The history of the world

†. II. Of ARAM, and his Sonnes.

ARAM the fift and last Sonne of Shem was the parent of the Syrians: of which Damascus was head. Their name was changed from Aram or Aramites by Sy∣rus* 1.1 (sayth Eusebius out of Iosephus) which Syrus liued before Moses was borne; the* 1.2 same which others call the sonne of Apollo. Mesopotamia also being but a Prouince of Syria had the name of Aram 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which is as much to say, as Syria duorum fluuiorum, Syria compassed with two Riuers: (to wit) Tigris and Euphrates. The Scrip∣tures [unspec 10] call it Mesopotamia, Syria, and Padan Aram: and the Greekes Mesopotamia simply.

Arise and get thee to Padan Aram (sayth Isaac to Iacob) to the house of BETHVEL* 1.3 thy mothers father, and thence take thee a wise. Strabo also remembreth it by the ancient name of Aram or Aramea, as these his owne words conuerted witnesse: Quos nos Sy∣ros vocamus, ipsi Syri Aramenios & Arameos vocant; Those which we call Syrians (sayth hee) themselues call Aramenians and Arameans.

Against this opinion, that Aram the sonne of Sem was the Father and Denomina∣tor of the Syrians in generall; (and not only of those in Syria, Inter-amnis, which is Mesopotamia) some reade, Genes. 22. 21. Kemuel, the Father of the Syrians: where o∣ther [unspec 20] out of the originall read Kemuel, the sonne of Aram. Neither is it any inconue∣nience for vs to vnderstand the word (Aram) here, not for the Nation, but for the name of some one of note; the rather, because in the Historie of Abraham and Isaac (which was in time long before Kemuels Posteritie could bee famous) wee find Mesopotamia called Aram; and that with an addition: sometimes with Naharaijm, and sometimes of Padan, to distinguish it from another Aram, which (as it seemes) then also was called Aram. For whereas Iunius thinkes in his note vpon Genes. 25. 20. that Padan Aram ought to bee restrained to some part of Mesopotamia, (to wit) to that part which Ptolomie cals Ancobaritis (so called from the Riuer Chaboras, which diuiding it runneth into Euphrates) the promiscuous vse of Padan Aram, and Aram [unspec 30] Naharaijm (which latter appellation qhestionlesse comprehends the whole Mesopo∣tamia) may seeme to refute this opinion: especially seeing the signification of this appellation agreeth with the whole Region. For it signifieth as much as the yoke of Syria, which name agrees with this Region: because the two Riuers, (as it were) yoked together goe along it. The Reliques of the name Padan appeare in the name of two Cities in Ptolomie, called Aphadana: (as Iunius hath well noted) the one vpon Chaboras, the other vpon Euphrates.

The Sonnes of Aram were, [unspec 40]

• Vz or Hus,
• ...Hul,
• Gether, and
• Mesch or Mes.

Vz or Hus inhabited about Damascus, and built that Citie, saith Iosephus and Saint Hierome. But Tostatus mistaking this opinion, both in them and in Lyra, who also* 1.4 followeth Iosephus, affirmeth that Abrahams Steward Eliezer was the Founder there∣of; though it were likely that Hus the eldest sonne of Aram dwelt neere vnto his fa∣ther, who inhabited the bodie of Syria. For Hus was a Region of the same, adioyning to Arabia the Desart, and to Batanea or Traconitis: whereof the Prophet Hieremie: Reioyce and be glad O Daughter of Edom that dwellest in the Land of Hus. Hus therefore* 1.5 [unspec 50] is seated beyond Iordan, in the East Region of Traconitis, adioyning to Basan, hauing Batanea Gaulonitis, and the Mountaine Seir to the East, Edrai to the South, Damascus North, and Iordan West: hauing in it many Cities and people, as may also bee ga∣thered out of HIEREMY: And all sorts of people: and all the Kings of the Land of Hus.* 1.6

In this Region dwelt Iob, descended of Hus, the sonne of Nahor, the brother of A∣braham (sayth Saint Hierome) and married Dina the Daughter of Iacob, sayth Philo.

Hul the second sonne of Aram, Saint Hierome makes the Father of the Armenians: and Gether the third sonne, parent to the Arcananians or Carians: which opinion, (because I find not where to set him) I doe not disprooue, though I see no reason why Gether should leaue the fellowship of his owne brethren, and dwell among Strangers in Asia the lesse. Iunius giues Hul (whom hee writes Chul) the Desart of Palmyrena, as farre as Euphrates, where Ptolomie setteth the Citie of Gindareni.

Gether (sayth Iosephus) founded the Bactrians: but Iosephus gaue all Noahs children feathers, to carrie them farre away in all haste. For mine owne opinion I alwayes [unspec 10] keepe the rule of Neighbour-hood, and thinke with Iunius: (to wit) That Gether seated himselfe neere his brothers, in the bodie of Syria, and in the Prouince of Cas∣siotis, and Seleucis, where Ptolomie placeth Gindarus, and the Nation by Plinie called Gindareni.

Iunius also giueth to Mes or Mesch the North part of Syria, betweene Cilicia and Mesopotamia, neere the Mountaine Masius. The certaintie of those Plantations can no otherwise be knowne then by this probabilitie, that Aram the father (of whom that great Region tooke name) planted his sonnes in the same Land about him: for hee wanted no scope of Territorie for himselfe and them; neyther then when the World was newly planted, nor in many hundred yeeres after: and therefore there is [unspec 20] no reason to cast them in the Desart parts of the World, so farre asunder. And as necessitie and policie held them together for a while: so Ambition (which began to∣gether with Angels and Men) inhabiting the hearts of their children, set them a∣sunder. For although these sonnes of Aram, and the sonnes of the rest of Noahs chil∣dren, kept themselues within the bounds of some one large Kingdome; yet therein euery one also sought a Prouince apart, and to themselues; giuing to the Cities there∣in built their owne names, thereby to leaue their memorie to their Posteritie: the vse of Letters being then rare, and knowne to few.

In this sort did the pride of the Spaniards in America cast them into so many Pro∣uinces: euery one emulating and disdayning the greatnesse of other, as they are [unspec 30] thereby to this day subiect to inuasion, expulsion, and destruction: so as (Noua Hi∣spania and Peru excepted, because those Countries are vnaccessable to Strangers) an easie force will cast them out of all the rest.

Mes the fourth sonne is made the parent of the Moeonians: of whom something hath beene spoken alreadie. Arphaxad the third sonne of Shem, begat Shelah, and* 1.7 Heber. Heber had two sonnes, Phaleg and Ioctan: and in Phalegs time was the Earth diuided.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 7. v. 8.
• * 1.2

  Euscb. p. 10. 6.
• * 1.3

  Gen. 28. 2. See Gen. 25. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Also Deut. 23. 4. Iudg. 3. Paral. 1. 19. Psal. 59. Strabo. l. 1.
• * 1.4

  Hieron. in trad. Hebraic.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. cap. 4. ver. 21.
• * 1.6

  C. 25. v. 20.
• * 1.7

  Chap. 8. §. 7.