any considerable misfortunes； for seven generations； ＇see ch。 2。
sect。 1； before； and ch。 3。 sect。 1； hereafter；＇ is exactly
agreeable to the state of the world and the conduct of Providence
in all the first ages。
（10） Of Josephus's mistake here； when he took Seth the son of
Adam； for Seth or Sesostris； king of Egypt； the erector of this
pillar in the land of Siriad； see Essay on the Old Testament；
Appendix； p。 159； 160。 Although the main of this relation might
be true； and Adam might foretell a conflagration and a deluge；
which all antiquity witnesses to be an ancient tradition； nay；
Seth's posterity might engrave their inventions in astronomy on
two such pillars； yet it is no way credible that they could
survive the deluge； which has buried all such pillars and
edifices far under ground in the sediment of its waters；
especially since the like pillars of the Egyptian Seth or
Sesostris were extant after the flood； in the land of Siriad； and
perhaps in the days of Josephus also； as is shown in the place
here referred to。
（11） This notion； that the fallen angels were； in some sense； the
fathers of the old giants； was the constant opinion of antiquity。
（12） Josephus here supposes that the life of these giants； for of
them only do I understand him； was now reduced to 120 years；
which is confirmed by the fragment of Enoch； sect。 10； in
Authent。 Rec。 Part I。 p。 268。 For as to the rest of mankind；
Josephus himself confesses their lives were much longer than 120
years； for many generations after the flood； as we shall see
presently； and he says they were gradually shortened till the
days of Moses； and then fixed ＇for some time＇ at 120； ch。 6。
sect。 5。 Nor indeed need we suppose that either Enoch or Josephus
meant to interpret these 120 years for the life of men before the
flood； to be different from the 120 years of God's patience
＇perhaps while the ark was preparing＇ till the deluge； which I
take to be the meaning of God when he threatened this wicked
world； that if they so long continued impenitent； their days
should be no more than 120 years。
（13） A cubit is about 21 English inches。
（14） Josephus here truly determines； that the year at the Flood
began about the autumnal equinox。 As to what day of the month the
Flood began； our Hebrew and Samaritan； and perhaps Josephus's own
copy； more rightly placed it on the 17th day； instead of the
27th； as here； for Josephus agrees with them； as to the distance
of 150 days to the 17th day of the 7th month； as Genesis 7。 ult。
with 8：3。
（15） Josephus here takes notice； that these ancient genealogies
were first set down by those that then lived； and from them were
transmitted down to posterity； which I suppose to be the true
account of that matter。 For there is no reason to imagine that
men were not taught to read and write soon after they were taught
to speak； and perhaps all by the Messiah himself； who； under the
Father； was the Creator or Governor of mankind； and who
frequently in those early days appeared to them。
（16） This （GREEK）； or Place of Descent； is the proper rendering
of the Armenian name of this very city。 It is called in Ptolemy
Naxuana； and by Moses Chorenensis； the Armenian historian；
Idsheuan； but at the place itself Nachidsheuan； which signifies
The first place of descent； and is a lasting monument of the
preservation of Noah in the ark； upon the top of that mountain；
at whose foot it was built； as the first city or town after the
flood。 See Antiq。 B。 XX。 ch。 2。 sect。 3； and Moses Chorenensis；
who also says elsewhere； that another town was related by
tradition to have been called Seron； or； The Place of Dispersion；
on account of the dispersion of Xisuthrus's or Noah's sons； from
thence first made。 Whether any remains of this ark be still
preserved； as the people of the country suppose； I cannot
certainly tell。 Mons。 Tournefort had； not very long since； a mind
to see the place himself； but met with too great dangers and
difficulties to venture through them。
（17） One observation ought not here to be neglected； with regard
to that Ethiopic war which Moses； as general of the Egyptians；
put an end to； Antiq。 B。 II。 ch。 10。； and about which our late
writers seem very much unconcerned； viz。 that it was a war of
that consequence； as to occasion the removal or destruction of
six or seven nations of the posterity of Mitzraim； with their
cities； which Josephus would not have said； if he had not had
ancient records to justify those his assertions； though those
records be now all lost。
（18） That the Jews were called Hebrews from this their progenitor
Heber； our author Josephus here rightly affirms； and not from
Abram the Hebrew； or passenger over Euphrates； as many of the
moderns suppose。 Shem is also called the father of all the
children of Heber； or of all the Hebrews； in a history long
before Abram passed over Euphrates； Genesis 10：21； though it must
be confessed that； Genesis 14：13； where the original says they
told Abram the Hebrew； the Septuagint renders it the passenger；
（GREEK）： but this is spoken only of Abram himself； who had then
lately passed over Euphrates； and is another signification of the
Hebrew word； taken as an appellative； and not as a proper name。
（19） It is worth noting here； that God required no other
sacrifices under the law of Moses； than what were taken from
these five kinds of animals which he here required of Abram。 Nor
did the Jews feed upon any other domestic animals than the three
here named； as Reland observes on Antiq。 B。 IV。 ch。 4。 sect。 4。
（20） As to this affliction of Abram's posterity for 400 years；
see Antiq。 B。 II。 ch。 9。 sect。 1。
（21） These sons…in…law to Lot； as they are called； Genesis
19：12…14； might be so styled； because they were betrothed to
Lot's daughters； though not yet married to them。 See the note on
Antiq。 B。 XIV。 ch。 13。 sect。 1。
（22） Of the War； B。 IV。 ch。 8。 sect。 4。
（23） This pillar of salt was； we see here； standing in the days
of Josephus； and he had seen it。 That it was standing then is
also attested by Clement of Rome； contemporary with Josephus； as
also that it was so in the next century； is attested by Irenaeus；
with the addition of an hypothesis； how it came to last so long；
with all its members entire。 … Whether the account that some
modern travelers give be true； that it is still standing； I do
not know。 Its remote situation； at the most southern point of the
Sea of Sodom； in the wild and dangerous deserts of Arabia； makes
it exceeding difficult for inquisitive travelers to examine the
place； and for common reports of country people； at a distance；
they are not very satisfactory。 In the mean time； I have no
opinion of Le Clerc's dissertation or hypothesis about this
question； which can only be determined by eye…witnesses。 When
Christian princes； so called； lay aside their foolish and
unchristian wars and quarrels； and send a body of fit persons to
travel over the east； and bring us faithful accounts of all
ancient monuments； and procure us copies of all ancient records；
at present lost among us； we may hope for full satisfaction in
such inquiries； but hardly before。
（24） I see no proper wicked intention in these daughters of Lot；
when in a case which appeared to them of unavoidable necessity；
they procured themselves to be with child by their father。
Without such an unavoidable necessity； incest is a horrid crime；
but whether in such a case of necessity； as they apprehended this
to be； according to Josephus； it was any such crime； I am not
satisfied。 In the mean time； their making their father drunk； and
their solicitous concealment of what they did from him； shows
that they despaired of persuading him to an action which； at the
best； could not but be very suspicious and shocking to so good a
man。
（25） It is well worth observation； that Josephus here calls that
principal Angel； who appeared to Abraham and foretold the birth
of Isaac； directly God； which language of Josephus here； prepares
us to believe those other expressions of his； that Jesus was a
wise man； if it be lawful to call him a man； Antiq。 B。 XVIII。 ch。
3。 sect。 3； and of God the Word； in his homily concerning Hades；
may be both genuine。 Nor is the other expression of Divine Angel；
used presently； and before； also of any other signification。
（26） Josephus here calls Ismael a young child or infant； though
he was about 13 years of age； as Judas calls himself and his
brethren young men； when he was 47； and had two children； Antiq。
B。 II。 ch。 6。 sect。 8； and they were of much the same age； as is
a damsel of 12 years old called a little child； Mark 5：39…42；
five several times。 Herod is also said by Josephus to be a very
young man at 25。 See the note on Antiq。 B。 XIV。 ch。 9。 sect 2；
and of the War； B。 I。 ch。 10。 And Aristobulus is styled a very
little child at 16 years of age； Antiq。 B。 XV。 ch。 2。 sect。 6； 7。
Domitian also is called by him a very young child； when he went
on his German expedition at about 18 years of age； of the War； B。
VII。 ch。 4。 sect。 2。 Samson's wife； and Ruth； when they were
widows； are called children； Antiq。 B。 V。 ch。 8。 sect。 6； and ch。
9。 sect。 2 3。
（27） Note； that both here and Hebrews 11：17； Isaac is called
Abraham's only begotten son； though he at the same time had
another son； Ismael。 The Septuagint expresses the true meaning；
by rendering the text the beloved son。
（28） Here is a plain error in the copies which say that king
David afterwards built the temple on this Mount Moriah； while it
was certainly no other than king Solomon who built that temple；
as indeed Procopius cites it from Josephus。 For it was for
certain David； and not Solomon； who built the first altar there；
as we learn； 2 Samuel 24：18； etc。； 1 Chronicles 21：22； etc。； and
Antiq。 B。 VII。 ch。 13。 sect。 4。
（29） It seems both here； and in God's parallel blessing to Jacob；
ch。 19。 sect。 1； that Josephus had yet no notion of the hidden
meaning of that most important and most eminent promise； 〃In thy
seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed。 He saith
not； and of seeds； as of many； but as of one； and to thy seed；
which is Christ；〃 Galatians 3：16。 Nor is it any wonder； he being；
I think