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grievous to his posterity； when they should be in Egypt； for four
hundred years； （20） during which time they should be afflicted；
but afterwards should overcome their enemies； should conquer the
Canaanites in war； and possess themselves of their land； and of
their cities。
4。 Now Abram dwelt near the oak called Ogyges；the place belongs
to Canaan； not far from the city of Hebron。 But being uneasy at
his wife's barrenness； he entreated God to grant that he might
have male issue； and God required of him to be of good courage；
and said that he would add to all the rest of the benefits that
he had bestowed upon him； ever since he led him out of
Mesopotamia； the gift of children。 Accordingly Sarai； at God's
command； brought to his bed one of her handmaidens； a woman of
Egyptian descent； in order to obtain children by her； and when
this handmaid was with child； she triumphed； and ventured to
affront Sarai； as if the dominion were to come to a son to be
born of her。 But when Abram resigned her into the hand of Sarai；
to punish her； she contrived to fly away； as not able to bear the
instances of Sarai's severity to her； and she entreated God to
have compassion on her。 Now a Divine Angel met her； as she was
going forward in the wilderness； and bid her return to her master
and mistress； for if she would submit to that wise advice； she
would live better hereafter； for that the reason of her being in
such a miserable case was this； that she had been ungrateful and
arrogant towards her mistress。 He also told her； that if she
disobeyed God； and went on still in her way； she should perish；
but if she would return back； she should become the mother of a
son who should reign over that country。 These admonitions she
obeyed； and returned to her master and mistress； and obtained
forgiveness。 A little while afterwards； she bare Ismael； which
may be interpreted Heard of God； because God had heard his
mother's prayer。
5。 The forementioned son was born to Abram when he was eighty…six
years old： but when he was ninety…nine； God appeared to him； and
promised him that he Should have a son by Sarai； and commanded
that his name should be Isaac； and showed him； that from this son
should spring great nations and kings； and that they should
obtain all the land of Canaan by war； from Sidon to Egypt。 But he
charged him； in order to keep his posterity unmixed with others；
that they should be circumcised in the flesh of their foreskin；
and that this should be done on the eighth day after they were
born： the reason of which circumcision I will explain in another
place。 And Abram inquiring also concerning Ismael； whether he
should live or not； God signified to him that he should live to
be very old； and should be the father of great nations。 Abram
therefore gave thanks to God for these blessings； and then he；
and all his family； and his son Ismael； were circumcised
immediately； the son being that day thirteen years of age； and he
ninety…nine。
CHAPTER 11。
How God Overthrew The Nation Of The Sodomites； Out Of His Wrath
Against Them For Their Sins。
1。 About this time the Sodomites grew proud； on account of their
riches and great wealth； they became unjust towards men； and
impious towards God； insomuch that they did not call to mind the
advantages they received from him： they hated strangers； and
abused themselves with Sodomitical practices。 God was therefore
much displeased at them； and determined to punish them for their
pride； and to overthrow their city； and to lay waste their
country； until there should neither plant nor fruit grow out of
it。
2。 When God had thus resolved concerning the Sodomites； Abraham；
as he sat by the oak of Mambre； at the door of his tent； saw
three angels； and thinking them to be strangers； he rose up； and
saluted them； and desired they would accept of an entertainment；
and abide with him； to which； when they agreed； he ordered cakes
of meal to be made presently； and when he had slain a calf； he
roasted it； and brought it to them； as they sat under the oak。
Now they made a show of eating； and besides； they asked him about
his wife Sarah； where she was； and when he said she was within；
they said they would come again hereafter； and find her become a
mother。 Upon which the woman laughed； and said that it was
impossible she should bear children； since she was ninety years
of age； and her husband was a hundred。 Then they concealed
themselves no longer； but declared that they were angels of God；
and that one of them was sent to inform them about the child； and
two of the overthrow of Sodom。
3。 When Abraham heard this； he was grieved for the Sodomites； and
he rose up； and besought God for them； and entreated him that he
would not destroy the righteous with the wicked。 And when God had
replied that there was no good man among the Sodomites； for if
there were but ten such man among them； he would not punish any
of them for their sins； Abraham held his peace。 And the angels
came to the city of the Sodomites； and Lot entreated them to
accept of a lodging with him； for he was a very generous and
hospitable man； and one that had learned to imitate the goodness
of Abraham。 Now when the Sodomites saw the young men to be of
beautiful countenances； and this to an extraordinary degree； and
that they took up their lodgings with Lot； they resolved
themselves to enjoy these beautiful boys by force and violence；
and when Lot exhorted them to sobriety； and not to offer any
thing immodest to the strangers； but to have regard to their
lodging in his house； and promised that if their inclinations
could not be governed； he would expose his daughters to their
lust； instead of these strangers； neither thus were they made
ashamed。
4。 But God was much displeased at their impudent behavior； so
that he both smote those men with blindness； and condemned the
Sodomites to universal destruction。 But Lot； upon God's informing
him of the future destruction of the Sodomites； went away； taking
with him his wife and daughters； who were two； and still virgins；
for those that were betrothed （21） to them were above the
thoughts of going； and deemed that Lot's words were trifling。 God
then cast a thunderbolt upon the city； and set it on fire； with
its inhabitants； and laid waste the country with the like
burning； as I formerly said when I wrote the Jewish War。 （22） But
Lot's wife continually turning back to view the city as she went
from it； and being too nicely inquisitive what would become of
it； although God had forbidden her so to do； was changed into a
pillar of salt；（23） for I have seen it； and it remains at this
day。 Now he and his daughters fled to a certain small place；
encompassed with the fire； and settled in it： it is to this day
called Zoar； for that is the word which the Hebrews use for a
small thing。 There it was that he lived a miserable life； on
account of his having no company； and his want of provisions。
5。 But his daughters； thinking that all mankind were destroyed；
approached to their father； （24） though taking care not to be
perceived。 This they did； that human kind might not utterly fail：
and they bare sons； the son of the elder was named Moab； Which
denotes one derived from his father； the younger bare Ammon；
which name denotes one derived from a kinsman。 The former of whom
was the father of the Moabites； which is even still a great
nation； the latter was the father of the Ammonites； and both of
them are inhabitants of Celesyria。 And such was the departure of
Lot from among the Sodomites。
CHAPTER 12。
Concerning Abimelech； And Concerning Ismael The Son Of Abraham；
And Concerning The Arabians； Who Were His Posterity。
1。 Abraham now removed to Gerar of Palestine； leading Sarah along
with him； under the notion of his sister； using the like
dissimulation that he had used before； and this out of fear： for
he was afraid of Abimelech； the king of that country； who did
also himself fall in love with Sarah； and was disposed to corrupt
her； but he was restrained from satisfying his lust by a
dangerous distemper which befell him from God。 Now when his
physicians despaired of curing him； he fell asleep； and saw a
dream； warning him not to abuse the stranger's wife； and when he
recovered； he told his friends that God had inflicted that
disease upon him； by way of punishment； for his injury to the
stranger； and in order to preserve the chastity of his wife； for
that she did not accompany him as his sister； but as his
legitimate wife； and that God had promised to be gracious to him
for the time to come； if this person be once secure of his wife's
chastity。 When he had said this； by the advice of his friends； he
sent for Abraham； and bid him not to be concerned about his wife；
or fear the corruption of her chastity； for that God took care of
him； and that it was by his providence that he received his wife
again； without her suffering any abuse。 And he appealed to God；
and to his wife's conscience； and said that he had not any
inclination at first to enjoy her； if he had known she was his
wife； but since； said he； thou leddest her about as thy sister； I
was guilty of no offense。 He also entreated him to be at peace
wit