ut 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 re