OF THE

TITANIAN WAR.

THE first war of the Titans consisted in acts of apostasy, and rebellion against Heaven: but there was another war, in which they were engaged with a different enemy, being opposed by men, and at last totally discomfited, after a long and bitter contention. This event will be found to have happened in consequence of the dispersion. It is a piece of history which has been looked upon as so obscure, and the time of it so remote, that many have esteemed it as merely a poetical fable. Yet, from the light already disclosed, and from farther evidence to be obtained, circumstances concern

we may

determine many ing it, both in respect to the people between whom it was waged, and to the time when it was carried on. I have taken notice of two memo

rable occurrences, and have endeavoured properly to distinguish them, though they are considered by most writers as one single event;-I mean the migration of families to their several places of allotment, and the dispersion of the Cuthites afterwards. The first is mentioned as effected in the days of Peleg; the other is introduced by the sacred writer afterwards, and spoken of as a different event. The Titanian war is to be distinguished from both, being of still later date, yet not far removed from the dispersion. It has been shewn, that the sons of Chus were engaged in building a mighty city in the region which they had usurped, and in erecting a lofty tower, to prevent their being scattered abroad. They were, however, dispersed; the tower was deserted, and the city left unfinished. These circumstances seem, in great measure, to be recorded by the Gentile writers. They add, that a war soon after commenced between the Titans and the family of Zeuth, which was the first war that ever happened among the sons of men. Some suppose it to have been carried on against Cronus: μετά δε Κρονῳ τε και Τιτην, συσήναι πολεμον.

* Εντι δ ̓ ὁι λέγεσι της πρώτης εκ γης ανασχοντας, ῥώμη τε και μεγεθεί χαυνωθεντας, και δη Θεών καταφρονήσαντας αμείνονας είναι, Πυργών Τυρσιν ηλίβατον αείρειν, ἵνα νυν Βαβυλων εσιν ηδη τε ασσον

But it matters little under what titles the chief characters are represented, for the history is the same. It was no other than the war mentioned by Moses, which was carried on by four kings of the family of Shein against the sons of Ham and Chus, to avenge themselves of those bitter enemies, by whom they had been greatly aggrieved. The dispersion from Babylonia had weakened the Cuthites very much; and the house of Shem took advantage of their dissipation, and recovered the land of Shinar, which had been unduly usurped by their enemies. Babylon seems to have been under a curse, and not occupied, being destitute both of prince and people; in lieu of which we read of a king of Senaar, or Shinar, who joins the confederates, having lately gotten possession of that province. There is a curious fragment of Hestiæus Milesius, which seems to relate to this part of the Titanic history, and supplies what is omitted in the account given by Moses. The passage is in Josephus; who tells us, from several evidences in antient history, that the tower of Babel was overthrown by whirlwinds, and that a confusion of speech ensued.

είναι το ουρανό, και τις ανέμους Θεοισι βωθέοντας ανατρέψαι περί αυτοισι το μηχανημα.μετα δε Κρονῳ και Τίτην, συνηναι πόλεμοι. Abydenus apud Euseb. Præp. 1. 9. p. 416.

And he adds, that in respect to Senaar, the Shinar of the Scriptures, there was a passage in Hestiæus Milesius, in which it was mentioned; and he subjoins the passage. * Των δε Ἱερέων της διασωθέντας, τα τε Ενυαλια Διος ἱερωματα λαβοντας, εις Σενααρ της Βαβυλωνιας ελθειν. Σκιδνανται δε το λοιπον εντευθεν, ὑπο της ομογλωσσίας τας συνοικίας ποιησαμενοι πανταχε, και την έκαςοι κατελαμβανον την εντυχεσαν. Some have imagined that this history related to the people saved at the deluge; τες διασωθεντας απο το κατακλυσμό. But this is impossible; for we cannot suppose that the rites of Jupiter Enualius were preserved by Noah, or that the priests of this Deity were in the Ark. Josephus moreover introduces this passage as if Hestiæus had been speaking weg το πεδίο λεγομενο Σενααρ, about the country called Senaar. But this too is certainly a mistake, as may be seen from the words of the author. He is not treating about Babylon in the land of Senaar, but of Senaar in the land of Babylonia;

* Οι δε Θεοι ανέμους επιπέμψαντες ανέτρεψαν τον Πύργον, και ιδια ἑκατῳ φωνην εδωκαν και δια τετο Βαβυλωνα συνεβη κληθηναι την πολιν. Περι δε το πεδίο το λεγομένε Σεναας εν τη Βαβυλωνια χώρα μνημονευεί Εσιαιος λέγων έτως· Των δε Ιερεων τες διασωθέντας τα τε Ενυαλιο Διος ιερώματα λαβοντας εις Σεναας της Βαβυλωνίας ελθειν. Σκιδνανται δε το λοιπον εντευθεν ύπο της ὁμογλωσσίας τας συνοικίας ποιησάμενοι πανταχε, και γην έκατοι κατελαμβανον την ευτυχεσαν. Joseph. Αnt. 1. 1. c. 4. Euseb. Præp. Evang. 1. 9. p. 416. Euseb. Chron. p. 13.