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.

CHAPTER 4.

Concerning The Tower Of Babylon, And The Confusion Of Tongues.

1. Now the sons of Noah were three, - Shem, Japhet, and Ham, born
one hundred years before the Deluge. These first of all descended
from the mountains into the plains, and fixed their habitation
there; and persuaded others who were greatly afraid of the lower
grounds on account of the flood, and so were very loath to come
down from the higher places, to venture to follow their examples.
Now the plain in which they first dwelt was called Shinar. God
also commanded them to send colonies abroad, for the thorough
peopling of the earth, that they might not raise seditions among
themselves, but might cultivate a great part of the earth, and
enjoy its fruits after a plentiful manner. But they were so ill
instructed that they did not obey God; for which reason they fell
into calamities, and were made sensible, by experience, of what
sin they had been guilty: for when they flourished with a