The Rescue of Lot

AFTER GERARD HOET, DIED 1733. HIS BIBLICAL

SERIES WAS THE MOST NOTED WORK OF

THE KIND IN HOLLAND. HE RE

FORMED DUTCH ART.
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"And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them."-Gen., 14, 15.

ING CHEDORLAOMER ravaged all the

K

region about the Dead Sea; then he met the king of Sodom and his allies in "the vale of Siddim," and defeated them. The blast of war smote down Lot's fortunes. Whether he aided the Sodomites in the battle we do not know; but he and his family and his goods were all carried off amid the spoils of the conquest. When news of this reached Abram he forgot his differences with Lot, he remembered only their kinship, and hastily gathered his friends and the members of his household to pursue the departing Babylonians. Three hundred and eighteen men servants he had, all "born in his own house," and with these and his friends of Mamre he followed Chedorlaomer over the whole length of Palestine, came up with him on the ancient site of Dan in the mountains, and by a sudden night attack put the Babylonians to flight. Apparently the invaders were driven completely over the mountain crest and fled out upon the plains beyond Damascus.

"And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people."

GENESIS XLIV—JUDAH'S PRAYER

83

9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen.

10 And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blame

less.

11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.

12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.

14¶ And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.

15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?

16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak ? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.

17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get ye up in peace unto your father.

18 ¶ Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.

19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?

20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.

21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.

22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.

23 And thou saidst unto thy servant, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.

24 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.

25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.

26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us.

27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: