A Smaller Scripture History Author:William Smith Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. Excerpt from book: Section 3 Temple of Bira-Nimrui CHAPTER II. FROM THE DELUGE TO THE DEATH OF ABRAHAM.—B.C. 2348-1822. The history of the next four hundred years, from the Deluge to the Call of Abraham,... more » has two principal features of interest: the general peopling of the earth by the descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and the special notices that are given us of the descent of the chosen race from Shem down to Abraham. In the outline of the population of the world given in Gen. x., two facts are prominent: that the highlands of Armenia, where Noah came forth out of the ark, formed the primitive seat of mankind, and that the nations were divided into three races, the offspring of the three sons of Noah. The dispersion of these nations irom this region to their subsequent abodes only began a considerable time after the Deluge. It was in the days of Peleg, the fifth from Noah, that the earth was divided (Gen. x. 25). Under the pressure of necessity, the great body of Noah's offspring left the rugged highlands of Armenia in search of a better soil and climate. "The whole earth was as yet of one language and of one speech," when, "as they journeyed eastward, they found a plain in the land of Shinar (Babylonia), and dwelt there." Soon the idea sprung up in their minds of founding a universal empire, with a mighty city for its capital. " Come, said they, let us build us a city and a citadel with its top (reaching) to heaven." But God saw the danger of their scheme, and defeated their design by confounding their language, so that they could not understand one another's speech. " So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth ; and they left off to build the city " (Gen. xi. 1-8). This event probably took place about the end of the third century after the flood. The different peoples thus scatt...« less