The famous and memorable works of Josephus ... / Faithfully translated out of the Latin, and French, by Thomas Lodge, Doctor in Physick.

Josephus

Date:: [1640]

Credit: The famous and memorable works of Josephus ... / Faithfully translated out of the Latin, and French, by Thomas Lodge, Doctor in Physick. Source: Wellcome Collection.

35/866 page 19

$Cuar. XV. The death of S ARA ABRAHAMS wife. Gen. 23. per totune, Otlong timeafter this, Sara died after fhe had lived one hundred twenty and feven IN and was buried in Hebron: {for the Chananeans freely offered them fiee buriall)yet Abraham chofe rather to buy a place to bury in, of E phrema certain ci. CHar. XVI. | ie A How the nation of the Trogledytes came of C WE Tur À the wife of ABRAHAM, NME) ter this, 4/rabam married Chetura,by whom he had fix children, ftrong in tra. rae A Nina] Vell, and excellent in wifedome : namely Zemíranes , Iazar, Madar, Madian, ANS) Loufobac, Suus, wholikewife had fonnes; Sus had Sabacan and Dadanes,Of Da- sl W^ danes iflued Latufimus, Affurus, Luures. The children of Madian were E pha, - Ophres, Amchus, Ebidas, Eldas, Of all thefe children and their fucceffours, Abraham gathered and eftablifhed the colonies which poffeffed the countrey of the Troglo- dytes, andallthe countrey of Arabia the happy, whofe confines extend even unto:the red fea. Some report that this Ophres conducted an army into Libya, and poffeffed the fame: and that his fucceffors (making their abode in that countrey) calledit by the name of A£i- ca. And this my opinion is confirmed by Alexander Polyhiftor who. writethafter this maner. Cleodemus the prophet who is alfo called Malchus, and hath written the acts of the Jews (according as Mofes their law-maker hath compiled the fame in writing} faith, that of Che- turathère were divers children born unto 4braham,and he nameth three by their names:to wit, Apher, Surimand Lapher , and that of Surez the Aff yrians tooktheir name : ofthe two ethers Apher and lapher, the city of 4/fzick and the countrey of Africa take their names. That they warred with Hercules againft Libya and Antews, and how Hercules havin g taken Ophra his daughter to his wife, had begotten.of her Dedor, who was father to Sophon, from whom thofe Barbarians that are called Sophaces havetakentheirname. * ' But Abraham knowing that he fhould provide à wife for Z/aac his fonne , being almoft fourty yeers old, fent the oldeft fervant of his familie to betroth and intreat for Rebecca the daughter ofthe fonne of Nachor his brother for /f24c , and bound him to the pexormance thereof with great oaths (celebrated according to thefe ceremonies, which were,that laying their two hands one ore anothers thighs, they [bould call God to witne[fe of their intent ) he fent alio frange prefents unto them, fuch as were feldome feenin thofe parts:he then departing from him,was long time upon the way (becaufe thatin winter time it is troublefome to travell thorow Mofepetamia, by reafon of the deep bogs,and infummer for want of water) befides the robberies of the countrey, which ftrangets and travellers could not poflibly efcape;éx- cept they ftood upon their guard, and had.convoy. Herenpon at length he artived and entreda city called Carras, and being in the fuburbs of the fame, he encountred with di- vers damofels that went to fetch water, whereupon he inwardly befought God, that if the marriage were pleafing in his fight, he might finde Rebecca amongft them, for whofe caufe Abraham had fent him thither to require her iri marriage for his fonne : and that he might know her by this figne, that asking all thereft for water, they fhould refufe him , and íhe onely fhould fatisfie him. ‘Tormented and toffed with thefe thoughts, he approached the Well, and required thofe virgins that they would give him drink, which they denied him, faying, that they could not get water but withgreat labour, which they muft bear unto their houfes, and not lavifhly beftow on others: whereupon one amongft them reproved the reft for that difcourtefie , which they ufed towards the ftranger ; faying thatthey had never been converfant amongft men, that refufed to give him water that requefted it, whereupon fhe gave him drink with an amiable countenance: and he conceiving good hope of all his bufineffe, yet being further defirous to know the event of the matier , he praifed the honeftie and courtefie of Rebecca,who had not refufed to travell in her own per- {onto fatisfie his neceflitie, asking her of what parents the was, tearmipgthem happy that had fuchadanghter,praying God that it mightpleafe himto grant them the goód: hap to marry lierto their contentment, and match her with aman of honeft reputation, by whom fhe miglitbeplentifull in good and lawfull children: Rebecca made no difficultie to tell him the names of her parents, (the better to gratifie him) neithet concealed the her own pais ut world, 2087. before the matis vity ef Chrift. 1878. finus,chap.23 The age of Sara, 127. of Troglo- dytes. Libya called Africa. Alexander Polyhiftor: cc Hedio & Ruf nus, chap.4, . Gt. 24.1, 25354 1faac marrieth Rebecea. The mannce of Íwearing : among tlie an« cient Tews, IO The yeer of the world, 2809. before Chyifts HAUT) 18.75 5 125135345 15516,175185 ——— = ^ j eT ————M MÀ copper m pe: A$