The Peoples of Canaan and the Lineage of Eber

The Hittites settled in Samaria, the Jebusites in Jebus, and the Amorites in Bethel; the Girgashites inhabited the regions beyond the Jordan up to Philadelphia, and the Euaimites in Euaim. The Kinaites inhabited the area around Lebanon and Amaron, while the Enakims, giants, inhabited Hebron; around Hebron, the Hittites and the Perizzites, in a mixture with the Canaanites, held Palestine. The Raphiites held Philadelphia; again, the Girgashites held Gadara and the city of Gerisa, and they possessed Tiberias by the lake, and the Jebusites held the present Jerusalem.

Five sons of Shem were born, who inhabited Asia up to the Ocean, having made their beginning from the Euphrates. These are: Ailam, from whom the Ailamites, the present Persians, are named; Assur, from whom the Assyrians; Arphaxad, from whom the Arphaxadites, the present Chaldeans; and Aram, from whom the Arameans, the present Syrians. These held territory from Mesopotamia even unto the mountains of Ararat, which is toward Armenia. Also Lude, from whom the Lydians, the present Lydians, are named; and Cainan, from whom the Canaanites.

Four sons were born to Aram: Uz, who built Damascus and Trachonitis, which is in the middle of Palestine and hollow Syria; Ol, from whom the Lazonites; Gather, from whom the Staphenoi; and Mesoch, from whom the Massenians. The sons of Arphaxad were: Cainan, from whom the Songodians, and from him also astronomy and omens were conceived. A son was born to Cainan, Sala, from whom the Susians. The son of Sala was Eber, from whom the Hebrews are named, who possessed the ancient Hebrew dialect, because Eber did not come along during the building of the Tower, and his language was altered.

The sons of Eber were Phalleg, from whom the Adabinites, and Jectan, from whom the Edramites. Phalleg was so called because, according to the apostle of the colonies, he was produced as a division; for the Hebrews say 'Phalleg' is a division, as through him they were divided.

And the calculated duration of the years of the world's stay is divided into two equal parts. For three thousand years were completed upon the existence of its world's generation. For we estimate that the creation shall remain until the sixth millennium, since even in six days God set in order the completion of all this. I think that the days are to be counted as millennia; for as it is said, one day of the Lord is as a thousand years (Psalm 90:4). Thus, from Adam until the end of Phaleck, three thousand years pass. But until the presence and resurrection of the Lord, there are five thousand five hundred thirty-one years, as four hundred fifty-nine years are lacking of the sixth millennium.

The Sabbath is the sign of the world's completion; and it is fitting that the Lord, having visited the world at the end of the days on a Friday, which is the sixth day, and the hour of this day was as if it were the sixth, when he was crucified, the Word signifying by this the half of the sixth millennium; and for this reason he did not say specifically the sixth hour, the Word blowing forth that he exceeds the number by a little more. From Christ until the thirtieth year of Constantine, 760 years have passed. Just as Jonah, having spent three days and three nights in the belly of the whale (Jonah 1:17), was given back healthy, so also we all, having made the three intervals of the age in the earth, shall be raised.

For there are three universal intervals of time: the present, the past, and the future, of which our Savior made symbols, making three days and three nights in the earth, teaching clearly that, of the aforementioned completed intervals of time, our resurrection shall be, being the beginning of the coming age. And to Jecat, sons were born: Salmodad, from whom the Indians; Saleph, from whom the Bactrians; Asarmoth, from whom the Arabs; Jarach, from whom the Carmanians; Odorra, from whom the Mardians; Jezeel, from whom the Arians; Dekla, from whom the Cedreans; Gebal, from whom the Scythians; Abimelech, from whom [...]