JONICUS, or Jonithus, whom fabulous history reports to be the fourth son of Noah, is not mentioned in Scripture, Josephus, or in any authentick writer. The first who takes notice of him is the spurious Methodius, from whom Peter Comestor copied what he says of him in his Scholastick history, and after him all who at any time have spoken of him.
What we read concerning him in the counterfeit Methodius, Bishop of Patara, and a Martyr, is contained in his book intitled, Revelations of what has happened from the beginning of the world, and must still hereafter happen, t. 3. Biblioth. PP. and seq. c. 6. Here it is said, that in the year of the world 3109 Noah had a fourth son, whose name was Jonithus, and in the year 3300, he made him great presents, and sent him into the land of Etham. Now after the death of Noah, in the year of the world 3690, the sons of Noah came from the east, and from the land of Etham, and built a Tower in the land of Shinar, where the dispersion of mankind began and the confusion of languages. This Jonithus had his portion from the entrance of Etham to the sea, viz. all the land from the sun or east, and therein fixed his habitation. He received from God the gift of wisdom, and a capacity for arts and letters, and was the first Inventor of Astronomy. Nimrod making him a visit, Jonithus informed him, that according to the influence of the Stars, he was to reign over the land.
Nimrod and Jonithus lived in good understanding, while the other sons of Noah were at war with Nimrod. Jonithus built a city which bore his own name, and in a letter to Nimrod informed him, that the sons of Japhet would destroy the kingdom of Ham. Every one knows, that this pretended Methodius is an impostor, who deserves no credit.