1.179
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.
1.183
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 note
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; note
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.
1.186
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.
1.191
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.
note