranger's wife。 He
then； out of fear； asked Sarai who she was； and who it was that
she brough