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to that Ethiopic war which Moses； as general of the Egyptians；
put an end to； Antiq。 B。 II。 ch。 10。； and about which our late
writers seem very much unconcerned； viz。 that it was a war of
that consequence； as to occasion the removal or destruction of
six or seven nations of the posterity of Mitzraim； with their
cities； which Josephus would not have said； if he had not had
ancient records to justify those his assertions； though those
records be now all lost。
（18） That the Jews were called Hebrews from this their progenitor
Heber； our author Josephus here rightly affirms； and not from
Abram the Hebrew； or passenger over Euphrates； as many of the
moderns suppose。 Shem is also called the father of all the
children of Heber； or of all the Hebrews； in a history long
before Abram passed over Euphrates； Genesis 10：21； though it must
be confessed that； Genesis 14：13； where the original says they
told Abram the Hebrew； the Septuagint renders it the passenger；
（GREEK）： but this is spoken only of Abram himself； who had then
lately passed over Euphrates； and is another signification of the
Hebrew word； taken as an appellative； and not as a proper name。
（19） It is worth noting here； that God required no other
sacrifices under the law of Moses； than what were taken from
these five kinds of animals which he here required of Abram。 Nor
did the Jews feed upon any other domestic animals than the three
here named； as Reland observes on Antiq。 B。 IV。 ch。 4。 sect。 4。
（20） As to this affliction of Abram's posterity for 400 years；
see Antiq。 B。 II。 ch。 9。 sect。 1。
（21） These sons…in…law to Lot； as they are called； Genesis
19：12…14； might be so styled； because they were betrothed to
Lot's daughters； though not yet married to them。 See the note on
Antiq。 B。 XIV。 ch。 13。 sect。 1。
（22） Of the War； B。 IV。 ch。 8。 sect。 4。
（23） This pillar of salt was； we see here； standing in the days
of Josephus； and he had seen it。 That it was standing then is
also attested by Clement of Rome； contemporary with Josephus； as
also that it was so in the next century； is attested by Irenaeus；
with the addition of an hypothesis； how it came to last so long；
with all its members entire。 … Whether the account that some
modern travelers give be true； that it is still standing； I do
not know。 Its remote situation； at the most southern point of the
Sea of Sodom； in the wild and dangerous deserts of Arabia； makes
it exceeding difficult for inquisitive travelers to examine the
place； and for common reports of country people； at a distance；
they are not very satisfactory。 In the mean time； I have no
opinion of Le Clerc's dissertation or hypothesis about this
question； which can only be determined by eye…witnesses。 When
Christian princes； so called； lay aside their foolish and
unchristian wars and quarrels； and send a body of fit persons to
travel over the east； and bring us faithful accounts of all
ancient monuments； and procure us copies of all ancient records；
at present lost among us； we may hope for full satisfaction in
such inquiries； but hardly before。
（24） I see no proper wicked intention in these daughters of Lot；
when in a case which appeared to them of unavoidable necessity；
they procured themselves to be with child by their father。
Without such an unavoidable necessity； incest is a horrid crime；
but whether in such a case of necessity； as they apprehended this
to be； according to Josephus； it was any such crime； I am not
satisfied。 In the mean time； their making their father drunk； and
their solicitous concealment of what they did from him； shows
that they despaired of persuading him to an action which； at the
best； could not but be very suspicious and shocking to so good a
man。
（25） It is well worth observation； that Josephus here calls that
principal Angel； who appeared to Abraham and foretold the birth
of Isaac； directly God； which language of Josephus here； prepares
us to believe those other expressions of his； that Jesus was a
wise man； if it be lawful to call him a man； Antiq。 B。 XVIII。 ch。
3。 sect。 3； and of God the Word； in his homily concerning Hades；
may be both genuine。 Nor is the other expression of Divine Angel；
used presently； and before； also of any other signification。
（26） Josephus here calls Ismael a young child or infant； though
he was about 13 years of age； as Judas calls himself and his
brethren young men； when he was 47； and had two children； Antiq。
B。 II。 ch。 6。 sect。 8； and they were of much the same age； as is
a damsel of 12 years old called a little child； Mark 5：39…42；
five several times。 Herod is also said by Josephus to be a very
young man at 25。 See the note on Antiq。 B。 XIV。 ch。 9。 sect 2；
and of the War； B。 I。 ch。 10。 And Aristobulus is styled a very
little child at 16 years of age； Antiq。 B。 XV。 ch。 2。 sect。 6； 7。
Domitian also is called by him a very young child； when he went
on his German expedition at about 18 years of age； of the War； B。
VII。 ch。 4。 sect。 2。 Samson's wife； and Ruth； when they were
widows； are called children； Antiq。 B。 V。 ch。 8。 sect。 6； and ch。
9。 sect。 2 3。
（27） Note； that both here and Hebrews 11：17； Isaac is called
Abraham's only begotten son； though he at the same time had
another son； Ismael。 The Septuagint expresses the true meaning；
by rendering the text the beloved son。
（28） Here is a plain error in the copies which say that king
David afterwards built the temple on this Mount Moriah； while it
was certainly no other than king Solomon who built that temple；
as indeed Procopius cites it from Josephus。 For it was for
certain David； and not Solomon； who built the first altar there；
as we learn； 2 Samuel 24：18； etc。； 1 Chronicles 21：22； etc。； and
Antiq。 B。 VII。 ch。 13。 sect。 4。
（29） It seems both here； and in God's parallel blessing to Jacob；
ch。 19。 sect。 1； that Josephus had yet no notion of the hidden
meaning of that most important and most eminent promise； 〃In thy
seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed。 He saith
not； and of seeds； as of many； but as of one； and to thy seed；
which is Christ；〃 Galatians 3：16。 Nor is it any wonder； he being；
I think； as yet not a Christian。 And had he been a Christian； yet
since he was； to be sure； till the latter part of his life； no
more than an Ebionite Christian； who； above all the apostles；
rejected and despised St。 Paul； it would be no great wonder if he
did not now follow his interpretation。 In the mean time； we have
in effect St。 Paul's exposition in the Testament of Reuben； sect。
6； in Authent。 Rec。 Part I。 p。 302； who charges his sons 〃to
worship the seed of Judah； who should die for them in visible and
invisible wars； and should be among them an eternal king。〃 Nor is
that observation of a learned foreigner of my acquaintance to be
despised； who takes notice； that as seeds in the plural； must
signify posterity； so seed in the singular may signify either
posterity； or a single person； and that in this promise of all
nations being happy in the seed of Abraham； or Isaac； or Jacob；
etc。 it is always used in the singular。 To which I shall add；
that it is sometimes； as it were； paraphrased by the son of
Abraham； the son of David；