Armenia； which； when Noah understood； he opened it； and seeing a
small piece of land about it； he continued quiet； and conceived
some cheerful hopes of deliverance。 But a few days afterward；
when the water was decreased to a greater degree； he sent out a
raven； as desirous to learn whether any other part of the earth
were left dry by the water； and whether he might go out of the
ark with safety； but the raven； finding all the land still
overflowed； returned to Noah again。 And after seven days he sent
out a dove； to know the state of the ground； which came back to
him covered with mud； and bringing an olive branch： hereby Noah
learned that the earth was become clear of the flood。 So after he
had staid seven more days； he sent the living creatures out of
the ark； and both he and his family went out； when he also
sacrificed to God； and feasted with his companions。 However； the
Armenians call this place； （GREEK） （16） The Place of Descent； for
the ark being saved in that place； its remains are shown there by
the inhabitants to this day。
6。 Now all the writers of barbarian histories make mention of
this flood； and of this ark； among whom is Berosus the Chaldean。
For when he is describing the circumstances of the flood； he goes
on thus： 〃It is said there is still some part of this ship in
Armenia； at the mountain of the Cordyaeans； and that some people
carry off pieces of the bitumen； which they take away； and use
chiefly as amulets for the averting of mischiefs。〃 Hieronymus the
Egyptian also； who wrote the Phoenician Antiquities； and Mnaseas；
and a great many more； make mention of the same。 Nay； Nicolaus of
Damascus； in his ninety…sixth book； hath a particular relation
about them； where he speaks thus： 〃There is a great mountain in
Armenia； over Minyas； called Baris； upon which it is reported
that many who fled at the time of the Deluge were saved； and that
one who was carried in an ark came on shore upon the top of it；
and that the remains of the timber were a great while preserved。
This might be the man about whom Moses the legislator of the Jews
wrote。〃
7。 But as for Noah； he was afraid； since God had determined to
destroy mankind； lest he should drown the earth every year； so he
offered burnt…offerings； and besought God that nature might
hereafter go on in its former orderly course； and that he would
not bring on so great a judgment any more； by which the whole
race of creatures might be in danger of destruction： but that；
having now punished the wicked； he would of his goodness spare
the remainder； and such as he had hitherto judged fit to be
delivered from so severe a calamity； for that otherwise these
last must be more miserable than the first； and that they must be
condemned to a worse condition than the others； unless they be
suffered to escape entirely； that is； if they be reserved for
another deluge； while they must be afflicted with the terror and
sight of the first deluge； and must also be destroyed by a
second。 He also entreated God to accept of his sacrifice； and to
grant that the earth might never again undergo the like effects
of 'his wrath； that men might be permitted to go on cheerfully in
cultivating the same； to build cities； and live happily in them；
and that they might not be deprived of any of those good things
which they enjoyed before the Flood； but might attain to the like
length of days； and old age； which the ancient people had arrived
at before。
8。 When Noah had made these supplications； God； who loved the man
for his righteousness； granted entire success to his prayers； and
said； that it was not he who brought the destruction on a
polluted world； but that they underwent that vengeance on account
of their own wickedness； and that he had not brought men into the
world if he had himself determined to destroy them； it being an
instance of greater wisdom not to have granted them life at all；
than； after it was granted； to procure their destruction； 〃But
the injuries；〃 said he； 〃they offered to my holiness and virtue；
forced me to bring this punishment upon them。 But I will leave
off for the time to come to require such punishments； the effects
of so great wrath； for their future wicked actions； and
especially on account of thy prayers。 But if I shall at any time
send tempests of rain； in an extraordinary manner； be not
affrighted at the largeness of the showers； for the water shall
no more overspread the earth。 However； I require you to abstain
from shedding the blood of men； and to keep yourselves pure from
murder； and to punish those that commit any such thing。 I permit
you to make use of all the other living creatures at your
pleasure； and as your appetites lead you； for I have made you
lords of them all； both of those that walk on the land； and those
that swim in the waters； and of those that fly in the regions of
the air on high； excepting their blood； for therein is the life。
But I will give you a sign that I have left off my anger by my
bow ＇whereby is meant the rainbow； for they determined that the
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 the