eason of his
nearness in blood, but cursed his prosperity: and when the rest of them
escaped that curse, God inflicted it on the children of Canaan. But as
to these matters, we shall speak more hereafter.

4. Shem, the third son of Noah, had five sons, who inhabited the land
that began at Euphrates, and reached to the Indian Ocean. For Elam left
behind him the Elamites, the ancestors of the Persians. Ashur lived at
the city Nineve; and named his subjects Assyrians, who became the most
fortunate nation, beyond others. Arphaxad named the Arphaxadites, who
are now called Chaldeans. Aram had the Aramites, which the Greeks called
Syrians; as Laud founded the Laudites, which are now called Lydians. Of
the four sons of Aram, Uz founded Trachonitis and Damascus: this country
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; a