ed and went to God; whence it is that they
have not written down his death. Now Mathusela, the son of Enoch, who
was born to him when he was one hundred and sixty-five years old, had
Lamech for his son when he was one hundred and eighty-seven years of
age; to whom he delivered the government, when he had retained it nine
hundred and sixty-nine years. Now Lamech, when he had governed seven
hundred and seventy-seven years, appointed Noah, his son, to be ruler
of the people, who was born to Lamech when he was one hundred and
eighty-two years old, and retained the government nine hundred and fifty
years. These years collected together make up the sum before set down.
But let no one inquire into the deaths of these men; for they extended
their lives along together with their children and grandchildren; but
let him have regard to their births only.

5. When God gave the signal, and it began to rain, the water poured down
forty entire days, till it became fifteen cubits higher than the earth;
which was the reason why there was no greater number preserved, since
they had no place to fly to. When the rain ceased, the water did but
just begin to abate after one hundred and fifty days, [that is, on the
seventeenth day of the seventh month,] it then ceasing to subside for
a little while. After this, the ark rested on the top of a certain
mountain in 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 me