Lud, Lydia; and Aram that part of Syria which extends itself to the Mediterranean seas. Aram had four sons, namely, Uz, who seated himself in the country called Damascus; Hul took possession of Armenia; Mash, of the mountain Masius; Gether, of a part of Mesopotamia. Arphaxad was the father of Salah, whose son Eber gave name to the Hebrew nation. Joctan, the first-born of Eber, had thirteen children, all of whom settled themselves in that part of the world which is situated between Syria and the river Cophene in Judea. The youngest son of Eber was Peleg, who, as we have before observed, was so called because, at the time of his birth, the dispersion of the people took place. The descendants of HAM (the youngest son of Noah) were four sons, namely, Cush, who took up his residence in that part of Armenia lying towards Egypt; Mizraim, in both Upper and Lower Egypt; Phutt, in part of Lybia; and Canaan, in that part of the country which was afterward called by his name. Cush, the eldest son of Ham, had several children, namely, Seba, who settled on the southwest of Arabia; Havilah fixed himself in that part of the country situated on the river Pison, where it leaves the Euphrates, and runs into the Arabian Gulf; Saptah took up his residence on the same shore, a little to the north of his brother Havilah; Raamah and Sabtecha, together with the two sons of the former (namely, Sheba and Dedan), settled themselves on the same coast, farther to the east; and Nimrod, the last son of Cush, was founder of the Babylonish empire. Besides the three sons of Mizraim (who, after the death of their father, divided his territory into three parts), he had three others, namely, Ludim and Lehabim, who peopled Lybia; and Caslubim, who seated himself at Castisots, near the entrance of Egypt from Palestine. Caslubim had two sons, namely, Philistim and Caphthorim, the former of whom established the country of the Philistines, between the borders of Canaan and the Mediterranean sea; and the latter, after his father's death, took possession of his territories. The sons of Canaan were, Sidon, the founder of the Sidonians, who lived in Phonicia; Heth, the founder of the Hittites, who lived near Hebron; Emor, the founder of the Amorites, who lived in the mountains of Judea; and Arva, the founder of the Arvadites, who resided near Sidon. But whether the other sons of Canaan settled in this country or not, can not be ascertained with any certainty; only this we know, that they must have taken up their residence somewhere between Sidon and Gerar, and Admah and Zoboim; those places being the boundaries of the land they possessed. Thus we find that, in the first dispersion of the people over the world, the descendants of Japheth not only possessed all Europe, but also a considerable portion of Asia. The posterity of Shem had in their possession part of the Greater and Lesser Asia, and probably all the countries to the east, as far as China. The descendants of Ham possessed all Africa, with a great part of Asia. which dwelt carelessly" should "become a desolation, dry like a wilderness, a place for beasts to lie down in." Zephaniah ii. 13, 15. There are appearances of mounds and ruins extending for several miles to the southward, the space between which is a level plain, over every part of the face of which broken pottery and the other usual remains of ruined cities are seen scattered about. *After the death of Mizraim (who was king of Egypt), the country he possessed was, by three of his sons, divided into as many kingdoms, viz: Ananim was king of Tanis, or lower Egypt, called afterward Delta; Napthulim, of Naph, or Memphis, in Upper Egypt; and Pathrusim founded the kingdom of Pathros, or Thebes in Thebais. The Arvadites are said by Josephus to have occupied and given their name to the small island of Aradus, called Arvad and Arphad in the Scriptures (2 Kings xix. 13; Ezekiel xxvii. 8); and the inhabitants of which are by Ezekiel mentioned along with the Sidonians, as taking an active part in the maritime commerce of Tyre. This island, which is about one league from the shore, and not above a mile in circumference, ultimately became the port and chief town of this enterprising and prosperous section of the Phoenician people; and there was a time when even Romans regarded with admiration its lofty houses, built with more stories than those of Rome, and its cisterns hewn in the rock. All this, except the cisterns and some fragments of wall, has passed away; but Arvad is still the seat of a town, and, being a mart of transit, its inhabitants are still engaged in commerce. Though the island was the favorite seat of the people, as their wealth and peace were there safe from the wars and troubles of the continent, and their shipping needed not to hazard the dangers of the coast, they were by no means without possessions on the main land; for their dominion along the shore extended from Tortosa (also Tartous, anciently Antaradus] which lay opposite their island, northward to Jebilee. They were, therefore, the most northerly of the Phænician people. See Joseph. Antiq. i. 6, 2; Strabo, Geog. v. 15; Pococke, ii. 27; Volney, ii. 148. Buckingham's Arab Tribes, 523. But before we quit the genealogy of Noah's descendants, it will be necessary to mention some further particulars relative to the posterity of his second son Shem, from whom the Hebrews took their rise, and who will be found the principal objects of the succeeding history. About two years after the flood, at which time Shem was one hundred years old, he had a son named Arphaxad; after which time he lived five hundred years; so that the whole of his life was exactly six hundred years. Arphaxad, when thirty-five, had a son named Salah; after which he lived four hundred and three years; in all four hundred and thirty-eight. Salah, when thirty, had a son named Eber (from whom his descendants were called Hebrews), after which he lived four hundred and three years; in all four hundred and thirty-three. Eber, when thirty-four, had a son named Peleg, in whose time the earth came to be divided; after which he lived four hundred and thirty years; in all four hundred and sixty-four. Peleg, when thirty, had a son named Reu, after which he lived two hundred and nine years; in all two hundred and thirty-nine. Reu, when thirty-two, had a son named Serug; after which he lived two hundred and seven years; in all two hundred and thirty-nine. Serug, when thirty, had a son named Nahor; after which he lived two hundred years; in all two hundred and thirty. Nahor, when twenty-nine, had a son named Terah; after which he lived one hundred and nineteen years; in all one hundred and forty-eight. Terah was the father of the first great patriarch after Noah, namely, Abraham. He had likewise two other sons, the one called Nahor, and the other Haran. The last of these, who was the eldest of the three, died before his father, at Ur,* in Chaldea, the place of his nativity. He left behind him a son named Lot, and two daughters, the elder of whom, called Milchah, was espoused to her uncle Nahor, and the younger, named Sarai, was married to her uncle Abram. A universal depravity of human nature now displayed itself in all parts of the world, but more particularly in the city of Ur, where the practice of idolatry was carried to its utmost height. In consequence of this, Terah resolved to leave his abode, that he might no longer be an eye-witness of the iniquity of the people. Having formed this resolution, he quitted Ur, and taking with him his son Abram and his wife, together with his grandson Lot, set out with an intent of visiting the land of Canaan. In his journey he stopped at a place called Haran (or Charran), a eity of Mesopotamia, where, being seized with a violent illness, he was compelled to make it the place of his residence. The violence of the disorder prevailing over the power of medicine, nature at length gave way, and Terah died at Haran, in the two hundred and fifth year of his age. CHAPTER IV. Ar the close of the preceding chapter, we observed that Terah, the father of Abram, left his native place, in order to go into the land of Canaan. It is here to be observed, that his conduct in this respect certainly arose from divine direction, *UR OF THE CHALDEES.-The birthplace of Abraham has been generally regarded as a town; but such orientalists as have of late years had occasion to express an opinion on the subject, have been rather disposed to regard it as the name of a district. As such, there is little reason to question that it is that which the sacred text indicates, as it comprehends both the towns in which the names mentioned in this part of the history have been sought. Of these, one is the town called by the Syrians Urhoi, and by the Arabians Orfah, or Urfah, which the Moslems firmly believe to be the Ur of the text; and the Jews and Christians of the country acquiesce in this conclusion. This town is situated at the foot of the mountains of Osroene, at the head of the great plain which was formerly so called, and is still a place of some consideration. Cartwright says: "The air of this city is very healthful, and the country fruitful. It is built nearly four-square, the west side standing on the side of a rocky mountain, and the east part trendeth into a spacious valley, replenished with vineyards, orchards, and gardens. The walls are very strong, furnished with great store of artillery, and contain in circuit three English miles; and for the gallantness of its sight it was once reckoned the metropolitical seat of Mesopotamia." This traveller, as well as one who preceded him, Rauwolff heedless of the analogy of name, regards Urfah rather as representing Haran than Ur. the Almighty having thought proper to select this family out of the rest of mankind, by making Abram "Father of the faithful," or worshippers of the true God. It is evident that God had revealed himself to Abram, previous to his removal from Ur, as appears from the account of the inspired penman: "The Lord had said unto Abram,"* &c., Gen. xii. 1. He had commanded him to leave the country in which he resided, and to travel into another he should point out to him. He likewise promised to make him father of a mighty people, and in him to bless all the families on the earth. Abram, fully persuaded, in his own mind, of the truth of the divine promise (though he knew not the difficulties that might attend his removal, nor even the country in which he was to settle), immediately after the decease of his father, prepared himself to go to the land which God should appoint, and, by a strict attention to the divine commands, prove at once his faith and obedience. Accordingly, taking with him his nephew Lot, his wife Sarai, and the rest of his family, together with all his effects, he set out on his journey, which he prosecuted with all convenient expedition, till he came (by the divine guidance) into the land of Canaan. Desirous of making some survey of the country, he stopped in the plaint of Moreh, not far from the city of Sichem, then inhabited by the Canaanites. Here he erected an altar, in order to pay his devotions to God, who was so well pleased with his conduct, that he gave him fresh assurances of his favor and protection, and that, in process of time, the whole land in which he then dwelt should be possessed by his descendants. After staying some time in the plains of Moreh, Abram removed with his family into the more mountainous part of the country, situated between Bethel and Hai. Here he likewise erected an altar, that he might not be deficient in the discharge of that duty which he was conscious of owing to his great and omnipotent benefactor. From Bethel he proceeded farther to the south; but was interrupted in his progress by a dreadful famine, which raged with great violence throughout the whole country. In consequence of this, he formed the resolution of going to Egypt, that being the only place where relief could be obtained under such calamities. Being apprized of the natural libertinism of the Egyptians, Abram was exceeding anxious concerning his wife Sarai, fearing lest her extraordinary beauty might provoke their lascivious attention. Though she was at this time in the sixty-sixth year of her age,¶ yet she still retained those personal charms which, in that country, * In what manner God revealed himself to Abram, the sacred historian has not told us. It was probably by a voice from the Shechinah, or symbol of the Divine presence; for St. Stephen expressly says: "The God of Glory appeared unto him before he dwelt in Charran." Acts vii. 2. Canaan was + This country fell to the lot of Canaan, the son of Ham, to which he gave his own name. about 200 miles long, and nearly 80 broad, lying along the eastern border of the Mediterranean sea. David and Solomon governed several provinces beyond the limits of Canaan, which enlarged their kingdom, 1 Kings, iv. 21-24. Canaan was bounded on the north by the mountains of Lebanon in Syria, on the east by Arabia Deserta, on the south by the wilderness of Arabia Petrea and Idumea, and on the west by the land of the Philistines and the Mediterranean sea. Besides the name of its first possessor, Canaan has been variously denominated as the Land of the Hebrews, Genesis xl. 15; Palestine, Exodus xv. 14; the Land of Promise, Hebrews xi. 9; the Land of Israel, Judah, Judea, the Holy Land, Zechariah ií. 12. Canaan has been the theatre of the most extraordinary transactions which have ever taken place under the Divine government upon earth. This is the country where the chief patriarchs walked with God-where the theocracy of Israel was established-where the prophets received most of their divine inspirations-where the temple of Jehovah was erected under his special direction-where the incarnate Son of God accomplished the work of human redemption-and where the apostles were miraculously endowed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to fulfil their commission as ambassadors for Christ to invite sinners of all nations into the kingdom of Messiah for the blessings of pardon, purity, and immortality, in the eternal glory of God. Canaan, in the times of David and Solomon, contained a population of about 5,000,000; but now it has only about 1,500,000 inhabitants. Since the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, it has been the scene of strange revolutions, especially during the crusades, profanely called holy wars: it now forms two wretched provinces, ACRE and DAMASCUS, under the miserable government of pachas, subject or tributary to the sultan of Turkey. The population consists of Turks, Syrians, Bedouin Arabs, Copts, Druses of Lebanon, Roman, Armenian, and Greek Christians, and Jews. * The Septuagint and most other versions call it the Oak of Moreh, from a large oak that grew on it; but our translation renders it plain. This city, after the ruin of Samaria by Salmanesar, was the capital of the Samaritans; and Josephus says it was still so in the time of Alexander the Great. It was situated ten miles from Shiloh, forty from Jerusalem, and fifty-two from Jericho. ♦ It appears from this circumstance, that Egypt had been soon formed into a kingdom after mankind were dispersed by the confusion of languages. Its first name was Mizraim, which signifies straightness; it being closed on the north by the Mediterranean sea, on the west and south by mountains, and on the east by the Red sea, or Indian gulf. Nicolaus Damascus, a heathen author, says, that Abram went out of Chaldea into Canaan, now called Judea, but, in consequence of a great famine raging there, he removed to Egypt, in which were abundance of all kinds of provisions. It may appear somewhat strange that Sarai should have such personal charms at so advanced an age: but it must be remembered that as in those days they were longer lived than at present, so their charms were proportionably durable. |