Column 22

1 of Abram, who was living in Sodom together with them, and all his possessions. And there came one of the shepherds of 2 the flock that Abram had given to Lot, who had escaped from the captivity, to Abram. And Abram was then 3 living in Hebron. And he told him that Lot his brother’s son had been taken captive, with all his possessions, but had not been killed, and that 4 the kings had set out by the way of the Great Valley toward their province, taking captives and plundering and striking and killing, and were going 5 to the province of Damascus. And Abram wept over Lot his brother’s son. Then Abram took courage and rose 6 and chose from his servants three hundred and eighteen men picked for battle, and Arnem 7 and Eshcol and Mamre set out with him. And he pursued them until he reached Dan, and he found them 8 camping in the valley of Dan. And he fell on them by night from all four sides, and he was killing 9 among them in the night, and he routed them. And he pursued them, and all of them were fleeing before him 10 until they reached Helbon, which lies to the left of Damascus. And he took back from them everyone they had captured 11 and everything they had plundered and all their goods. And Lot his brother’s son he also saved, and all his possessions, and all 12 the captives that they had taken he brought back. And the king of Sodom heard that Abram had brought back all the captives 13 and all the plunder, and he went up to meet him. And he came to Salem, which is Jerusalem, while Abram was camped in the valley of 14 Shaveh, which is the valley of the king, the valley of Beth-hakerem. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out⁠a 15 food and drink for Abram and for all the men who were with him. And he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed 16 Abram and said, “Blessed is Abram by God Most High, Lord of heaven and earth, and blessed is God Most High, 17 who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all the property of the king of Elam and his allies. 18 Then the king of Sodom drew near and said to Abram, “My lord Abram, 19 give me the people who are mine, who are captives with you, whom you rescued from the king of Elam, and the property, 20 all of it, is left to you.” Then Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I raise 21 my hand this day to God Most High, Lord of heaven and earth: not a thread or a sandal strap 22 will I take from anything that is yours, so that you will not say, ‘From my property comes all the wealth of 23 Abram,’ apart from what my young men who are with me have already eaten, and apart from the portion of the three men who 24 went with me. They are masters of their portion, to give it to you.” And Abram returned all the property and all 25 the captives and gave them to the king of Sodom. And all the captives who were with him from this land he set free 26 and sent them all away. 27 After these things God appeared to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Behold, ten years 28 are complete since the day you went out from Haran: two you spent here, and seven in Egypt, and one 29 since you returned from Egypt. And now examine and count all that you have, and see how many times over it has grown beyond 30 all that went out with you on the day you left Haran. And now do not be afraid; I am with you, and I will be for you 31 support and strength. And I am a shield over you, and your buckler against one stronger than you. Your wealth and your possessions 32 will grow very great.” And Abram said, “My Lord God, I have much wealth and many possessions, but what are 33 all these to me, when I die and go naked, without sons, and one of the sons of my house will inherit from me? 34 Eliezer, son of [my house …] … will inherit from me.” And he said to him, “This one will not inherit from you, but one who will come out