THE PATRIARCH AND THE FIVE KINGS. 7

the Bible, Chederlaomer. Either this king is not men-
tioned in history at all, or he is mentioned by another
name. By some he is thought to have been the same
with a king of Assyria called Ninyas. But whatever his
other name was, or whether he had another or not, he
seems to have been a very powerful monarch. In the
thirteenth year the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, with
other three kings, rebelled against this king of Elam. In
course of time he came to make war against these five
kings, and he brought with him to assist him three kings,
who may either have been his allies or his tributaries, or,
as some think, they might be deputies appointed by him
over the provinces he had conquered. The kings of
Sodom and Gomorrah fell in the battle. Chederlaomer
gained the victory. He took many prisoners and much
spoil from the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot was
among the prisoners, and his goods among the spoil. One
who had escaped went and told Abram of this, and
speedily Abram prepared an army to rescue his kinsman.
His army consisted of trained servants born in his own
house: he had three hundred and eighteen of them, and
he had three friends who assisted him called Aner, Esh-
col, and Mamre.”

“ But how could he think of fighting against four
kings with so few men?” George asked.

“ He not only thought of it, but he tried it, and suc-
ceeded. He divided his small army, and attacked them
by night. He defeated them, so that they fled before
him ; four kings with their armies fled before Abram