THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SODOMITES BY THE ASSYRIAN WALL. FJAJ 1.45
AT this time, when the Assyrians had the dominion over Asia, the people
of Sodom were in a flourishing condition, both as to riches and the number
of their youth
There were five kings that managed the affairs of this
county: Ballas, Barsas, Senabar, and Sumobor, with the king of Bela; and
each king led on his own troops: and the Assyrians made war upon them;
and, dividing their army into four parts, fought against them
Now every
part of the army had its own commander; and when the battle was joined,
the Assyrians were conquerors, and imposed a tribute on the kings of the
Sodomites, who submitted to this slavery twelve years; and so long they
continued to pay their tribute: but on the thirteenth year they rebelled,
and then the army of the Assyrians came upon them, under their commanders
Amraphel, Arioch, Chodorlaomer, and Tidal
These kings had laid waste all
Syria, and overthrown the offspring of the giants
And when they were come
over against Sodom, they pitched their camp at the vale called the Slime
Pits, for at that time there were pits in that place; but now, upon the
destruction of the city of Sodom, that vale became the Lake Asphaltites,
as it is called
However, concerning this lake we shall speak more presently.
Now when the Sodomites joined battle with the Assyrians, and the fight
was very obstinate, many of them were killed, and the rest were carried
captive; among which captives was Lot, who had come to assist the Sodomites. FJAJ 1.46