Genesis 10:17

And the Hivite ,.... These dwelt in Hermon, a part of Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal Hermon unto the entering in of Hamath, Joshua 11:3 to the east of the land of Canaan; hence they were sometimes called Kadmonites, or Easterlings, Genesis 15:19 and are thought to have their name from dwelling in holes and caves like serpents; hence Cadmus the Phoenician, and his wife Hermonia, who seem to have their names from hence, are reported to be turned into serpents, they being Hivites, which this word signifies, as Bochart F9 Ut supra. (Phaleg. l. 4. c. 36. fol. 304.) observes.

And the Arkite ; the same with the Aruceans, or Arcaeans, Josephus F11 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 6. sect. 2. & l. 5. c. 1. sect. 23. speaks of in Phoenicia about Sidon, and from whom the city Arce had its name, which he places in Lebanon; and is mentioned by Menander F12 Apud Joseph. Antiqu. l. 9. c. 14. sect. 2. as revolting to the king of Assyria, with Sidon and old Tyre; and which is reckoned by Ptolemy F13 Geograph. l. 5. c. 15. a city of Phoenicia, and placed by him near old Byblus; and hence Bothart F14 Ut supra. (Phaleg. l. 4. c. 36. fol. 304.) thinks Venus had the name of Venus Architis, said by Macrobius F15 Saturnal. l. 1. c. 21. to be worshipped by the Assyrians and Phoenicians.

And the Sinite : either the inhabitants of the wilderness of Sin, who dwelt in the northern part of the desert of Arabia, or the Pelusiotae, as Bochart F16 Ut supra. (Phaleg. l. 4. c. 36. fol. 304.) thinks, the inhabitants of Pelusium, which was called Sin, Ezekiel 30:15 the former being its Greek name, the latter its Chaldee or Syriac name, and both signify "clay", it being a clayey place; but Canaan or Phoenicia seems not to have reached so far; Jerom speaks of a city not far from Arca called Sin, where rather these people may be thought to dwell.