Abram in his seventieth year。 Nahor begat Haran when he was one
hundred and twenty years old； Nahor was born to Serug in his
hundred and thirty…second year； Ragau had Serug at one hundred
and thirty； at the same age also Phaleg had Ragau； Heber begat
Phaleg in his hundred and thirty…fourth year； he himself being
begotten by Sala when he was a hundred and thirty years old； whom
Arphaxad had for his son at the hundred and thirty…fifth year of
his age。 Arphaxad was the son of Shem； and born twelve years
after the deluge。 Now Abram had two brethren； Nahor and Haran： of
these Haran left a son； Lot； as also Sarai and Milcha his
daughters； and died among the Chaldeans； in a city of the
Chaldeans； called Ur； and his monument is shown to this day。
These married their nieces。 Nabor married Milcha； and Abram
married Sarai。 Now Terah hating Chaldea； on account of his
mourning for Ilaran； they all removed to Haran of Mesopotamia；
where Terah died； and was buried； when he had lived to be two
hundred and five years old； for the life of man was already； by
degrees； diminished； and became shorter than before； till the
birth of Moses； after whom the term of human life was one hundred
and twenty years； God determining it to the length that Moses
happened to live。 Now Nahor had eight sons by Milcha； Uz and Buz；
Kemuel； Chesed； Azau； Pheldas； Jadelph； and Bethuel。 These were
all the genuine sons of Nahor； for Teba； and Gaam； and Tachas；
and Maaca； were born of Reuma his concubine： but Bethuel had a
daughter； Rebecca； and a son； Laban。
CHAPTER 7。
How Abram Our Forefather Went Out Of The Land Of The Chaldeans；
And Lived In The Land Then Called Canaan But Now Judea。
1。 Now Abram； having no son of his own； adopted Lot； his brother
Haran's son； and his wife Sarai's brother； and he left the land
of Chaldea when he was seventy…five years old； and at the command
of God went into Canaan； and therein he dwelt himself； and left
it to his posterity。 He was a person of great sagacity； both for
understanding all things and persuading his hearers； and not
mistaken in his opinions； for which reason he began to have
higher notions of virtue than others had； and he determined to
renew and to change the opinion all men happened then to have
concerning God； for he was the first that ventured to publish
this notion； That there was but one God； the Creator of the
universe； and that； as to other ＇gods＇； if they contributed any
thing to the happiness of men； that each of them afforded it only
according to his appointment； and not by their own power。 This
his opinion was derived from the irregular phenomena that were
visible both at land and sea； as well as those that happen to the
sun； and moon； and all the heavenly bodies； thus： … 〃If ＇said he＇
these bodies had power of their own； they would certainly take
care of their own regular motions； but since they do not preserve
such regularity； they make it plain； that in so far as they
co…operate to our advantage； they do it not of their own
abilities； but as they are subservient to Him that commands them；
to whom alone we ought justly to offer our honor and
thanksgiving。〃 For which doctrines； when the Chaldeans； and other
people of Mesopotamia； raised a tumult against him； he thought
fit to leave that country； and at the command and by the
assistance of God； he came and lived in the land of Canaan。 And
when he was there settled； he built an altar； and performed a
sacrifice to God。
2。 Berosus mentions our father Abram without naming him； when he
says thus： 〃In the tenth generation after the Flood； there was
among the Chaldeans a man righteous and great； and skillful in
the celestial science。〃 But Hecatseus does more than barely
mention him； for he composed； and left behind him； a book
concerning him。 And Nicolaus of Damascus； in the fourth book of
his History； says thus： 〃Abram reigned at Damascus； being a
foreigner； who came with an army out of the land above Babylon；
called the land of the Chaldeans： but； after a long time； he got
him up； and removed from that country also； with his people； and
went into the land then called the land of Canaan； but now the
land of Judea； and this when his posterity were become a
multitude； as to which posterity of his； we relate their history
in another work。 Now the name of Abram is even still famous in
the country of Damascus； and there is shown a village named from
him； The Habitation of 4bram。〃
CHAPTER 8。
That When There Was A Famine In Canaan； Abram Went Thence Into
Egypt； And After He Had Continued There A While He Returned Back
Again。
1。 Now； after this； when a famine had invaded the land of Canaan；
and Abram had discovered that the Egyptians were in a flourishing
condition； he was disposed to go down to them； both to partake of
the plenty they enjoyed； and to become an auditor of their
priests； and to know what they said concerning the gods；
designing either to follow them； if they had better notions than
he； or to convert them into a better way； if his own notions
proved the truest。 Now； seeing he was to take Sarai with him； and
was afraid of the madness of the Egyptians with regard to women；
lest the king should kill him on occasion of his wife's great
beauty； he contrived this device ： … he pretended to be her
brother； and directed her in a dissembling way to pretend the
same； for he said it would be for their benefit。 Now； as soon as
he came into Egypt； it happened to Abram as he supposed it would；
for the fame of his wife's beauty was greatly talked of； for
which reason Pharaoh； the king of Egypt； would not be satisfied
with what was reported of her； but would needs see her himself；
and was preparing to enjoy her； but God put a stop to his unjust
inclinations； by sending upon him a distemper； and a sedition
against his government。 And when he inquired of the priests how
he might be freed from these calamities； they told him that this
his miserable condition was derived from the wrath of God； upon
account of his inclinations to abuse the stranger's wife。 He
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；