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must, therefore, have recourse to Gentile authority for a subsequent account. And, previously to this, we may from them obtain collateral evidence of the great events which had preceded, and which are mentioned by Moses. We learn from the poets, and all the more antient writers were poets, that there was a time when mankind lived a life of simplicity and virtue; that they had no laws; but were in a state of nature when pains and penalties were unknown. They were wonderfully blessed with longevity, and had a share of health and strength in proportion to their years. At last, there was a mighty falling off from this primitive simplicity, and a great change was effected in consequence of this failure. grew proud and unjust; jealousies prevailed, attended with a love of rule; which was followed with war and bloodshed. The chief person who began these innovations was Nimrod. The Greeks often call him Nebrod, and Nebros, and have preserved many oriental memorials concerning him and his apostasy, and concerning the tower, which he is supposed to have erected. He is described as a gigantic, daring personage; a contemner of every thing divine; and his associates are represented of a character equally enterprizing and daring. Abydenus, in his Assyrian Annals,

Men

87 Έντι δε οι λεγεσι τις πρώτες εκ γης ανασχοντας ρώμη τε και

alludes to the insurrection of the sons of Chus, and to their great impiety. He also mentions the building of the tower, and confusion of tongues; and says, that the tower, analogous to the words of the Scripture, was carried up to heaven; but that the Gods ruined it by storms and whirlwinds, and frustrated the purpose for which it was designed; and overthrew it upon the heads of those who were employed in the work: that the ruins of it were called Babylon. Before this, there was but one language subsisting among men: but now they had, πολυθρων φωνην, a manifold sound, or utterance. A war soon after ensued between Cronus and Titan. He repeats, that the particular spot, where the tower stood, was in his time called Babylon. It was so

88

μεγέθει χαυνωθεντας, και δη θεων καταφρονήσαντας αμείνονας είναι, πυργων τυρσιν ήλιβα τον αείξειν, ίνα νυν Βαβυλων εσιν, ηδη τε ασσον είναι το εξανε και τις ανεμες θεοισι βωθέοντας ανατρέψαι περί αυτοισι το μηχανημα το δητα ερείπια λέγεσθαι Βαβυλωνα. · Τεως δε οντας όμογλώσσες εκ θεών πολυθρον φωνην ενεικασθαι. Μετα δε Κρονῳ και Τιτην συςησαι πολεμον. Ὁ δε τοπος, Εν ᾧ πυργον ῳκοδομησαν, νυν Βαβυλων καλείται, δια την συγχυσιν τε περί την διαλεκτον πρωτην ενάργους. Εβραιοι γαρ την συγχυσιν Βαβελ καλεσι.

p. 13.

Euseb. Chron.

88 Strabo speaks of a tower of immense size at Babylon, remaining in later times, which was a stadium every way. 1. 16. p. 1073. These are nearly the dimensions of some of the principal pyramids in Egypt.,

called, he says, from the confusion of tongues, and variation of dialect: for, in the Hebrew language, such confusion is termed Babel. The Scriptures speak only of a confusion of tongue : but Abydenus mentions high winds, which impeded the work, and finally overthrew the tower. The like is mentioned in the Sibylline oracles, together with the confusion of tongues which circumstance most of these writers, from not being well versed in the original history, have supposed to have been 9 general. And similar to the history of Abydenus, an account is here given of a war, which broke out soon after.

89

Some traces of those fearful events, with which the dispersion is said to have been attended, seem to have been preserved in the records of Phenicia. Syria, and the greatest part of the country about Libanus, was, as I have abundantly shewn, possessed by the sons of Chus: and even the city Tyre was under their rule. The people of this city were styled Phenicians, and are said to have been driven from their first place of settlement, which we know to have been in Babylonia, by earthquakes. 9° Tyriorum gens, condita a Phonicibus fuit; qui terræ motu vexati Assyrium

VOL. IV.

89 Theophilus ad Autolyc. 1.2. p. 371.

90 Justin. 1. 18. c.3.

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stagnum primo, mox mari proximum littus incoluerunt.

I have mentioned the remarkable evidence of Eupolemus, who attributes the construction both of Babylon, and the Tower, to people of the giant race. By these are always meant the sons of Ham and Chus: so that it certainly was not a work of general co-operation. Epiphanius also takes notice of Babel, or Babylon; "rns wgwrns woλεως μετα τον κατακλυσμον κτισθείσης Which, he says, was the first city that was built after the flood. Επ' αυτή τη οικοδομη αρχη λοιπον συμβέλιας, αθροισμα, και τυραννίδος, γινεται Νεβρωθ. Νεβρωθ γαρ βασιλευει υιος τε Χες Αιθιοπος. From the very foundation of this city, there commenced an immediate scene of conspiracy, sedition, and tyranny, which was carried on by Nimrod: for royalty was then first assumed by Nimrod, who was the son of Chus, the Ethiop. He is in all histories represented as a giant; and, according to the " Persian accounts, was deified after his death, and called Orion. One of the

91 L. 1. p. 7.

92 Χας-οςις εγεννησε τον Νεβρώδ γιγαντα, του την Βαβυλωνα χτισαν τα, ὃν λεγωσιν οι Πέρσαι αποθεώθεντα, και γενομενον εν αςροις τε Ουρανό, όντινα λεγεσιν ΩΡΙΩΝΑ. Chron. Pasch. p. 36. Εν δε τοις προει ρημένοις χρόνοις γεγονε τις γιγας, τένομα Νεβρώδ, υιος Χως το Αιθίοπος. Johan. Malala. p. 18.

asterisms in the celestial sphere was denominated from him. The Scripture speaks of him as a mighty hunter: and Homer, in reference to these histories, introduces him as a giant, and a hunter in the shades below.

93 Τον δε μετ' Ωρίωνα πελώριον εισενόησα
Θήρας ὁμε ειλεῦντα κατ' ασφοδέλον λειμώνα,
Τες αυτος κατέπεφνεν εν οιοπολοισιν ορεσσι,
Χερσιν ἔχων ροπαλον παγχάλκεον, αιεν ααγές.

Next I beheld Orion's tow'ring shade, Chasing the savage race; which wild with fear

Before him fled in herds. These he had : slain

Upon the cliffs, and solitary hills.

His arms, a club of brass, massy and strong
Such as no force could injure.

The author of the Paschal Chronicle mentions all his attributes, in speaking of him: “ Νεβρώδ ὁ κυνηγος, και Γιγας, ὁ Αιθίοψ.-Τετῳ τῳ Νεβρώδ την βασι λειαν Βαβυλωνος μετα τον κατακλυσμον ή θεια γραφη ανα

93 Homer. Odyss. 'l. A. v. 571.

94 Chron. Pasch. p. 28.

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