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[213]
Now that some writers have omitted to mention our nation, not because
they knew nothing of us, but because they envied us, or for some other
unjustifiable reasons, I think I can demonstrate by particular instances;
for Hieronymus, who wrote the History of [Alexander's Successors, lived
at the same time with Hecateus, and was a friend of king Antigonus, and
president of Syria. Now it is plain that Hecateus wrote an entire book
concerning us, while Hieronymus never mentions us in his history, although
he was bred up very near to the places where we live. Thus different from
one another are the inclinations of men; while the one thought we deserved
to be carefully remembered, as some ill-disposed passion blinded the other's
mind so entirely, that he could not discern the truth. And now certainly
the foregoing records of the Egyptians, and Chaldeans, and Phoenicians,
together with so many of the Greek writers, will be sufficient for the
demonstration of our antiquity. Moreover, besides those forementioned,
Theophilus, and Theodotus, and Mnaseas, and Aristophanes, and Hermogenes,
Euhemerus also, and Conon, and Zopyrion, and perhaps many others, (for
I have not lighted upon all the Greek books,) have made distinct mention
of us. It is true, many of the men before mentioned have made great mistakes
about the true accounts of our nation in the earliest times, because they
had not perused our sacred books; yet have they all of them afforded their
testimony to our antiquity, concerning which I am now treating. However,
Demetrius Phalereus, and the elder Philo, with Eupolemus, have not greatly
missed the truth about our affairs; whose lesser mistakes ought therefore
to be forgiven them; for it was not in their power to understand our writings
with the utmost accuracy.
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