single, it was conferred upon a Babylonish Deity: but, when repeated, it must denote greater excellence: for the Amonians generally formed their superlative by doubling the positive: thus Rab was great; Rabrab signified very great. It is, indeed, plain from the account, that it must have been a superlative; for he says it was designed to represent what was esteemed summum maximumque, the most eminent and great. I should, therefore, think that Adad, in its primitive sense, signified πρωτος, and πρωτευων: and, in a secondary meaning, it denoted a chief, or prince. We may by these means rectify a mistake in Philo, who makes Sanchoniathon say, that Adodus of Phenicia was king of the country. He renders the name, Adodus: but we know, for certain, that it was expressed Adad, or Adadus, in Edom, Syria, and Canaan. He, moreover, makes him βασιλευς Θεων, King of the Gods: but, it is plain, that the word Adad is a compound: and, as the two terms of which it is made up are precisely the same, there should be a reciprocal resemblance in the translation. If Ad be a chief, or king; Adad should be superlatively so, and signify a king of kings. I should therefore suspect, that, in the original of Sanchoniathon, not βασιλευς Θεων, but βασιλευς βασιλεων was the true reading. In short, Ad, and Ada, signified _first_, πρωτος; and, in a more lax sense, a prince or ruler: Adad, therefore, which is a reiteration of this title, means πρωτος των πρωτων, or πρωτευοντων; and answers to the most High, or most Eminent. Ham was often styled Ad-Ham, or Adam contracted; which has been the cause of much mistake. There were many places [95]named Adam, Adama, Adamah, Adamas, Adamana; which had no reference to the protoplast, but were, by the Amonians, denominated from the head of their family. EES and IS.