Chapter I.
which it begins; and the Genealogy of the Patriarchs, down to the Death of Joseph, where it ends. It comprehends an Hiſtory of Two thouſand three hundred and ſixty Years, or thereabouts: The truth of all which it was not difficult for Moſes to know, becauſe it came down to his time, through but a very few Hands. For from Adam to Noah, there was one Man (Methuſelah) who lived ſo long as to ſee them both. And ſo it was from Noah to Abraham: Shem converſed with both: As Iſaac did with Abraham and Joſeph: From who in theſe things might eaſily be conveyed to Moſes, by Amram; who lived long enough with Joseph. In ſhort, Moſes might have been conſuted, if he had written any thing but the Truth, by learned Men of other Nations, who ſprang from the ſame Root, and had the like means of being acquainted with the great things here reported by Tradition from their Fore-fathers: Who lived ſo long in the beginning of the World, thay they more certainly tranſmitted Things to their Poſterity. Beſides, it is not reaſonable to think, they had not the uſe of Writing as we have; whereby they conveyed the knowledge of Times foregoing, to thoſe that came after.
Verſe 1. Verſe 1. In the beginning.] The World is not eternal, but had a beginning, as all Philoſophers acknowledged before Ariſtotle. So he himſelf informs us, L. I. de Cælo, cap. 2. (ſpeaking of the ancient Opinions concerning the Original of the World) οὖν ἅπαντες ει/ση φασὶν, they all ſaid it had a beginning: But ſome thought it might have no End; others judged it to be corruptible.
God created.] He who is Eternal gave a Being to this great Fabrick of Heaven and Earth, out of No-