The Book of the Bee 22

1Of the generations of Noah.

2The children of Shem. The people of Shem are twenty and seven families. Elam, from whom sprang the Elamites; Asshur, from whom sprang the Assyrians (Athoraye); Arphaxar, from whom sprang the Persians; and Lud (Lod) and Aram, from whom sprang the Arameans, the Damascenes, and the Harranites. Now the father of all the children of Eber was Arphaxar. Shaldh begat Eber (Abar), and to Eber were born two sons; the name of the one of whom was Peleg (Palag), because in his days the earth was divided. From this it is known that the Syriac language remained with Eber, because, when the languages were confounded and the earth was divided, he was born, and was called Peleg by the Syriac word which existed in his time. After Peleg, Joktan (Yaktan) was born, from whom sprang the thirteen nations who dwelt beside one another and kept the Syriac language. And their dwelling was from Menashshe (or Mansha) of mount Sepharvaim, by the side of the land of Canaan, and towards the east, beginning at Aram and Damascus, and coming to Baishan and Elam, and their border (was) Assyria, and the east, and Persia to the south, and the Great Sea. Now the Hebrew has Maishan instead of Menashshe (or Mansha), in the verse, ‘The children of Joktan dwelt from Maishan to Sepharvaim.’

3The children of Ham. The people of Ham are thirty and six families, besides the Philistines and Cappadocians. Cush, from whom sprang the Cushites; Misraim, from whom sprang the Misraye (or Egyptians); Phut (or Pot), from whom sprang the Potaye; Canaan, from whom sprang the Canaanites; the seven kings whom Joshua the son of Nun destroyed; the children of 'Obar, Sheba and Havila, from whom sprang the Indians, the Amorites, the Samraye, the Metraye, and all the dwellers of the south. And of Cush was born Nimrod, who was the first king after the flood. The beginning of his kingdom was Babel (Babylon), which he built, and in which he reigned; and then, after the division of tongues, he built the following cities: Arach (Erech), which is Orhai (Edessa), Achar (Accad), which is Nisibis, and Calya (Calneh), which is Ctesiphon. The land of Babel he called the land of Shinar, because in it were the languages confounded, for ‘ Shinar ’ in the Hebrew language is interpreted ‘ division.’ From that land the Assyrian went forth and built Nineveh and the town of Rehoboth, which is the town of Arbel (Irbil). It is said that Belus, the son of Nimrod, was the first to depart from Babel and to come to Assyria; and after Belus, his son Ninus built Nineveh, and called it after his name, and Arbel and Calah, which is Hetre (Hatra), and Resen, which is Resh-'aina (Ras'ain). Misraim begat Ludim, from whom sprang the Lodaye; La'bim, from whom sprang the Lfibay; Lahbim, from whom sprang theTebtaye; Yaphtuhim, Pathrusim, and Casluhim, from whom went forth the Philistines, the Gedraye (Gadarenes), and the people of Sodom. Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, from whom sprang the Soraye (Tyrians) and Sidonians, ten nations who dwelt by the side of Israel, from the sea (i. e. the Mediterranean) to the Euphrates; the Kishaye, the Kenraye (or Kiraye), and the Akdemonaye (or Kadmonaye), who were between the children of Esau and Amna of Ireth h The children of Lot are children of Ham.

4The children of Japhet. The people of Japhet are fifteen families. Gomer, from whom sprang the Geothaye (Gothaye, Goths?); Magog, from whom sprang the Galatians; Madai, from whom sprang the Medes; Javan, from whom sprang the Yaunaye (Greeks); Tubil (Tubal), from whom sprang the Baithon&ye (Bithynians); Meshech, from whom sprang the Musaye (Mysians); Tiras, from whom sprang the Tharnekaye (or Threkaye, Thracians), the Anshklaye (or Asklaye), and the Achshklaye. The children of Gomer: Ashkenaz, from whom sprang the Armenians; Danphar, from whom sprang the Cappadocians; Togarmah, from whom sprang the Asaye (Asians) and the Isaur&ye (Isaurians). The sons of Javan: Elisha, that is Halles (Hellas); Tarshish, Cilicia, Cyprus, Kathim (Kittim), Doranim, and the Macedonians; and from these they were divided among the islands of the nations.

5These are the families of the children of Noah, and from them were the nations divided on the earth after the flood; they are seventy and two families, and according to the families, so are the languages.