Libellus de Genealogiis Patriarcharum

Anonymous: Little Book on the Genealogies of the Patriarchs. The Genealogies of the Entire Bible Collected from All Books of the Old and New Testament, in Which the Prophecies with the Names and Times of All the Prophets Down to the Most Blessed Cyprian Are Designated, and What Was Done Down to Our Own Age Is Most Clearly Shown: Collected from the Histories of the Legal Commandments.

In the beginning, how the first man is known to have appeared in the world.

Let us hear: if he was born, he has parents; if he was made, he has matter; if he was brought forth, he has an author. The all-powerful God, taking up clay from the earth, thought to make man by paternal command; and when he was seen as solitary and alone by the Lord himself, his maker and founder, taking a rib from his side, he made a woman as a helpmate for him, of the serpent's nature. And when it was confected with poisons through the envy of the devil, death entered into the world, and began to reign from Eve up to the Virgin Mary, the united chastity of the Lord; for just as death was born through a woman, so too was the resurrection of the dead born through a woman. For it is Adam himself who knew his wife Eve, cast out of paradise into the land of Naid, and she conceived and bore Cain from the seed of accusation, of grief and vapor, and still she added to bear, and bore Abel his brother, and he became a shepherd of sheep; Cain, however, a farmer. And so it was.

After some days, when Cain was already of lawful age, he brought an offering to God from the fruits of the earth, and Abel brought an offering from the firstborn of his sheep and from their fat. And the Lord looked upon Abel and upon his gifts; but upon Cain and his offering he did not look, so that he had destined one for the glory of martyrdom, the other to be placed as the prince of murderers, because that devil, who had shut their parents out of paradise, necessarily had to lead their children also to the danger of death. Then he entered into Cain’s heart, and Cain said to his brother: Let us go into the field. And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. And Adam further knew his wife, and she conceived and bore him a son in place of Abel, who is called Seth, whose name in the Latin tongue means resurrection, because from him the Lord revived the righteous seed, from whose lineage we will come all the way to our Lord Jesus Christ through each successive generation. This is Seth, who begot Enos; Enos in the Latin tongue means forgetful. From him was born Cainan, whose name means birth of God. And Cainan begot Mahalalel, whose name means change of God. And Mahalalel begot Jared, whose name means descent.

From him was born Enoch, whose name in the Latin tongue is interpreted as "renewal," because through him God is to renew the world in those days when Antichrist will cause great devastation; then he and Elijah together will prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, and Antichrist will kill them where their Lord was crucified. But lest anyone say that they are crucified in Jerusalem, where Christ the Lord was crucified, this indeed says "where their Lord was crucified," that is, in the Roman kingdom. For Enoch himself begot Methuselah, who in Latin is interpreted as "sent." From him was born Lamech, whose name we say by interpretation means "of good mind." He is the one who prophesied about his son, saying: "This one will give us rest from all our works"; for he himself is called Noah, that is, "rest."

Here begins the origin of Cain.

Let us pass to the origin of Cain, and then we will return to the generation of Noah. For after Cain had been cursed by God, so that no one might kill him, he received an evil sign, which now if anyone receives on his forehead or on his right hand, he himself shall drink from the wine of God's wrath mixed in the cup of His wrath and shall be punished in the sight of His chosen angels; for his name in the Latin tongue is said to mean "ever-increasing"; indeed, he had received this name because until the coming of Christ, the sons of Cain, his associates, would kill Christians following in the footsteps of Abel, his brother.

Therefore, this Cain begot a son named Enos, who, while Cain was born from the serpent, is known to have begotten Lothum. Then he built a city and gave it the name of his son Su...nos; this is the city of blood, which even now sheds Christian blood; for this city is known to have been built in the land of Naid, and it is alive. That land is interpreted as that which in the end persecutes Christians, who are called by the faithful name. For Enos himself begot Gedam. He had knowledge of walls. From him was born Malelel, whose name is interpreted as "strong hearing," and from Malelel was born Matusalan, who begot that Lamech who had two wives, one named Ada, which is interpreted as "witnessed," and the other named Sella, which is interpreted as "shading herself." This is the Lamech who said to his wives: "Hear my voice, women of Lamech, and hold in your ears my words, because I have killed a man invulnerable and a youth in my labor, saying 'man' meaning Christ, 'Christians' called, 'youth' however meaning the people from the Jews, 'Christ' from the pagans and heretics, 'Christian' I have killed, or as we see the guilty one conversely, so that Abel is said for Cain, who is torn for the name of Christ." And he continues, saying that he was avenged seven times from Cain, but from Lamech seventy-seven times; hence he appears to have killed Cain, for from his wife Adam begot Hobel, who is the father of those dwelling in tents, and another named Jubal.

He is Jubal, who showed the psaltery and the cithara. For from Sella was born to him Thobel, who was a worker in iron and bronze, and his sister was Noema. She is the one who sang with her voice, not with an instrument; for through these generations the multitude of men increased, until a terrible cataclysm came upon them; and the flood covered them and destroyed them, because the sons of God had mingled with the daughters of men, and they did not heed his precepts, for their own malice had blinded them, and they did not believe that their destruction would come.

Here begin the generations of Noah. Let us therefore return to Noah, who begot three sons before the flood, and they took wives; for there were eight souls in his house. The Apostle deigned to remember them, saying: eight souls were saved through water, just as baptism will now save you. Therefore, from the first-formed Adam up to Noah, that is, up to the generation of Shem, son of the same Noah, there are two thousand one hundred forty-two years; and from the generation of Shem up to the cataclysm, that is, up to the generation of Arphaxad, son of Shem, who is born immediately after the cataclysm in the hundredth year, there are in all two thousand two hundred forty-two years. For "cataclysm" is called in the Latin tongue "judgment.

Here begin the generations of Sem, son of Noah. Noah indeed begot Sem, who is called in Latin "name," and he obtained as wife a woman named Norea; from her was born Elam. Elam is interpreted as "age." From him the Elamites were born. And his second brother is called Assur, whom the giant Nimrod, nephew of his uncle Ham, drove out from the land of Sennaar, that is, from the servile land. Then, fleeing, he founded Nineveh and the city of Roboth and Chalech and Dassen between Nineveh and Chalech. This is that great city of theirs, which the prophet Jonah went around in a journey of three days. From Assur himself the Assyrians were born, who came to the aid of the Chaldeans against the sons of Israel at Jerusalem. Moreover, their region is contained in these measures: from India to the island of Malicum it is affirmed to be fifteen hundred thousand paces. From Malicum to the second [island] two hundred twenty-five thousand. Thence to the island of Madano, reaching to the Open Sea, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five thousand, besides regions inaccessible to the human race. Solinus asserted this, and they extend as far as Ethiopia through one hundred twenty-seven satrapies. These are the habitations of the Persian peoples and the Medes. Another, Arphaxad, is the third son of Sem, who is called "the coming lion"; the fourth, Lud, who is called "the one being born"; the fifth, Aram, who is called "the high one." From Aram himself four sons were born. The firstborn by name Obs, who is called "chorus." The second, Ei, who is called "in perpetuity"; for Ei means God, that is, the eternal one.

The third is Gatera, who is called "surpassing," and the fourth is Mosoch, who is also "the archer." For the sixth son of Sena, who is called Chanaam, is interpreted as "the birth of God." These are the six sons of Sem and Norea with their descendants. For Arphaxat, the third son of Sem, who is called "the coming lion"; indeed he had received this name because from him the true lion, the Lord Jesus Christ, was to come. For from this Arphaxat was born Sala, who is called "the messenger." From Sala was born Eber, who is called "across the river." For Arphaxat himself, the son of Sem, lived one hundred sixty-five years and begot Sala. And after he begot Sala, he lived four hundred thirty years and begot sons and daughters, and he died in the fifth generation.

Here begin the generations of Cham, son of Noah.

Let us return also to Cham, the son of Noah, who was called "crafty," and he obtained as wife a woman named Ause from the seed of giants, who begot a firstborn son named Chus. He obtained Ethiopia opposite Egypt, and from him were born six sons, and these are their names: the firstborn Saba is interpreted as "Tote," and from him came the people of Saba, from which people came that queen of the South who had come to hear the wisdom of Solomon; the second is Evilad, who is called "giving birth"; the third is Sabata, that is "take thou"; the fourth is Regina, that is "called out"; he had two sons, the firstborn Sabam, that is "condemned," and the second Judas, that is "he confesses." The fifth son of Chus was named Sabacatha, that is "adorned.

The sixth, however, is Nebrot, that is, "rebelling"; this is the giant Nebrot, who was a hunter before the Lord, from whom the Chaldeans are born.

It is he who shut out Assyr, the son of Sem, that is, the son of his own father's uncle, and built in his land Babylon, and Urech, and Archad, and Chalanc within the borders of Canaan. But Babylon sits in sixty thousand [cubits?], its walls two hundred feet high and seventy feet wide, and this Solinus asserted, who describes the whole circuit of the world. The second son of Cham, however, was Mestrem by name, that is, "the whole grinder." He obtained Egypt; to him six sons were born, and these are their names: the first, Ludin, that is, "a man of his own business"; the second, Emimegim, that is, "he was prophesied"; the third, Latisin, that is, "wrathful"; the fourth, Neptabin, that is, "inflated"; the fifth, Patrosin, that is, "raw"; the sixth, Caslonin, that is, "horned." From this Caslonin were born the Philistines and the Chapterini. The third son of Cham, however, was Phut by name, that is, "perfect"; he appeared nowhere. The fourth, however, was Chanan, that is, "worshipping iniquity"; for to this Chanaan eleven sons were born: the first, Sidona, that is, "she went out into judgment, a huntress." From him were born the Sidonians, from whom came Jezabel, who worshipped the idol of the Sidonians, Baal; the second, however, was Cettheus, that is, "sinning"; the third, Jebuseus, that is, "confused.

He built Jerusalem, which is therefore called Jebus after his name; the fourth is the Amorite, that is, "quarrelsome"; the fifth is the Girgashite, that is, "trusted"; the sixth is the Hivite, that is, "serpent"; the seventh is the Arkite, that is, "darkened"; the eighth is the Sinite, that is, "not your own"; the ninth is the Arvadite, that is, "wrathful"; the tenth is the Zemarite, that is, "he heard the accused"; the eleventh is the Hamathite, that is, "transgressing." These are the eleven sons of Canaan. And after this the tribes of the Canaanites were scattered, and the borders of the Canaanites were made from Sidon as far as you come to Gerar and Gaza, Ashkelon, Azotus, and Gath, and as far as you come to Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, and as far as Laban, which is called Zoar, where Lot had fled, and to all the land of Canaan. They had built a tower of baked bricks, and bitumen served them for mortar. And there God confounded their languages, so that what one asked for he did not receive. This happened in the time of Eber, whence the Hebrew language is named, according to the Hebrews.

Here begin the generations of Japheth, son of Noah.

The third son of Noah, named Japheth, which is interpreted as "expansion." He had a wife named Ruth; from her he begot his firstborn, Gomer, that is, "measure." He had three sons: the firstborn named Ashkenaz, that is, "burning fire"; the second, Riphath, that is, "fervent vision"; the third, Togarmah, that is, "abundance." The second son of Japheth was named Magog; he obtained Pamphylia. The third was Madai; he obtained Parthia. The fourth was Javan; he obtained Greece; he is the father of the Syrians and Palestinians, and from him were born four sons: the firstborn, Elishah, that is, "come to me"; the second, Tarshish, that is, "swordsman"; he built a city named Tarsus, after his own name, in which Jonah wished to flee from the face of the Lord; the third, Kittim, that is, "I will tread upon you"; the fourth, Rodanim, that is, "condemned." By these were designated the islands of the nations in their land, and they made for themselves a speech, each in his own kind and among his own peoples. The fifth son of Japheth was Elishah, that is, "you have come to me." The sixth was Tubal, that is, "abounding." The seventh was Meshech, that is, "archer." The eighth was Tiras, that is, "javelin-thrower." These obtained Carthage, according to the author's statement. The Tyrians held the colony. Carthage was an ancient city, indeed of the Tyrians. These are the eight sons of Japheth, grandsons of Noah. They obtained Pamphylia, Parthia, and all Greece, Rhodes, and Citium: hence the Rhodians, the Maziani with the Carthaginians, and the Tarsians.

Here begins the remembrance of Salah, grandson of Shem, son of Noah.

Let us return to Salah, grandson of Shem, son of Noah. This is the Salah who lived one hundred fifty-seven years and begot Eber, and lived after he begot Eber four hundred thirty years and died. This Eber lived one hundred forty-four years and begot two sons: the firstborn named Peleg, that is, "division." Why "division"? Because under him the sons and grandsons of Noah were divided. The second son of Eber, however, was called Joktan, that is, "small." He had twelve sons: the firstborn named Elmodad, that is, "agitated"; the second, Saleph, that is, "estranged"; the third, Sarmoth, that is, "house of death"; the fourth, Serug, that is, "visible"; the fifth, Odorrem, that is, "salt height"; the sixth, Azaer, that is, "light"; the seventh, Declax, that is, "beyond this"; the eighth, Abimelech, that is, "cloudy"; the ninth, Soba, that is, "take, come"; the tenth, Ufer, that is, "light of healing"; the eleventh, Evilath, that is, "show this"; the twelfth, Jobab, that is, "loving God." These are the twelve sons of Joktan. And their commemoration was made from Massa until you come to Gofer, from the death of Salma. And Saul reigned in his place from the city of Itoboth, which is near the river. But Saul died, and Ballenon son of Agnobor reigned in his place. But Ballenon died, and Arad son of Barad reigned in his place, and the name of his city is Fogor; the name of his wife is Metebel daughter of Matrab son of Mezob.

These are their leaders: Theman, Galla, Jephte, Telimas, Elas, Pynon, Genethz, Themna, Mazer, Magediel, Eram, Fazoin. These are the leaders of Edom in the land of their possession. This is Esau, who is called Edom, on account of his greed for food, for which he lost his birthright while he ate lentil stew; from this he received that name. This is the people that drove out the Horites.

And this is the people of the Horites.

For there were seven sons of Seir the Horite, and twenty-two grandsons; and these are their names: the firstborn, Lothan, and his sons Eman and Chorri. The second, Sobal, and his six sons: Golla, Manachacat, Geba, Sofan, and Unan. The third, Onan, and his four sons: Theman, Galla, Jephte, and Telimas. This is Onan, who found the Laminir in the wilderness of Elas when he was pasturing the cattle of his father Sebegon. The fourth, Aunam, and his two sons: Deson and Elibathe. Now the names of the sons of Deson are four: Emadan, Asban, Thasra, and Chorram. The fifth, Aran, and his four sons: Emadan, Asban, Thasra, and Chorram. The sixth, Asam, and his four sons: Balam, Zucam, Juscha, and Juschan. The seventh, Rison, and his two sons: Oe and Arranh. These are the seven sons of Seir the Horite, and their sister Thamna, and twenty-two grandsons. This is the people of the Zozomin, whom Esau scattered from before his face from the land of Seir, so that he might possess it; and they became Gibeonites while they fled from before his face, this in Jesus, that is, saved. These are the four sons of Issachar. Now the names of the sons of Zebulun are these: the firstborn, Seder, that is, learned; the second, Allon, that is, everlasting; the third, Sem, that is, cloudy.

These are the three sons of Zabulon. And the sons of Dina were not born. The sons of Gad, however, are seven. These are their names: Sofan, Anges, Saunis, Soban, and Ismael and Ariol; these are the seven sons of Gad. The sons of Aser, moreover, are these, and these are their names: the firstborn Semna, that is, numbered; the second Sesua, that is, sought; the third Zievi, that is, my honor; the fourth Baria, that is, seeking, and his sister Sara, that is. These are the four sons of Aser, and their sister. The sons of Baria, moreover, are two, and these are their names: Chober, that is, surpassing; and the second Melchiel, that is, sent by God; these are the two sons of Baria. Now the sons of Joseph from Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, are these, and these are their names: Manasses, that is, forgetfulness, and Ephraim, who is called Satus. From Manasses were born Machir, that is, sold, and Gaad, that is, testimony; from him was born Susi, and from Sus was born Gaddi, who was sent by Moses to view the Promised Land. And from Ephraim were born Hisuthalan, that is, apostolic dignity, and Thaan, that is, cloudy; and from Suthalan was born Edem, that is, temple. He begot Ause, and Ause begot Navve, who was called Joshua. The bones of Joseph, moreover, the children of Israel took with them from Egypt, that is, from the land of Shechem, and they placed them in Shechem in a small portion of the field which Jacob possessed from the Amorites, who inhabited Shechem with a hundred lambs.

We read this in the line of the book of Joshua son of Nun, and Joseph gave it as a portion, and whence we can prove the place of his burial, we bring forward Genesis, and we will find that Jacob came to another city, Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he had come from Mesopotamia of Syria, and he brought before the face of the city and bought a part of the field, in which he set up his tent, from Hamor the father of Shechem for one hundred lambs, and he set up there an altar to God, and invoked the God of Israel. Lest anyone say that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Sarah were buried in the same tomb, the book of Genesis teaches us, as we read written: and Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the double cave which is opposite Mamre. This is Hebron in the land of Canaan, and the field became his own, and the possession and the cave which was in it were Abraham's in possession for burial from the sons of Heth, which he bought for forty didrachmas of silver from Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite opposite Jericho. This is their burial place. The sons of Benjamin, however, are these, and these are their names: the firstborn Bellach, that is, swallowed; the second Chober, that is, firstborn; the third Asibel, that is, fire from God. These are the sons of Benjamin.

The three firstborn sons of Bellac of Benjamin are these: the firstborn Adar, who is called "hospitality"; the second Noeman, that is "willingly singing"; the third Jachim, that is "my brother"; the fourth Roos, that is "initiator"; the fifth Afim, that is "likeness"; the sixth Afim, that is "according to my face"; these six sons of Bellac. Moreover, his grandson from Arad was called Arad, that is "descent." Dann had one son named Ason, who is interpreted from the Chaldean tongue into Greek as "episcopus," and from Hebrew into Latin as "speculator"; the name is subtly veiled by fraud, for even in an evil sense the Antichrist is a speculator, for we read in the secret books that he is announced to have come from this tribe. The sons of Naphtali are these, and these are their names: the firstborn Masiel, who is interpreted "strong God"; the second Guni, that is "strength"; the third Enzer, that is "eternal"; the fourth Sillem, that is "debt"; these are the names of the sons and grandsons of Israel, those who entered Egypt together with their father Jacob, seventy-five souls. Moreover, his fourth son Judah was a man outstanding in virtue; he begot Phares, who is interpreted "divided." Phares begot Esrom, that is "other"; Esrom begot Aram, that is "people"; Aram begot Aminadab; Aminadab is interpreted "desire loving." Aminadab begot Naasson, who is called "refreshment," and his sister Elisaphat, who is called "grace of God"; Aaron married her, and from her the priests were born.

Nasson begot Salmon, that is "strength"; Salmon begot Boaz, that is "perfect" from Rahab. And why is he called "perfect"? Because in him the Lord perfected what we read in Deuteronomy: "And you, Moab," we say, "you will appear to me in my house," that is through Ruth, the daughter-in-law of Naomi, who was the wife of Chilion her son. This was Ruth the Moabite; from her he begot Obed, that is "serving"; Obed begot Jesse, that is "forgetting"; Jesse begot seven sons and two daughters, and these are their names: Eliab, Aminadab, Shammah, Nathaneel, Jaddai, Asom, and David the seventh; and their sisters Zeruiah and Abigail; and the sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, Asahel. This is Joab who numbered the people from Dan to Beersheba, and the number of Israel was eleven hundred thousand men who draw the sword, and of Judah four hundred seventy thousand men who draw the sword; and Levi and Benjamin he did not number among them, because the king's command anticipated Joab himself, and it seemed evil in the sight of the Lord concerning this matter, and he struck the same Israel, and David said to the Lord: "I have sinned greatly because I did this thing, and now remove the injustice of your servant, for I have utterly wasted away." And the Lord spoke to Gad the seer, saying: "Go and speak to David.

Thus says the Lord: "I decree three things against you; choose one of them for yourself, and I will grant you either three years of famine, or three months of fleeing from the face of your enemies to destroy you, or three days of the sword of the Lord raging in all the borders of Israel. And now see what word I answer to him who sent me to you." And David said to Gad, "I am in straits; I would rather fall into the hand of the Lord, because his mercies are very many, and I will not fall into the hand of man." And the Lord inflicted death in Israel from morning until the hour of lunch, and the people died. Abdanus, who from Beersheba seventy thousand men, and God sent an angel into Jerusalem to destroy it, soon however it was laying waste. The Lord repented; and to the Archangel, "It is enough; spare your hand." And the angel of the Lord was standing in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, and David saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and his sword was drawn against Jerusalem. And David and the elders, covered with sackcloth, fell on their faces. And David said to the Lord, "Did I not say to number the people? And I am the one who sinned, and by doing evil I did a bad thing; and these sheep, what evil have they done, my Lord God? Let your hand therefore be upon me and upon my father's house; but upon your people, let it not be for destruction." And the angel of the Lord said to Gad, "Tell David to set up an altar in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite." And David did as the Lord had commanded him.

And then the Lord said to the angel: turn your sword; and he turned his sword into its sheath. For this Jerusalem was formerly called Jebus, which Judah obtained by lot. He went away to the Canaanite dwelling in Hebron, and Sessi, Achinam, and Thalmi, the sons of Enac, who is born from Chanan, cut him down. The Jebusites dwelt in the midst of the sons of Benjamin and Judah in Jerusalem until they were shut out after one thousand five hundred years by Jonathan son of Mattathias. Abigea, the sister of David, gave birth to Amessa. And the father of Amessa, Ater the Ishmaelite, was numbered among the people of Israel; to which people, when kings were given, the first king, Saul, was made, the Lord being angry. Then the Lord said: you will cry out to me, he says, from the face of your king, and I will not hear you, because you yourselves asked for a king for yourselves; and again he says: I will give you a king in my anger. Under which anger he reigned for forty years, and was killed on Mount Gilboa. Then David said in grief: mountains which you are in Gilboa, let neither dew nor rain fall upon you, where the blood of the anointed of God was poured out. This is David who is called merciful, and he reigned for forty years, and he begot Solomon, who is called peaceful; and he himself also reigned for forty years. Now these are the names of David's wives: Achima, Abigea, Agal, Habitat, Agla, Bersabe, Melchol. But when he returned from Hebron, Melchol refused him, and he gave her to another man, because he hated her exceedingly. Solomon, however, was born from Bersabe.

Solomon begot Rehoboam from Naamah, the daughter of the king of the Ammonites; this Rehoboam is called "multitude of the nations." In his time, King Shishak, king of Egypt, carried off the golden arms, that is, three hundred spears and shields, which David had taken from King Hadadezer of Syria; and Rehoboam, son of Solomon, had bronze ones made in their place, and he reigned for eighteen years. This Rehoboam begot Abijah, that is, "father to God," from Maacah, the daughter of Ariel from Gibeah; and he reigned for three years. Abijah begot Asa, that is, "he flies," from Anna, and he reigned for forty-one years. Asa begot Jehoshaphat, that is, "judge," from Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi; and he reigned for twenty-five years. Jehoshaphat begot Joram, that is, "visible," from the wife Fache; and he reigned for eight years. Joram begot Ahaziah, that is, "strength," from Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel; this Athaliah, a widow, reigned for eight years, and he reigned for one year. Ahaziah begot Joash, that is, "gentle," from Choboddah; and he reigned for forty years. Joash begot Amaziah, that is, "asking," from Jode; and he reigned for twenty-nine years. Amaziah begot Uzziah, that is, "loving," from Jecoliah; and he reigned for fifty-one years. Uzziah begot Jotham, that is, "perfect," from Darbia, the daughter of Sadduc; and he reigned for sixteen years. Jotham begot Ahaz, that is, "holding," from Saba; and he reigned for sixteen years. Ahaz begot Hezekiah, that is, "kingdom of God," from Rabbuthi, the daughter of Zechariah; and he reigned for twenty-nine years. Hezekiah begot Manasseh, that is, "forgetfulness of sorrow," from Hephzibah; and he reigned for fifty-five years.

Manasseh begot Amon, that is, "shameful," from Meshullemeth; and he reigned for two years. Amon begot Josiah, that is, "asking," from Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah; and he reigned for thirty-one years. Josiah begot Jehoahaz, that is, "of the same kind," from Jecora; and he reigned for ninety days. And Hamutal begot Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, whose eyes Nebuchadnezzar blinded in the sight of his sons, and bound him in bronze fetters, and ordered him to be led to Babylon, and to be set at the mill, and there he died. In the eleventh year of his reign, Jerusalem was plundered by King Nebuchadnezzar. And the years of the kings were concluded: five hundred and five years, six months, ten days, and the people were transferred to Babylon, and Jeconiah, the son of Jehoiakim, who is called "preparation," was appointed king by King Nebuchadnezzar; and he reigned for one hundred days. Then he himself was led to Babylon, and in the thirtieth year of the transfer, Jeconiah was shorn, while Ulemadar led him out of prison. This is Ulemadar, who, while Nebuchadnezzar was walled up with the wild beasts of the field, was his successor. Then he spoke well to Jeconiah, and placed his throne above every throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon, and changed his garments, and dined with him every day of his life, and provisions were established for him, and he was his counselor all the days of his life. This Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, that is, "I have asked God"; which Shealtiel in Babylon begot Zerubbabel, who is called "victory of God.

At this time, Cyrus, king of the Persians, obtained the kingdom. In the fifty-second year of the captivity of Judah, King Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus, king of the Persians, received his kingdom; in the second year of his reign he subjugated Babylon to the city of Nineveh of the Mede. Then he vowed a vow concerning the return of the vessels of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem from the temple of the Lord and had placed in his idol temple. Cyrus, king of the Persians, bringing them forth, assigned them to Mithridates, the overseer of his treasuries; through him they were delivered to Salmanasar, the overseer of Judah. Their number was: golden libation vessels one thousand, silver ones five hundred, silver murtatiola twenty-nine, golden bowls fifty, silver ones two thousand four hundred ten, and other vessels one thousand; all the golden and silver vessels were four thousand nine hundred seventy-nine, and they were carried through Salmanasar and through those who were returning from the captivity of Babylon. This Cyrus reigned for ten years and was killed by Mirides in Massa Jada in the sixty-eighth Olympiad, and was buried in the castle which the magi hold, called Thiasarcida, the tomb of this Cyrus. With Cyrus therefore dead, as we have said, in the sixty-eighth Olympiad, King Darius succeeds him in his kingdom. This is Darius, son of Asicri, born from Bastin in the city of Susim, and he reigned in the kingdom of the Chaldeans; from the third year of his reign begin the weeks of Daniel from the beginning of the second cycle.

Already at that time the Romans were growing great, under the reign of Tarquinius Superbus, who was the eighth king of the Romans from the founding of the city, and he reigned twenty-four years. But Rome was founded by the sons of Mars and of Ilia on the eleventh day before the Kalends of May, on the fifth day of the festival, and from that time to the twenty-fourth year of King Gaiseric there are one thousand two hundred and seven years. At that time, when the number of months among the Romans was in its tenth [cycle], Hoziah son of Amaziah was reigning in Judea in the twenty-fourth year of his reign. From that point up to the completion of the seventy years of the captivity, there are filled up, through the succession of each of the Roman kings, two hundred and fifty-eight years from the twenty-fourth year of Hoziah son of Amaziah. But so that the times of the kings of the Jews and of the Romans may be equated, the number of the years of the Roman kings themselves must be sought out, and the years from Remus and Romulus, the founders of the same city, must be recounted in their order. For they themselves first reigned at Rome together for thirty-eight years. After these, Titus Tatius, leader of the Sabines, reigned forty-one years; then Numa Pompilius forty-three years; Tullus Hostilius thirty-two years; Ancus Marcius Philippus twenty-eight years; Tarquinius Priscus thirty-eight years; in the sixth year of whose reign Jerusalem is shown to have been captured by Nebuchadnezzar, [and] Servius Tullius, born of a slave woman, thirty-six years. All these together make two hundred and fifty-six years up to the first year of Darius, in which Cyrus died. At that time Tarquinius Superbus had begun to administer the kingdom of the Romans.

In whose second year, that is, the years of the kings of the city were completed, two hundred fifty-eight, up to the conclusion of the seventy years of the captivity, with the seven weeks of Daniel also following, in which he himself reigned twenty-two years. Therefore the years of the kings of the city are made two hundred eighty. But after these kings, consuls, tribunes, or aediles judged until Gaius Julius Caesar for four hundred eleven years. But from Gaius Julius Caesar up to the final shipwreck of Valentinian's life there are five hundred eight years, during which, in the likeness of iron, though clay is mixed with the potsherd, nevertheless the Roman empire always stood by divine will. Let him who reads understand Daniel, the interpreter of that statue which Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed. And it was concluded at the very entrance of the one thousand two hundredth year, with the bounds of times run out, the kingdom of the Romans, on account of which already almost throughout the whole circuit of the earth the deaths and tortures of the dead increase, for the crashes of wars and the plagues of punishments, redoubled against one another, succeed each other in turn; but lamentation, griefs, blows, and mourning together are poured out everywhere. While therefore all these things are inflicted upon this world more frequently, with the killers and the killed, individual things are immediately brought to an end.

Meanwhile Zorobabel son of Salathiel—this is he who is declared wiser than King Darius; for he is of the house of David, of the stock of Phares, of the tribe of Judah—at whose petition King Darius ordered the temple to be built and all the vessels to be restored. This is the Darius who is named Artaxerxes according to the Chaldeans, but according to the Medes was called Darius. He made a great banquet for all who were under him, for all his household and all the governors of Media and Persia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia. And when they had drunk and eaten and were filled, they returned; King Darius went up to his chamber, and slept, and became unconscious. Then three young men, the bodyguards of the king, said to one another, let each one of us state his own sentence, whichever prevails, and whoever's word is wiser, King Darius will give him great gifts, and for his victory he shall be clothed in purple, and drink from gold, and sleep upon gold, and a gilded chariot, and a linen turban, and a golden necklace around his neck, and he shall sit second to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall be called a kinsman of Darius. Then each wrote his own sentence and placed it under the pillow of Darius, and said: when the King has risen, we will give the writing, and whatever the King and the three chief men of Persia judge, to whomever's sentence is wiser, to him shall the victory be given, as it is written. One wrote: wine is strong. Another wrote: the King prevails.

The third wrote: Women prevail, but above all things truth prevails. Then the king arose, and they gave him the writings, and he read them and sent and summoned all the overseers and the elders. And all the princes also sat down, and the writing was read in their presence, and he said: Call the young men; and let them make their words clear to us. And they came in, and he said to them: Declare to us from your writings. And he who had spoken first began concerning the power of wine, and spoke thus: Men, how quickly wine prevails over all men who drink it; it seduces the mind of the king, and makes the mind of orphans vain, of servant and free, of poor and rich, and it changes every disposition into cheerfulness and joy, and it remembers no sorrow or debt, and it makes all souls rich, and it remembers neither king nor governor, and it makes all things speak in talents; and when they drink they do not remember the friendships of friends and brothers, and a little later they seize swords, and when they have risen from the wine, they do not remember what they did. Men, does not wine prevail, which compels them to do thus? And he fell silent. When he had spoken thus, the second began to speak, who spoke concerning the power of the King: Men, do not men prevail? They hold the earth and the sea and all things that are in them, but the King prevails and rules over them, and whatever he has said to them, they do. But if he sends them against enemies, they go and level mountains and walls and towers, they kill and are killed, and they do not transgress the word of the King.

But if they conquer, they bring to the king whatever they have taken; and those who do not serve as soldiers nor fight, but till the land, when they have plowed and reaped, bring to the king, and he alone is king; and if he says: Kill, they kill; and if he says to release, they release; if to retreat, they retreat; if to lay waste, they lay waste; if to build, they build; if to cut down, they cut down; if to plant, they plant; and all the people and power are his. But he reclines among the proud and eats and drinks and sleeps, while these keep watch around him, and they cannot go individually and do their own work, and they do not disobey him. Men, how then does the king not prevail? The third, who spoke concerning women and truth—this was Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, of the house of David, of the lineage of Perez, of the tribe of Judah—began to speak: Men, the king is not great, nor are many men, nor is wine strong; who then is master over them? Is it not women? Women gave birth to the king, and to all the people who rule over sea and lands, and from them they were made, and they themselves nourished those who planted the vineyards from which wine is made; they themselves make ornaments for all men, and they themselves make glory for men, and men cannot be separated from women. As they have handled gold and silver and every beautiful thing, and have seen one woman of good appearance and good form, they leave all these things and look upon her, and with open mouth gaze at her, and all praise her more than gold and silver or any precious work.

A man will leave his father who raised him and his own land, and will cleave to his wife, and with his wife he gives up his soul, and he remembers neither father nor mother nor land. And here you ought to recognize that women rule over you. Do you not labor and grieve and bring and give everything to women? And a man takes his sword and goes abroad, and sails in a ship, and crosses rivers, and sees a lion, and walks in darkness, and when he has stolen and committed robbery, he begins to bring it to his mistress. And again a man loves his wife more than father or mother, and many have been touched by despair because of women, and have been made slaves because of them, and many have perished and been killed and have sinned because of women. And now you do not believe me that the King is great in his power and all regions fear to touch him. And I saw Debbanna, concubine of the King, daughter of Emen son of Bezzach, that wondrous man, sitting beside the King, and taking the diadem from the King's head and putting it on herself, and striking the King with her left hand; and at all these things the King, with open mouth, kept gazing at her; and if she smiled at him, the King laughed, or if she was angry, he coaxed her until he returned to favor with her. How are men not strong, who act thus?

And then the King and his power looked at each other, and he began to speak concerning truth: Men, are not women strong, and great is the earth and sublime is the heaven, and the swift course of the sun will turn back in the circuit of heaven, and again runs back to the same place in one day; he who made these things is not great, and truth is great and stronger than all things. All the earth calls upon truth, heaven blesses it, and all works that are moved tremble, and there is no iniquity in it. Unjust is wine, unjust is the King, unjust are women, unjust are all the sons of men, unjust are all their works, and there is no truth in them, and in their iniquity they shall perish; and truth remains forever, and lives and holds sway for ever and ever. And with it there is no accepting of persons, but it does equity; from all unjust and evil men it abstains, and there is no unjust man in its judgment; and itself is strength and kingdom and power and magnificence of all ages. Blessed is the God of truth. And he ceased speaking. And all the people cried out and said: Great is truth and prevails. Then the King said to him: Ask what you wish, more than what is written, and I will give it, inasmuch as you have been found wiser, and you shall sit next to me and shall be called my kinsman. Then he said to the King: Remember the vow that you vowed, to build Jerusalem on the day when you received the kingdom, and to release all the vessels that were taken away, which Cyrus the King set apart when I went out from Babylon. And he vowed to send them back to Jerusalem.

And you vowed a vow to build the temple, which the Chaldeans burned when Judea was laid desolate; and now this is what I entreat of you, Lord King, and what I ask, and this is your magnificence, which I beseech you to accomplish. The vow that you vowed to the Lord, the King of Heaven, from your own mouth. Then King Darius arose and kissed him, and wrote letters to all the stewards and leaders and governors, that they should bring him out, and that all who were with him, all going up together, should build Jerusalem, and to all the overseers of Coele-Syria and Phoenicia; and he wrote letters to Lebanon that cedar wood and the wood of Lebanon be carried to Jerusalem. When the young man had gone out from the presence of the King, looking toward heaven toward Jerusalem, he blessed the Lord and said: From you is victory, and from you is wisdom, and yours is the glory, and I am your servant: blessed are you who have given me wisdom, and, Lord, I confess to you. And he received the letters, and set out for Babylon and reported to all his brethren, and they blessed the God of their fathers, because he had granted them release to go up and build Jerusalem and the temple, where his name is invoked in it. Now the number of those who returned from the captivity of Babylon into the land of Judah and Jerusalem, from the twelfth year and above, besides boys and girls, was forty-three thousand three hundred and sixty.

But the boys and girls, seven thousand three hundred and twenty-seven, singing psalms, males and females two hundred and forty-five, camels four hundred and thirty-five, mixed beasts of burden five thousand seven hundred and five. But when they set out from the region of Babylonia, then also Esdras the prophet and doctor of the law himself went up with them, to whom King Artaxerxes sent letters, the copy of which contains this. King Artaxerxes to Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord, greeting. Judging in a friendly manner, I command those of the race of the Jews, and of the priests and Levites, who are in our kingdom, who wish to go up with you to Jerusalem; therefore let whatever they intend to set out upon, they set out upon, as it has pleased me and my seven friends my counselors, so that you may be able to inspect all things that are in Judea and in Jerusalem, which is consequent according to the law which you have, to take up gifts to the Lord God of Israel, I the last and my friends, because God dwells in Zion, all the gold and silver whatever has been found in Babylonia shall be restored in the temple of God and Jerusalem. You, Esdras, according to the wisdom of God, appoint judges of causes of the church in all Syria and Phoenicia; all whom you know you shall teach, and whatever things transgress the law of your God and of the king, they shall be diligently punished, whether by death, or by penalty or loss of money and exile. Farewell.

And Ezra the scribe said: Blessed be the Lord God of my fathers, who put these things into the heart of the king to glorify his house, which is in Jerusalem, and honored me in the sight of the king and his counselors; and I became of strong courage according to the help of the Lord my God. And having set out, they came to Jerusalem, and they celebrated the Passover on the ninth day before the Kalends of April, on the fifth day of the week, one thousand one hundred and seventy-six years from the Passover of Moses in Egypt. Then the foundations of the temple of God, laid by Zorobabel, are restored, which temple was built in forty-six years; for he did not loose his belt, nor did he cut the hairs of his head, nor did he even put off his shoes until, through Ezra the prophet and priest and renewer of the law, when the seven weeks of Daniel were completed, the dedication of the temple should be made. This is Zorobabel who begot Abiud, who is called the Father of confession. Abiud begot Eliachin, that is, rising again. Eliachin begot Azzor, that is, slain. Azzor begot Saddoc, that is, commanded. Saddoc begot Achim, that is, prepared. Achim begot Eliud, that is, the Lord is strong. Eliud begot Eliazar, that is, God is helper. Eliazar begot Matham, that is, gift. Matham begot Jacob, that is, beloved. Jacob begot Joseph, that is, he gathers, whose son, as it was thought, the Lord Christ was according to the flesh.

Here end the generations which Matthew the Evangelist describes up to Joseph, to whom Mary was betrothed. Here begin the others which Luke describes up to Mary, but when the course has been recalled from her back to the first man, he returns.

Let us return to Exodus and bring forth the generations of the Levites. For Levi begot Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Kohath begot Amram, which is said to be "love," and Izhar, which is said to be "strong to the strong," and Hebron, which is said to be "eternal friend," and Uzziel, which is said to be "strong God." Uzziel begot Mishael, which is said to be "visitation," and Elzaphan, which is said to be "petition of God," and Zithri, which is said to be "hidden." But Gershon, the second son of Levi, who was called "sojourner," begot Libni, that is, "white," and Shimei, which is said to be "hearing." But Merari, the third son of Levi, begot Mahli, which is said to be "change," and Mushi, which is said to be "my fountain." But Amram, the son of Kohath, begot Aaron, Moses, and Miriam, which is said to be "mistress," from Jochebed, who was called "the dignity of the Lord," the daughter of the brother of his father. But Izhar, the second son of Kohath, begot Korah, who was called "naked." This Korah begot Assir, who is said to be "asking," and Elkanah, who is said to be "zeal," and Abiasaph, who is said to be "father of the assembly." These are the sons of Korah, from whose line were those who in the times of David sang to the ark of the testament with the other Levites and priests, of the twenty-four lots, with Asaph, Jeduthun, Heman, and Ethan.

But the second son of Isaar was called Naleth, which is interpreted as impiety, and the third Zecris, which is called love, and the fourth Misael, which is called God has sent. Aaron, however, is interpreted as ark seeing, or vision of the Most High: this Aaron begot Nadab, who is called concupiscence, and Abiud, who was called friend of God. But Nadab and Abiud died when they offered strange fire before the Lord God in the desert of Sinai. And there were made from their number twenty-three thousand. Every male from one month and above was not indeed counted among the children of Israel, because no inheritance is given to them in the midst of them—strange fire, which he says comes from common, that is certainly not divine, heaven. But Eleazar, the third son of Aaron, who is called God my helper, begot Phineas, who was called follower from the daughters of Phutiel: this is Phineas of whom Matthias spoke in the books of Maccabees, saying: Phineas, while he was zealous for the law, obtained the priesthood. But the fourth son of Aaron was called Ithamar, who is called rancid; he begot Eleazar, who was called grace of the Lord. But Moses, the second son of Amram, begot Gershom, who is called guest, and Eleazar, who is called virtue of God, from Zipporah, who was called beautiful visitation, the daughter of Jethro the priest of Midian. But Gershom begot Jonathan; he and his sons were sacrificing in the tribe of Dan until the day of the transmigration of the land.

On their mountain, however, Aaron and Moses were buried in Geth next to the house of Fogor. This tribe did not receive a lot, since from it come the priests who serve at the altar of God: for the Lord is their lot. Therefore now tithes ought to suffice for the priests, so that they may be strangers to the pleasures of the world, who desire to brood over others' affairs. Then Moses in the Egyptian tongue is interpreted as taken from the water, and in the Hebrew tongue, he who keeps watch for the Lord. He begot Gersam and Eleazar his brother by Seffora, which is called visitation. This Moses was in the desert of Syna forty years. And when, commanded by the Lord, he went up into Robothmoab upon mount Nabat, upon the summit of Fasga, which is opposite the face of Hiericho, and showed him all the land of Neptalin, Efrem and Manasse, and all the land of Judah as far as the last sea, and the desert and the neighboring regions of the city of Hiericho, Focnicum as far as Fogor, the Lord said to Moses: this is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, I will give it to your seed, which I have shown to your eyes; but you shall not enter it. And Moses, the servant of the Lord, died in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord, and they buried him in Geth next to the house of Fogor, and no one knows his burial place to this present day, lest God be worshiped by them, as when they sinned in Choreb. Here were concluded the four hundred and seventy years from the calling of Abraham, of the pilgrimage of Israel up to the time of the desert, and the end of Moses' life.

After him, however, Jesus the son of Nave, who is called Savior, judged Israel for thirty years, and the years of his life were one hundred and ten, and they buried him within the boundaries of his lot in Toamnasarim, on Mount Ephraim, beyond the mountain of Gilead; they placed with him in the tomb the stone knives of circumcision of Israel, from the twenty-nine kings who had been conquered. In this time twenty-nine kings of the people and the nations held Africa, which in ancient times was called an island, and from the time it began to be inhabited there are, up to the sixteenth year of the king, two thousand and seventy-six years. After Jesus, however, when the people had transgressed the commandments of God, they served the King of Mesopotamia, Chusarsaton by name, for eight years; then the people did penance, and Gothoniel judged them for fifty years. Now the origin of Gothoniel is this: he was the son of Genez, the brother of Chaleb, the brother of Jepbone. This Gothoniel began the city of letters, and Chaleb gave him Ascham his daughter as wife; this is Dabir, the city of letters. Then Eglon judged them for eighteen years. This was the King of the Moabites. At that time the people did not serve the Lord, because they sacrificed to idols, and they were handed over to King Eglon. Then Aotam Ambidester judged them for eighty years. This man took a palm-length knife and said to Eglom: I have a word for you, O king; and when they had entered the chamber, he killed him and shut the door, and fled through the midst of the army and was saved.

In the twenty-fourth year of Aolh, Job died in the land of Edom; then they served the king Scmegar for twenty years. This man killed eight hundred men of the foreigners with the plow of oxen, and he defended the sons of Israel. Then they served Jabis, king of the foreigners, for twenty years. This was King Chanan who reigned in Astaroth, and the commander of his army was Syra. He had nine hundred iron chariots. Then Debbora judged them for forty years. In her times Sisara fled into the house of Jail, whom Jail herself killed with a peg of her tent, as Barach, the commander of the army, pursued him. Then the Mazanites held them for seven years, and his name was Ahazia. Under him the sons of Israel fled into caves and hid themselves in the clefts of the mountains, as the Lord was angry. Then Gedeon, the son of Hierobal, judged them for forty years; for three hundred men alone went out with him to battle against Madian, who lapped water like dogs. Then the Lord said: By the three hundred men alone, who lapped the waters like dogs, I will save Israel. Then Abimelec judged them for three years. This man killed a thousand souls of the foreigners with fire, who were in the tower of Sychimorum when they had fled from his face into Achroterium. Then, struck by a woman with a millstone, he died. Then Fua, the son of Charram, judged them for twenty years. This man lived on Mount Efrem. In his time peace abounded, and there was no war in Israel. Then Tole judged them for twenty-two years.

Then Jair judged them for twenty-two years. He had thirty sons, riding on thirty horses, and they had thirty cities; these were called Havoth-Jair in Gilead. Then the Philistines and Ammonites held them for eighteen years; under their oppression the children of Israel cried out to the Lord not once but many times, and he scarcely delivered them from their blows. Then Jephthah the Gileadite judged them for seven years. He overthrew twenty cities of Ammon with their peoples, from Aroer as far as one comes to Marathaei, as far as Abelthar. When he returned to his house, he offered up his daughter. Then Usbon, a son of Israel, judged them for seven years. He was from Bethlehem, and he had thirty sons and thirty daughters sent away abroad, and he took thirty wives for his sons; and he died and was buried in Bethlehem. Then Elon judged them for ten years. This Elon was a Zebulonite; therefore he was buried in the land of Zebulun. Then Abdon judged them for eight years; he was a son of Farathon. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, riding on seventy horses. He died and was buried in Farathon in the land of Ephraim on the mountain of Elieth. Then the foreigners held them for many years, because they had provoked the Lord, and they were handed over to the Canaanites, who inhabited Ascalon, Gerar, Gaza, Azotus, and Gath, five cities, which Inathen the son of Mattathias conquered. Then Samson the son of Manoah, and his wife Dalyla, judged them for twenty years.

Whose valor could not be comprehended, who killed more in his death than he had in his life. Then Samiera judged them for one year. He struck down six hundred men of the Philistines besides the beasts of burden, and he himself saved Israel. Then they had peace for thirty years. In these times there was no leader in Israel, and each one did what he wished. Then the tribe of Benjamin had sinned in the manner of the Sodomites and were destroyed by the children of Israel, and six hundred men were left who had fled to escape. Then Eli the priest, who had been in Shiloh, where the ark of God was established, and his sons Hophni and Phinehas, priests of the Lord. Phinehas indeed begot Ahitub and Beriochabel, who begot Abimelech, and he begot Abiathar; who also begot Ahimelech, exiled by Solomon, and Eli very old, and both his sons sinners in the sight of the Lord. In this time Samuel was born, whom Anna the wife of Elkanah requested when she was barren, and the Lord heard her, and she conceived and bore a son and called his name Samuel, saying, because I asked him of God Almighty. But Eli was ninety years old; but his eyes were dimmed and he could not see, and he judged the people for twenty years. And when the news was heard that the ark of the Lord had been captured by the Philistines, he fell from his seat and died. Then Samuel succeeded him and judged Israel for twenty years. This Samuel begot sons, one named Joel, and the other Abiathar.

In his times, after the captivity of the ark by the Philistines, when Phinehas and Hophni, the sons of Eli, were killed. Then he himself, upon hearing the news, died, and the ark had been plundered by the nations. After his return, four places had been sanctified, which Samuel went around, that is Bethel, which is called Luz, where God was seen by Jacob, and Gilgal, where Joshua circumcised the people opposite Jericho, and Mizpah, where Jephthah offered his daughter, and Ramah in his own house, where he had made an altar to God; for he was a priest, judge, and prophet, but for that reason he has not been included by us among the priests, nor has Eli, because they are counted among the Judges. For with this one the years of the Judges were concluded, five hundred sixty-one from the beginning of the captivity of the foreigners. After him, however, Saul was made king, whom the Lord in his wrath had given to the people of Israel, anointed by the hand of Samuel, when he was seeking the donkeys of his father Kish, who reigned in Israel forty years. For Gibeah is the city where this Saul was anointed. This Saul had a wife named Ahinoam; from her he begot Jonathan, Ishvi, Eshbaal, Mephibosheth, and their sisters Merab and Michal, and the son of Jonathan Mephibosheth begot Mica. After him David reigned in Israel forty years and six months. Between Samuel and David there are forty years. In their times there were priests of the tabernacle of the testimony ten thousand two hundred sixty, and Levites one hundred twelve thousand.

But of the priests there were twenty-four leaders; these are the twenty-four elders, and these are their names. For they were of the lineage of Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron. The first lot was Jarim, from which came Mathathias; the second, Bidæ; the third, Choreb; the fourth, Seroib; the fifth, Michæ; the sixth, Beniamin; the seventh, Choos; the eighth, Abia, from which came Zaccharias; the ninth, Jesu; the tenth, Jecchenir; the eleventh, Enasib; the twelfth, Jachib; the thirteenth, Chobra; the fourteenth, Isba; the fifteenth, Banne; the sixteenth, Emmer; the seventeenth, Chexir; the eighteenth, Afesor; the nineteenth, Phaner; the twentieth, Ezechiel; the twenty-first, Achin; the twenty-second, Samuel; the twenty-third, Dalea; the twenty-fourth, Mazia. These are the twenty-four whom David had appointed as leaders over the priests. For when he brought back the ark of the covenant from the house of Abidda, and placed it in Sion in the house of Aminadab, and from there transferred it and placed it in his own house, then he appointed these as leaders over the priests, who were to go before the people before the ark of the covenant, and the Levites were twenty-four, who commanded the Levites; for they were of the lineage of Caat, Gesson, and Elmenerii; for over them there were four, whose names are these. The first, Eman; the second, Asaf; the third, Iditum; the fourth, Etham; their number with their brothers, taught to sing to the Lord, everyone who understands, was two hundred eighty-eight.

They also received their own daily lots of appearances, according to the great and the small, of the perfect and of the learners. The first lot fell to the sons of his brother, and to his own brothers, of Asaph himself—to him, Joseph, and his sons and his brothers, twelve. The second, Godolias, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The third, Zacchur, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The fourth, Jesdri, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The fifth, Natanias, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The sixth, Uocia, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The seventh, Israel, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The eighth, Ageas, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The ninth, Matthanias, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The tenth, Semei, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The eleventh, Esdriel, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The twelfth, Asabias, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The thirteenth, Sabael, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The fourteenth, Matthatias, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The fifteenth, Jarimoth, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The sixteenth, Ananias, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The seventeenth, Jesbachas, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The eighteenth, Ananias, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The nineteenth, Misael, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The twentieth, Eliath, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The twenty-first, Etth, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The twenty-second, Gotholias, his sons and his brothers, twelve. The twenty-third, Maloth, his sons and his brothers, twelve.

The twenty-fourth was Ramagi, his sons and his brothers, twelve. These are two hundred eighty-eight, who went before the army of the sons of Israel and sang a song to the Lord. Then also David with them, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied the one hundred fifty psalms together. For there were four who sang to the Lord, appointed as leaders, as we said: the first Eman, the second Asaf, the third Iditum, the fourth Ethan; they had seventy-two each, responding to one another with cymbals and stringed instruments and lyres. Then they did not sing what they wished, but what the Spirit announced through them. For twenty years the Ark was in captivity, and for forty years it was in the house of Abiddarc, twenty years it was in the house of David the king, who reigned over Israel forty years and six months; from whose house Saddoc the son of Sachitoh took it, who was in Nomba a horn. And he anointed Solomon as king in place of David his father. But David reigned seven years in Chebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. In Chebron he fathered seven sons, and these are their names: the firstborn Ammon, whom Ahessalon killed when he had committed incest with Thamar; the second Chaleb; the third Abessalon; the fourth Ornias, who on account of Abisac the Sunamite was killed by Solomon, because he asked for her as a wife for himself.

Then Abiathar was banished, because he had anointed him as king; Abiathar is the son of Abimelech, who, fleeing alone, was saved when three hundred and fifty priests were killed by Doeg the Syrian, whom King Saul had sent. Of him David said to Saul: You have loved malice more than goodness, and iniquity more than the justice you speak; he accuses the cunning of Doeg the Syrian, who showed himself just in his words and practiced iniquity against the innocent. And again: You have loved all words of ruin with a deceitful tongue, by which he suddenly cast down the innocent to death. But this Abiathar, who had then escaped from death, is banished by Solomon on account of Urijah, so that according to the sentence of the Lord none of the seed of Eli should administer sacrifice in the house of the Lord. The fifth, Aphatias; the sixth, Ethoram, and Thamar the sister of Absalom. For in Jerusalem, by Bersabee the wife of Urijah the Hittite, Saman and Soban are sons of David, brothers of Solomon and of Nathan, whose origin the Evangelist Luke showed to Mary. Similarly also the Evangelist Matthew shows the origin of Solomon to Joseph, so that it may appear that they come from one tribe, and thus come to Christ according to the flesh, that what is written may be fulfilled: Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered, the root of David; the lion from Solomon, and the root from Nathan. But Solomon begot Roboam, and Nathan begot Matthan. Then Jeroboam the son of Nabath received the kingdom from a wife named Sorum, who remained a widow.

For many times the servant of Solomon rose against Rehoboam the son of Solomon; the servant obtained the kingdom together with his lord, and in the first year of his reign he made two golden calves, one he gave in Dan and one he set in Bethel. Then he said to the people: Let it suffice you to go up to Jerusalem; behold thy gods, O Israel, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt. This Jeroboam reigned in Samaria thirty-four years, and there was a schism between Rehoboam the son of Solomon and Jeroboam the son of Nabath, and there was battle between them all the days of their life, just as now between true Christians and false Catholics. This Jeroboam begot Nadab from a wife named Anna; and he reigned two years. Basaa the son of Achia succeeded him, and reigned twenty-four years. After him Ela the son of Basa reigned two years. After Ela reigned Zambri one year with Thamcni six years, and alone twelve years. This is Zambri who begot Achab, who had Hiezabel the daughter of Elan king of the Sidonians. This Achab reigned twenty-one years and begot Ochozia, and he reigned two years; and another son of Achab named Joram reigned twelve years. After him reigned Hieu the son of Mannase twenty-eight years. Then Josebeth the daughter of the king of Judah, that is the daughter of Joran the sister of Ochozia, hid Joas the son of her brother Ochozia king of Judah from the face of Jeu for eight years in the house of the Lord under Aod the priest; under this same Jeu Azael king of Syria left of the army of Israel fifty horsemen, ten chariots and a thousand men, according to the prophecy of Elisaeus.

To him Jehu succeeded Jochas his son, and he reigned seventeen years. And Jochas begot Joas, and he reigned sixteen years. Joas begot Jeroboam, and he reigned twelve years. Jeroboam begot Zachariah, and he reigned six months. After him reigned Sellem son of Narmi for one month. After him Manec son of Gaddi reigned ten years. This Manec begot Facia, and he reigned two years. To him succeeded Facec son of Romelia, and he reigned twenty-two years. But when the books were compared, it was found that in the times of Facec son of Romelia, Teglafellasar king of the Assyrians came up, and he carried away the tribe of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh as far as the borders of Naphtali, and scattered them into the land of the sons of Romelia. Osca reigned nine years. Him Salmanasar king of the Assyrians had humbled, and he was offering him gifts for five years. Then Salmanasar discovered that this Osee was sending to Egypt and preparing ambushes against him. In the eighth year of his reign he bound him and sent him into prison; in the one year he deported him with the people of Israel to the river Gozae in the cities of the Medes, and scattered them there. In this first year of the reign of Achaz king of Judea, then also Tobias with... This Salmanasar begot Sennacherib; he it was whom the angel of the Lord killed in one night, one hundred and eighty-five thousand living men, between the captivity of Samaria, in Nineveh, and Jerusalem in Babylonia: the years are one hundred and forty-four, six months, ten days.

Both perceived the indulgences of captivity at the same time, and at one time through Esdras and Zorobabel they went up to their own land. The Samaritans remained in the captivity of Nineveh twenty-two years, and these were in Jerusalem seventy years; they were in Babylon.

Let us return to Nathan, the brother of Solomon, from whom Mary takes her origin. This Nathan begot Matha. Matha begot Ena. Ena begot Eliakim. Eliakim begot Joram. Joram begot Josra. Josra begot Judah. Judah begot Simeon. Simeon begot Levi. Levi begot Mathathias. Mathathias begot Joram. Joram begot Eliezer. Eliezer begot... begot Eren, Eren begot Elda, Elda begot Chosa, Chosa begot Addi. Addi begot Melchi. Melchi begot Neri. Neri begot Salathiel. Salathiel begot Zorobabel. Zorobabel begot Besa. Besa begot Anna. Anna begot Judah. Judah begot Asech. Asech through Sech... Mesen. Mesen begot Mathathi. Mathathi begot Nahum. Nahum begot Jose. Jose begot Gennem. Gennem begot... Levi. Levi begot Nathan. Nathan begot Eli. Eli begot Joseph. Joseph begot Joachim. Joachim begot Mary. This is Mary, the Mother of the Lord, from whom was born the Savior in the forty-first year of the reign of Augustus the Emperor. Moreover, Augustus survived fifteen years from the year in which the Lord Christ was born. To him succeeded Tiberius Caesar, in whose sixteenth year the Lord Christ suffered, when Anna and Caipha were priests.

Here the five hundred seventy-four years are concluded. In that same place, Cassius. Ganiel, up to the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, from the eleventh year of King Joachim — the same being from the first year of the captivity of Jerusalem and of Jeconiah his son — and from the passion of the Lord up to the years of the apostles Peter and Paul, twenty-eight. They suffered under Nero twice . . . this was the first, and it will be again under Enoch and Elijah. This is Nero himself, whose name Labanius . . . called six hundred sixty-six. Here wisdom is turned about, so that the name of him who is called Antichrist may be computed through the letters

I. XIII. XVIII. vim. III. XVII. VIII. VIIII. IVII. XX. and XVIIII . . . six being taken . . . the number collected becomes six hundred fifty. This which is present . . . in the name of Antichrist; for we have also read in the secrets that . . . of Nero, and a city is said to be in the west where he is still held, in which . . . by what stars, when Antichrist will come. But now many . . . would have been made from us, and would have remained with us for some time. From Nero himself . . . seventy-three years. This is the false apostle who was the second and most bitter warrior against the Christians, of Nero, and a portion of the bishop, namely one hundred fifty-three . . . twenty-eight; nor was he himself an immoderate persecutor of the gospel in the time . . . by whose persecution very many prophets suffered, whom . . . glorious to preside in the world by him . . . and he is at Athens, a tolerable persecutor, with Labianus the bishop presiding in the city . . . another ruin . . . the bishop of the image was.

Under Decius himself, Sempronius Julius... the father Montanus suffered at Rome up to Valerian, seven years... and at Carthage Cyprian... to Maximian there are forty-five years. These are the seventh and most bitter persecutors of the Christians... of the city, and Ensurius of Carthage, Siranus, and Cas... the deacons of the city... they burned the homily. From them up to Stilicho, consul again, there are one hundred two years. In that consulship persecution came upon the Donatists, on the sixth day before the Kalends of July, given the day before the Kalends of February at Ravenna... up to the fourteenth year of King Gaiseric there are fifty-eight years. This is the number of years from the Lord Christ's passion up to the present year, that is, as is written above, there are four hundred thirty-four years. For that we may run through the years of the world in order by the law... From Adam up to the flood there are two thousand two hundred forty-two years. From that up to the calling of Abraham there are one thousand one hundred eighty-eight years. From the calling of Abraham up to the time when the children of Israel entered Egypt with Jacob their father, there are two hundred fifteen years, and with Moses... judges over them, and they were from the children of Israel for four hundred fifty years. After God was offended, up to... foreign peoples enslaved them for one hundred eleven years. They had kings for five hundred... six months, ten days. In the Babylonian captivity they were for seventy years.

The seven weeks of Daniel, in which the temple of God was restored, are forty-eight years. The sixty-two other weeks, in which the priests of the temple ruled as lords over them until the birth of Christ the Lord, are four hundred thirty-four years. And from the birth of the Lord to his passion are thirty-one years. And from the passion of the Lord to the twenty-fourth year of King Genseric are four hundred thirty-four years. All together, counted from Adam through the order of the law up to the present year, are five hundred eighty-four years.

Here ends the book of Genealogies, in which is the conclusion of the aforesaid years.