Christ and Belial, says
[1159][Greek: Tis de sumphonesis Christou pros BELIAR]. This Belial, or
Beliar, was the same as Belorus, and Osiris, who were worshipped under the
symbol of a serpent. Hence Hesychius explains the term Beliar by a serpent.
[Greek: Beliar--drakon.] _Beliar is the same as a dragon or serpent._ The
Cadmians are said to have betaken themselves to Sidon, and Biblus: and the
country between these cities is called Chous at this day. To the north is
the city, and province of Hama: and a town, and castle, called by D'Anville
Cadmus; by the natives expressed Quadamus, or [1160]Chadamus. The Cadmians
probably founded the temple of Baal Hermon in Mount Libanus, and formed one
of the Hivite nations in those parts. Bochart has very justly observed,
that an Hivite is the same as an [1161]Ophite: and many of this
denomination resided under Mount Libanus, and Anti-Libanus; part of which
was called Baal Hermon, as we learn from the sacred writings. [1162]_Now
these are the nations, which the Lord left to prove Israel, namely, five
Lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians; and
the Hivites that dwell in Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal Hermon unto the
entering in of Hamath._ There were other Hivites, who are mentioned by
Moses among the children of [1163]Canaan. But the Cadmonites, and many of
the people about Mount Libanus were of another family. The Hivites of
Canaan Proper were those, who by a stratagem obtained a treaty with
[1164]Joshua. Their chief cities were Gibeon, Cephirah, Beeroth, and
Kirjath Jearim. These lay within the the tribe of [1165]Judah, and of
Benjamin, who possessed the southern parts of Canaan. But the other
Hivites, among whom were the Cadmonites, lay far to the north under
Libanus, at the very extremities of the country. The sacred writer
distinguishes them from the Canaanites, as well as from the other Hivites,
by saying, the Hivites of Baal Hermon. And he seems to distinguish the
Sidonians from the genuine Canaanites, and justly: for if we may credit
prophane history, the Cadmians had obtained the sovereignty in that city:
and the people were of a mixed race. [1166][Greek: Kadmos--Turou kai
Sidonos ebasileuen.] The Cadmians extended themselves in these parts quite
to the Euphrates, and westward to the coast of Greece, and Ausonia; and
still farther to the great Atlantic. They went under the name of Ellopians,
Oropians, [1167]Cadmonites, Hermonians, Ophitae, and where