Genesis 10:1

Gen. 10:1. These things are evidences that all mankind are originally from one head or fountain, and of one blood, viz. 1. That all agreed in the same custom of sacrifices, which could be from nothing else than tradition from their progenitors. 2. Their all agreeing in counting by decads, or stopping at ten in their numerical computations, which Aristotle says, all men, both Barbarians and Greeks, did use. 3. Their having everywhere anciently the same number of letters, and the same names (or little varied) of them. 4. The remarkable affinity of all ancient languages. 5. Their dividing time into weeks, or systems of seven days, of which practice to have been general there are many plain testimonies. 6. Their beginning the day or revolution of twenty-four hours with the night. Yea perhaps, if one consider it, the whole business concerning matrimony. Thus, Dr. Barrow, vol. 2. of his Works. p. 93.

Gen. 10:1-2

Genesis 10:1; Genesis 10:2. Concerning Japhet, the son of Noah. Neptune is the same with Japhet, who is called the god of the sea, because mountains, places, islands, and the great peninsulas of Asia Minor, Greece, Italy, and Spain, were peopled by his posterity. The name Neptune is derived from the same radix that Japhet is, even from [the Hebrew for] to enlarge, whence [the Hebrew words] Japhet, and Nephta, in niphal, according to the allusion of Noah, Japh Elohim Japhet, Genesis 9:27, "God shall enlarge Japhet: proportionably whereunto Neptune was called by the Greek Ποσειδων, which grammarians in vain attempt to deduce from the Greek tongue, seeing, as Herodotus in Euterpe asserts, the name Poseidon was at first used by none but the Libyans or Africans, who always honored this god. Poseidon is the same with the Punic word Pesitan, which signifies expanse, or broad, from [the Hebrew word for] Pasat, to dilute or expand. Japhet's name, and what is said of him, God shall enlarge Japhet, well suits with Neptune's character among the heathen, who is styled, Latimperans and Late-sonans, as also one that has a large breast. The genealogy of Neptune confirms that he is Japhet: he is the son of Saturn, i.e. Noah. See note on Genesis 1:27. Gale's Court of the Gen. p. 1. b. 2.c. 6. p. 73, 74.

Gen. 10:6