Antiquities Book 1, Chapter 3
Concerning The Flood; And After What Manner Noah Was Saved In An Ark, With His Kindred, And Afterwards Dwelt In The Plain Of Shinar.
1. Now this posterity of Seth continued to esteem God as the Lord of the
universe, and to have an entire regard to virtue, for seven generations;
but in process of time they were perverted, and forsook the practices of
their forefathers; and did neither pay those honors to God which were
appointed them, nor had they any concern to do justice towards men. But
for what degree of zeal they had formerly shown for virtue, they now
showed by their actions a double degree of wickedness, whereby they made
God to be their enemy. For many angels11 of God accompanied with women,
and begat sons that proved unjust, and despisers of all that was good,
on account of the confidence they had in their own strength; for the
tradition is, that these men did what resembled the acts of those whom
the Grecians call giants. But Noah was very uneasy at what they did; and
being displeased at their conduct, persuaded them to change their
dispositions and their acts for the better: but seeing they did not
yield to him, but were slaves to their wicked pleasures, he was afraid
they would kill him, together with his wife and children, and those they
had married; so he departed out of that land.
2. Now God loved this man for his righteousness: yet he not only
condemned those other men for their wickedness, but determined to
destroy the whole race of mankind, and to make another race that should
be pure from wickedness; and cutting short their lives, and making their
years not so many as they formerly lived, but one hundred and twenty
only,12 he turned the dry land into sea; and thus were all these men
destroyed: but Noah alone was saved; for God suggested to him the
following contrivance and way of escape:—That he should make an ark of
four stories high, three hundred cubits13 long, fifty cubits broad, and
thirty cubits high. Accordingly he entered into that ark, and his wife,
and sons, and their wives, and put into it not only other provisions, to
support their wants there, but also sent in with the rest all sorts of
living creatures, the male and his female, for the preservation of their
kinds; and others of them by sevens. Now this ark had firm walls, and a
roof, and was braced with cross beams, so that it could not be any way
drowned or overborne by the violence of the water. And thus was Noah,
with his family, preserved. Now he was the tenth from Adam, as being the
son of Lamech, whose father was Mathusela; he was the son of Enoch, the
son of Jared; and Jared was the son of Malaleel, who, with many of his
sisters, were the children of Cainan, the son of Enos. Now Enos was the
son of Seth, the son of Adam.
3. This calamity happened in the six hundredth year of Noah's
government, [age,] in the second month, 14 called by the Macedonians
Dius, but by the Hebrews Marchesuan: for so did they order their year in
Egypt. But Moses appointed that ú Nisan, which is the same with
Xanthicus, should be the first month for their festivals, because he
brought them out of Egypt in that month: so that this month began the
year as to all the solemnities they observed to the honor of God,
although he preserved the original order of the months as to selling and
buying, and other ordinary affairs. Now he says that this flood began on
the twenty-seventh [seventeenth] day of the forementioned month; and
this was two thousand six hundred and fifty-six [one thousand six
hundred and fifty-six] years from Adam, the first man; and the time is
written down in our sacred books, those who then lived having noted
down,[15] with great accuracy, both the births and deaths of illustrious
men.
4. For indeed Seth was born when Adam was in his two hundred and
thirtieth year, who lived nine hundred and thirty years. Seth begat Enos
in his two hundred and fifth year; who, when he had lived nine hundred
and twelve years, delivered the government to Cainan his son, whom he
had in his hundred and ninetieth year. He lived nine hundred and five
years. Cainan, when he had lived nine hundred and ten years, had his son
Malaleel, who was born in his hundred and seventieth year. This
Malaleel, having lived eight hundred and ninety-five years, died,
leaving his son Jared, whom he begat when he was in his hundred and
sixty-fifth year. He lived nine hundred and sixty-two years; and then
his son Enoch succeeded him, who was born when his father was one
hundred and sixty-two years old. Now he, when he had lived three hundred
and sixty-five years, departed 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.15
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 mention of this
flood, and of this ark; among whom is Berosus the Chaldean. For when he
is describing the circumstances of the flood, he goes on thus: "It is
said there is still some part of this ship in Armenia, at the mountain
of the Cordyaeans; and that some people carry off pieces of the bitumen,
which they take away, and use chiefly as amulets for the averting of
mischiefs." Hieronymus the Egyptian also, who wrote the Phoenician
Antiquities, and Mnaseas, and a great many more, make mention of the
same. Nay, Nicolaus of Damascus, in his ninety-sixth book, hath a
particular relation about them; where he speaks thus: "There is a great
mountain in Armenia, over Minyas, called Baris, upon which it is
reported that many who fled at the time of the Deluge were saved; and
that one who was carried in an ark came on shore upon the top of it; and
that the remains of the timber were a great while preserved. This might
be the man about whom Moses the legislator of the Jews wrote."
7. But as for Noah, he was afraid, since God had determined to destroy
mankind, lest he should drown the earth every year; so he offered burnt-
offerings, and besought God that nature might hereafter go on in its
former orderly course, and that he would not bring on so great a
judgment any more, by which the whole race of creatures might be in
danger of destruction: but that, having now punished the wicked, he
would of his goodness spare the remainder, and such as he had hitherto
judged fit to be delivered from so severe a calamity; for that otherwise
these last must be more miserable than the first, and that they must be
condemned to a worse condition than the others, unless they be suffered
to escape entirely; that is, if they be reserved for another deluge;
while they must be afflicted with the terror and sight of the first
deluge, and must also be destroyed by a second. He also entreated God to
accept of his sacrifice, and to grant that the earth might never again
undergo the like effects of 'his wrath; that men might be permitted to
go on cheerfully in cultivating the same; to build cities, and live
happily in them; and that they might not be deprived of any of those
good things which they enjoyed before the Flood; but might attain to the
like length of days, and old age, which the ancient people had arrived
at before.
8. When Noah had made these supplications, God, who loved the man for
his righteousness, granted entire success to his prayers, and said, that
it was not he who brought the destruction on a polluted world, but that
they underwent that vengeance on account of their own wickedness; and
that he had not brought men into the world if he had himself determined
to destroy them, it being an instance of greater wisdom not to have
granted them life at all, than, after it was granted, to procure their
destruction; "But the injuries," said he, "they offered to my holiness
and virtue, forced me to bring this punishment upon them. But I will
leave off for the time to come to require such punishments, the effects
of so great wrath, for their future wicked actions, and especially on
account of thy prayers. But if I shall at any time send tempests of
rain, in an extraordinary manner, be not affrighted at the largeness of
the showers; for the water shall no more overspread the earth. However,
I require you to abstain from shedding the blood of men, and to keep
yourselves pure from murder; and to punish those that commit any such
thing. I permit you to make use of all the other living creatures at
your pleasure, and as your appetites lead you; for I have made you lords
of them all, both of those that walk on the land, and those that swim in
the waters, and of those that fly in the regions of the air on high,
excepting their blood, for therein is the life. But I will give you a
sign that I have left off my anger by my bow." [whereby is meant the
rainbow, for they determined that the rainbow was the bow of God]. And
when God had said and promised thus, he went away.
9. Now when Noah had lived three hundred and fifty years after the
Flood, and that all that time happily, he died, having lived the number
of nine hundred and fifty years. But let no one, upon comparing the
lives of the ancients with our lives, and with the few years which we
now live, think that what we have said of them is false; or make the
shortness of our lives at present an argument, that neither did they
attain to so long a duration of life, for those ancients were beloved of
God, and [lately] made by God himself; and because their food was then
fitter for the prolongation of life, might well live so great a number
of years: and besides, God afforded them a longer time of life on
account of their virtue, and the good use they made of it in
astronomical and geometrical discoveries, which would not have afforded
the time of foretelling [the periods of the stars] unless they had lived
six hundred years; for the great year is completed in that interval. Now
I have for witnesses to what I have said, all those that have written
Antiquities, both among the Greeks and barbarians; for even Manetho, who
wrote the Egyptian History, and Berosus, who collected the Chaldean
Monuments, and Mochus, and Hestieus, and, besides these, Hieronymus the
Egyptian, and those who composed the Phoenician History, agree to what I
here say: Hesiod also, and Hecatseus, Hellanicus, and Acusilaus; and,
besides these, Ephorus and Nicolaus relate that the ancients lived a
thousand years. But as to these matters, let every one look upon them as
he thinks fit.
universe, and to have an entire regard to virtue, for seven generations;
but in process of time they were perverted, and forsook the practices of
their forefathers; and did neither pay those honors to God which were
appointed them, nor had they any concern to do justice towards men. But
for what degree of zeal they had formerly shown for virtue, they now
showed by their actions a double degree of wickedness, whereby they made
God to be their enemy. For many angels11 of God accompanied with women,
and begat sons that proved unjust, and despisers of all that was good,
on account of the confidence they had in their own strength; for the
tradition is, that these men did what resembled the acts of those whom
the Grecians call giants. But Noah was very uneasy at what they did; and
being displeased at their conduct, persuaded them to change their
dispositions and their acts for the better: but seeing they did not
yield to him, but were slaves to their wicked pleasures, he was afraid
they would kill him, together with his wife and children, and those they
had married; so he departed out of that land.
2. Now God loved this man for his righteousness: yet he not only
condemned those other men for their wickedness, but determined to
destroy the whole race of mankind, and to make another race that should
be pure from wickedness; and cutting short their lives, and making their
years not so many as they formerly lived, but one hundred and twenty
only,12 he turned the dry land into sea; and thus were all these men
destroyed: but Noah alone was saved; for God suggested to him the
following contrivance and way of escape:—That he should make an ark of
four stories high, three hundred cubits13 long, fifty cubits broad, and
thirty cubits high. Accordingly he entered into that ark, and his wife,
and sons, and their wives, and put into it not only other provisions, to
support their wants there, but also sent in with the rest all sorts of
living creatures, the male and his female, for the preservation of their
kinds; and others of them by sevens. Now this ark had firm walls, and a
roof, and was braced with cross beams, so that it could not be any way
drowned or overborne by the violence of the water. And thus was Noah,
with his family, preserved. Now he was the tenth from Adam, as being the
son of Lamech, whose father was Mathusela; he was the son of Enoch, the
son of Jared; and Jared was the son of Malaleel, who, with many of his
sisters, were the children of Cainan, the son of Enos. Now Enos was the
son of Seth, the son of Adam.
3. This calamity happened in the six hundredth year of Noah's
government, [age,] in the second month, 14 called by the Macedonians
Dius, but by the Hebrews Marchesuan: for so did they order their year in
Egypt. But Moses appointed that ú Nisan, which is the same with
Xanthicus, should be the first month for their festivals, because he
brought them out of Egypt in that month: so that this month began the
year as to all the solemnities they observed to the honor of God,
although he preserved the original order of the months as to selling and
buying, and other ordinary affairs. Now he says that this flood began on
the twenty-seventh [seventeenth] day of the forementioned month; and
this was two thousand six hundred and fifty-six [one thousand six
hundred and fifty-six] years from Adam, the first man; and the time is
written down in our sacred books, those who then lived having noted
down,[15] with great accuracy, both the births and deaths of illustrious
men.
4. For indeed Seth was born when Adam was in his two hundred and
thirtieth year, who lived nine hundred and thirty years. Seth begat Enos
in his two hundred and fifth year; who, when he had lived nine hundred
and twelve years, delivered the government to Cainan his son, whom he
had in his hundred and ninetieth year. He lived nine hundred and five
years. Cainan, when he had lived nine hundred and ten years, had his son
Malaleel, who was born in his hundred and seventieth year. This
Malaleel, having lived eight hundred and ninety-five years, died,
leaving his son Jared, whom he begat when he was in his hundred and
sixty-fifth year. He lived nine hundred and sixty-two years; and then
his son Enoch succeeded him, who was born when his father was one
hundred and sixty-two years old. Now he, when he had lived three hundred
and sixty-five years, departed 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.15
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 mention of this
flood, and of this ark; among whom is Berosus the Chaldean. For when he
is describing the circumstances of the flood, he goes on thus: "It is
said there is still some part of this ship in Armenia, at the mountain
of the Cordyaeans; and that some people carry off pieces of the bitumen,
which they take away, and use chiefly as amulets for the averting of
mischiefs." Hieronymus the Egyptian also, who wrote the Phoenician
Antiquities, and Mnaseas, and a great many more, make mention of the
same. Nay, Nicolaus of Damascus, in his ninety-sixth book, hath a
particular relation about them; where he speaks thus: "There is a great
mountain in Armenia, over Minyas, called Baris, upon which it is
reported that many who fled at the time of the Deluge were saved; and
that one who was carried in an ark came on shore upon the top of it; and
that the remains of the timber were a great while preserved. This might
be the man about whom Moses the legislator of the Jews wrote."
7. But as for Noah, he was afraid, since God had determined to destroy
mankind, lest he should drown the earth every year; so he offered burnt-
offerings, and besought God that nature might hereafter go on in its
former orderly course, and that he would not bring on so great a
judgment any more, by which the whole race of creatures might be in
danger of destruction: but that, having now punished the wicked, he
would of his goodness spare the remainder, and such as he had hitherto
judged fit to be delivered from so severe a calamity; for that otherwise
these last must be more miserable than the first, and that they must be
condemned to a worse condition than the others, unless they be suffered
to escape entirely; that is, if they be reserved for another deluge;
while they must be afflicted with the terror and sight of the first
deluge, and must also be destroyed by a second. He also entreated God to
accept of his sacrifice, and to grant that the earth might never again
undergo the like effects of 'his wrath; that men might be permitted to
go on cheerfully in cultivating the same; to build cities, and live
happily in them; and that they might not be deprived of any of those
good things which they enjoyed before the Flood; but might attain to the
like length of days, and old age, which the ancient people had arrived
at before.
8. When Noah had made these supplications, God, who loved the man for
his righteousness, granted entire success to his prayers, and said, that
it was not he who brought the destruction on a polluted world, but that
they underwent that vengeance on account of their own wickedness; and
that he had not brought men into the world if he had himself determined
to destroy them, it being an instance of greater wisdom not to have
granted them life at all, than, after it was granted, to procure their
destruction; "But the injuries," said he, "they offered to my holiness
and virtue, forced me to bring this punishment upon them. But I will
leave off for the time to come to require such punishments, the effects
of so great wrath, for their future wicked actions, and especially on
account of thy prayers. But if I shall at any time send tempests of
rain, in an extraordinary manner, be not affrighted at the largeness of
the showers; for the water shall no more overspread the earth. However,
I require you to abstain from shedding the blood of men, and to keep
yourselves pure from murder; and to punish those that commit any such
thing. I permit you to make use of all the other living creatures at
your pleasure, and as your appetites lead you; for I have made you lords
of them all, both of those that walk on the land, and those that swim in
the waters, and of those that fly in the regions of the air on high,
excepting their blood, for therein is the life. But I will give you a
sign that I have left off my anger by my bow." [whereby is meant the
rainbow, for they determined that the rainbow was the bow of God]. And
when God had said and promised thus, he went away.
9. Now when Noah had lived three hundred and fifty years after the
Flood, and that all that time happily, he died, having lived the number
of nine hundred and fifty years. But let no one, upon comparing the
lives of the ancients with our lives, and with the few years which we
now live, think that what we have said of them is false; or make the
shortness of our lives at present an argument, that neither did they
attain to so long a duration of life, for those ancients were beloved of
God, and [lately] made by God himself; and because their food was then
fitter for the prolongation of life, might well live so great a number
of years: and besides, God afforded them a longer time of life on
account of their virtue, and the good use they made of it in
astronomical and geometrical discoveries, which would not have afforded
the time of foretelling [the periods of the stars] unless they had lived
six hundred years; for the great year is completed in that interval. Now
I have for witnesses to what I have said, all those that have written
Antiquities, both among the Greeks and barbarians; for even Manetho, who
wrote the Egyptian History, and Berosus, who collected the Chaldean
Monuments, and Mochus, and Hestieus, and, besides these, Hieronymus the
Egyptian, and those who composed the Phoenician History, agree to what I
here say: Hesiod also, and Hecatseus, Hellanicus, and Acusilaus; and,
besides these, Ephorus and Nicolaus relate that the ancients lived a
thousand years. But as to these matters, let every one look upon them as
he thinks fit.