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then； out of fear； asked Sarai who she was； and who it was that
she brought along with her。 And when he had found out the truth；
he excused himself to Abram； that supposing the woman to be his
sister； and not his wife； he set his affections on her； as
desiring an affinity with him by marrying her； but not as incited
by lust to abuse her。 He also made him a large present in money；
and gave him leave to enter into conversation with the most
learned among the Egyptians； from which conversation his virtue
and his reputation became more conspicuous than they had been
before。
2。 For whereas the Egyptians were formerly addicted to different
customs； and despised one another's sacred and accustomed rites；
and were very angry one with another on that account； Abram
conferred with each of them； and； confuting the reasonings they
made use of； every one for their own practices； demonstrated that
such reasonings were vain and void of truth： whereupon he was
admired by them in those conferences as a very wise man； and one
of great sagacity； when he discoursed on any subject he
undertook； and this not only in understanding it； but in
persuading other men also to assent to him。 He communicated to
them arithmetic； and delivered to them the science of astronomy；
for before Abram came into Egypt they were unacquainted with
those parts of learning； for that science came from the Chaldeans
into Egypt； and from thence to the Greeks also。
3。 As soon as Abram was come back into Canaan； he parted the land
between him and Lot； upon account of the tumultuous behavior of
their shepherds； concerning the pastures wherein they should feed
their flocks。 However； he gave Lot his option； or leave； to
choose which lands he would take； and he took himself what the
other left； which were the lower grounds at the foot of the
mountains； and he himself dwelt in Hebron； which is a city seven
years more ancient than Tunis of Egypt。 But Lot possessed the
land of the plain； and the river Jordan； not far from the city of
Sodom； which was then a fine city； but is now destroyed； by the
will and wrath of God； the cause of which I shall show in its
proper place hereafter。
CHAPTER 9。
The Destruction Of The Sodomites By The Assyrian Wall。
At this time； when the Assyrians had the dominion over Asia； the
people of Sodom were in a flourishing condition； both as to
riches and the number of their youth。 There were five kings that
managed the affairs of this county： Ballas； Barsas； Senabar； and
Sumobor； with the king of Bela； and each king led on his own
troops： and the Assyrians made war upon them； and； dividing their
army into four parts； fought against them。 Now every part of the
army had its own commander； and when the battle was joined； the
Assyrians were conquerors； and imposed a tribute on the kings of
the Sodomites； who submitted to this slavery twelve years； and so
long they continued to pay their tribute： but on the thirteenth
year they rebelled； and then the army of the Assyrians came upon
them； under their commanders Amraphel； Arioch； Chodorlaomer； and
Tidal。 These kings had laid waste all Syria； and overthrown the
offspring of the giants。 And when they were come over against
Sodom； they pitched their camp at the vale called the Slime Pits；
for at that time there were pits in that place； but now； upon the
destruction of the city of Sodom； that vale became the Lake
Asphaltites； as it is called。 However； concerning this lake we
shall speak more presently。 Now when the Sodomites joined battle
with the Assyrians； and the fight was very obstinate； many of
them were killed； and the rest were carried captive； among which
captives was Lot； who had come to assist the Sodomites。
CHAPTER 10。
How Abram Fought With The Assyrians； And Overcame Them； And Saved
The Sodomite Prisoners； And Took From The Assyrians The Prey They
Had Gotten。
1。 When； Abram heard of their calamity； he was at once afraid for
Lot his kinsman； and pitied the Sodomites； his friends and
neighbors； and thinking it proper to afford them assistance； he
did not delay it； but marched hastily； and the fifth night fell
upon the Assyrians； near Dan； for that is the name of the other
spring of Jordan； and before they could arm themselves； he slew
some as they were in their beds； before they could suspect any
harm； and others； who were not yet gone to sleep； but were so
drunk they could not fight； ran away。 Abram pursued after them；
till； on the second day； he drove them in a body unto Hoba； a
place belonging to Damascus； and thereby demonstrated that
victory does not depend on multitude and the number of hands； but
the alacrity and courage of soldiers overcome the most numerous
bodies of men； while he got the victory over so great an army
with no more than three hundred and eighteen of his servants； and
three of his friends： but all those that fled returned home
ingloriously。
2。 So Abram； when he had saved the captive Sodomites； who had
been taken by the Assyrians； and Lot also； his kinsman； returned
home in peace。 Now the king of Sodom met him at a certain place；
which they called The King's Dale； where Melchisedec； king of the
city Salem； received him。 That name signifies； the righteous
king： and such he was； without dispute； insomuch that； on this
account； he was made the priest of God： however； they afterward
called Salem Jerusalem。 Now this Melchisedec supplied Abram's
army in an hospitable manner； and gave them provisions in
abundance； and as they were feasting； he began to praise him； and
to bless God for subduing his enemies under him。 And when Abram
gave him the tenth part of his prey； he accepted of the gift： but
the king of Sodom desired Abram to take the prey； but entreated
that he might have those men restored to him whom Abram had saved
from the Assyrians； because they belonged to him。 But Abram would
not do so； nor would make any other advantage of that prey than
what his servants had eaten； but still insisted that he should
afford a part to his friends that had assisted him in the battle。
The first of them was called Eschol； and then Enner； and Mambre。
3。 And God commended his virtue； and said； Thou shalt not however
lose the rewards thou hast deserved to receive by such thy
glorious actions。 He answered； And what advantage will it be to
me to have such rewards； when I have none to enjoy them after me？
… for he was hitherto childless。 And God promised that he should
have a son； and that his posterity should be very numerous；
insomuch that their number should be like the stars。 When he
heard that； he offered a sacrifice to God； as he commanded him。
The manner of the sacrifice was this ： … He took an heifer of
three years old； and a she…goat of three years old； and a ram in
like manner of three years old； and a turtle…dove； and a pigeon
（19） and as he was enjoined； he divided the three former； but the
birds he did not divide。 After which； before he built his altar；
where the birds of prey flew about； as desirous of blood； a
Divine voice came to him； declaring that their neighbors would be
grievous to his posterity； when they should be in Egypt； for four
hundred years； （20） duri