Gira (4:02)

Don't go to the city.

Abram (4:06)

Don't go to Sodom.

Narrator (4:09)

What?

Lot (4:10)

They sacked the city as well.

Abram (4:12)

They're everywhere.

Narrator (4:15)

As the man choked out his last words, shouts from mere yards away forced him back to the shadows of the walkway between tents where his family was hidden. As he drew back, he noticed the man's dagger lying in the damp dirt beside him. Lot grasped it and choked back his disgust at the slick gore clinging to the weapon. At least he had some sort of defense to protect his family. Mercifully, he didn't need to use it. As they went unnoticed through the camp turned killing field, they crouched in the darkness just outside of what was their caravan and took stock of what was before them. The intruders had torched a few of the tents on the far edge, and the flames now steadily consumed everything in their path. Thick smoke choked the air and in the distance twin flames were springing up. Climbing the taller structures of Sodom, men hauled looted trunks of silver, gold and anything else they deemed of value through Lot's burning camp, callously stepping over the corpses of his fall fallen men. The abused women were being corralled into a line as well, surely to be taken wherever Lot's riches were headed next.

Narrator (5:30)

Lot, what do we do? Where do we go? Where are they taking them?

Abram (5:38)

I don't know.

Narrator (5:39)

I don't know.

Lot (5:40)

We can't go into the city.

Narrator (5:41)

Then where will we go?

Lot (5:44)

Where is it safe?

Narrator (5:45)

It's all gone.

Narrator (5:47)

They're all dead.

Narrator (5:49)

Enough.

Lot (5:50)

Quiet your whimpering and focus. We need to get as far away as we can. We can't be discovered.

Abram (5:56)

Where do we go? Where do we go?

Lot (5:58)

The mountains. The mountains. Are the mountains safe? Are the Mountains safe.

Narrator (6:03)

You saw the asphalt pits when we first came here. It will be perilous to cross them in the dark.

Lot (6:09)

We'll have to take that chance. We need cover. They'll find us out here on the plains when the sun rises.

Narrator (6:15)

Decided, Lot turned to lead his family through the Siddim Valley toward the mountains. When the grinning warrior waiting in the dark stepped in front of them, blocking their path, looking for a way out. Lot's wife and daughters screamed. As he turned to look behind him, he saw five more warriors spring forward and grab them. He whirled back to confront his would be attacker, palming his bloody dagger. And the world suddenly went black. About 40 miles away, in a wealthy district of the city of Hebron, Abram reclined as a guest in the home of his new friend and ally, the clan leader Mamre, and his two brothers, Anna and Eshcol. Abram did not expect to find friends amongst the Amorites. All the other Canaanites he met during his journey had been indifferent or downright hostile. But he was surprised that he found favor with Mamre almost immediately. And they formed an unlikely alliance. Mamre.

Abram (7:18)

Brother.

Lot (7:19)

Tell me, how goes our business?

Narrator (7:22)

Never better.

Mamre (7:23)

I tell you something. I've started to believe that our friend Abram here, Abram the Hebrew, must have blown into our town on the winds of prosperity. I can't explain it, but ever since he came here and we all began working together. I've never seen such a yield. The flocks are multiplying faster than I've ever seen. The crops are springing back to life. And production everywhere has increased tenfold.

Abram (7:50)

Hear, hear. Let's drink to our new friend Abram. Abram the Hebrew.

Narrator (7:56)

Ha ha ha ha.

Abram (7:58)

You honor me, but surely the gain is beneficial for us all. I couldn't have asked for better friends. And the kindness you've shown me and my people since we came here. Will not be forgotten.

Mamre (8:12)

No, it will not.

Lot (8:14)

They say the whole city is prospering. It's as if the famine never happened. The land is finally healing.

Narrator (8:22)

Suddenly, commotion from the receiving hall of the dwelling. Echoed off the stone walls of the interior. The three men halted their conversation to listen to the disturbance in the other room. Abram's chief servant, Eleazar, burst in not a moment later. Attempting to slow a somewhat unkempt travel worn man from entering the room before him.

Eleazar (8:46)

Master, pardon the intrusion, but this man insists on speaking with you. I told him you were not at home. And I couldn't reason with him to wait for you to return.

Gira (8:57)

I must with Master.

Mamre (8:58)

Abram, what is the meaning of this?

Abram (9:01)

It's all right, Mamre. You there. What are you called?

Gira (9:06)

Gira, Master, if it pleases you.

Abram (9:08)

What have you come to say, Gira?

Gira (9:10)

I've traveled far to bring you this news. I fear they may be hunting me yet. It's your nephew, Lot. They've taken him.

Abram (9:18)

Taken? Who's taken him?

Gira (9:21)

I don't know for certain which king has him, but King Cedolaomer led the attack. I was able to learn that later. They sacked the cities and destroyed the armies out on the plain. I was in Lot's caravan outside the city, though. We didn't think they would come for us, too. I didn't see any survivors from the camp as I escaped. I don't think anyone was left alive.

Abram (9:46)

You're sure they took Lot as a prisoner? Are you sure he isn't dead?

Gira (9:51)

Yes, my lord. I saw them take Lot and the girls. The other women from the camp were carted off with their livestock and riches. As for his men, well, I'm not sure any were spared. They were marching them north. No one thought four kings could defeat the Five. No one. They traveled the king's highways on the heels of their victories from the west.

Mamre (10:17)

Which cities were defeated?

Gira (10:19)

All of them. The alliance of the Cities of the Plain are no more.

Narrator (10:26)

A heaviness settled over the three men receiving the terrible news. The Cities of the Plain long held the valley's southern part of the Salt Sea. They were Sodom, where Lot and his family had gone. Gomorrah, Admach, Zeboim and Bela. But they were also slaves to King Kedolaomer, or had been. After 12 long years. They rebelled against his tyranny, and the rebellion had gone unchecked. As King Kedeleomer invaded and conquered the lands to the west. Until now.

Mamre (11:00)

So King Kadorleomer at last came to crush the rebellion and take back what.

Abram (11:06)

Was his Beating the western nations, our distant Amorite cousins included, into submission was.

Mamre (11:13)

Not enough, it would seem. It was not. This is grave news indeed.

Lot (11:19)

Abram, forgive me for asking this, but why take Lot and his family prisoner? Cherolemer is not known as a merciful man.

Abram (11:28)

Perhaps they recognized that they were not Canaanites and thought to hold them to exploitation. Foreign government. It doesn't matter. If they're alive, then I must find them and take them back.

Mamre (11:41)

Abram, when you entered my house and we forged our alliance, I swore to you then that my house would defend your honor and fight in your battles. In this time of Prosperity and peace. I never imagined we would be called to arms quite like this. But you have the strength of my house to aid you in this fight.

Abram (12:01)

We will be with you, Abram.

Lot (12:03)

Our shields and spears are yours, Mamre.

Abram (12:06)

You honor me. Thank you, Eskol. Thank you, Aenare. You are good men and true friends.

Mamre (12:14)

We are with you, Abram, to whatever end.

Narrator (12:21)

Abram could hear his friend's resolute words repeating over and over in his mind as he hurried across Hebron to his caravan of tents. Abram always suspected he knew the real reason. He had found favor in this city and with these powerful men. But now, knowing perhaps the greater purpose behind it, left Abram in awe. His God had once again provided a way to rescue his family. This time, Abram was determined to answer the call. Though the decision was already made, he knew what he had to do, for he was still repairing what he had lost with his wife. Abram's heart pounded with a mix of fear and determination as he hurried to his tent to tell Sarai what had transpired. He recounted every detail to her, watching her face turn pale at the news.

Sarai (13:13)

Oh, those poor people. No survivors. And Lot and his family were taken?

Abram (13:20)

Yes.

Sarai (13:21)

And so you must go and find him and bring him back.

Abram (13:26)

Yes, Sarai, I will try. I must leave at once so we don't lose their trail. I came here directly to tell you, but now I must make preparations to leave. I will raise my trained men and we will begin the pursuit. We'll be a company of 318, so we'll be able to cover ground quickly and deftly.

Sarai (13:46)

318 against a whole Eastern army led by a king who has conquered many nations.

Abram (13:54)

The Amorites have agreed to join us as well. We won't be alone, and you know that. My God will be with me.

Sarai (14:01)

Even though the numbers are not in your favor, even though time is not on your side, even though you're well past fighting age, Lot could be hundreds of miles away in any direction. Lot chose to settle close to the city. That was his folly. You would still be loyal to him despite all of that?

Abram (14:21)

I would.

Sarai (14:25)

So you'll fight for him, then? You'll be courageous for him?

Lot (14:30)

Yes.

Abram (14:31)

I don't want to fail them. I. I know I've been a coward before. This is my chance to.

Narrator (14:38)

Abram turned his face away from Sarai. He feared what would happen if he continued.

Mamre (14:43)

Continued.

Narrator (14:44)

Abram couldn't bring himself to fully admit what had happened in Egypt. Certainly not to Sarai. Perhaps someday. But the failure still haunted him. Deeply feeling self conscious about what he had started to confess aloud, Abram shuddered and trailed off into silence, unable to meet her gaze. Fighting back the emotions welling up inside of him, he pushed down his guilt toward his wife and turned to his feelings for Lot. He couldn't lose Lot. He refused to consider the possibility and bit back the fears that had been creeping into his mind since the messenger burst into Mamre's hall. Sarai tentatively approached him and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. She tilted her head to meet his gaze, but he refused. Her voice was soft. Behind it was a well of unrequited love.

Sarai (15:40)

Go and save them. Don't fail and come back home to me.

Narrator (15:48)

Abram, his 318 men and the combined forces of the amirites set out and quickly found the trail of King Kedeleomer and his Four King Alliance. They had left a wake of destruction in their path, looting and pillaging as they went north, following the Euphrates River. Abram's tracking party, made up of his trained men, made remarkable speed as Abram had become familiar with the hill country on the western side of the valley. Abram's God had shown him all of it in his years of wandering before and after Egypt. They easily navigated the landscape and used it to their advantage in avoiding the detection of their enemy's scouts. When the larger amirids force finally caught up to them and made camp with them, less than half a day's march from the Four Kings alliance, Abram, emerging as the unlikely military strategist among them, laid out their plan.

Abram (16:43)

Just before dusk tomorrow, your larger forces will allow yourselves to be seen in the foothills. We're far enough away that they cannot guess our true numbers. You will draw their eyes here, to the west, and in all likelihood it will be late enough in the day for them not to be able to mount an attack until dawn. They will spend the night preparing and be distracted as I take my men to the east under darkness. There we will slip between their camp and the river. We'll spring an attack and disorient them. Though our force is small, it will feel like another great army has stormed into their midst. They will not flee west. They'll fear that they will lack the advantage of the high ground, and so they will flee either north and or south, and we'll pursue them.

Lot (17:35)

Hear, hear.

Mamre (17:36)

And we will crush them whichever direction they choose.

Narrator (17:40)

The fainting light of dusk intermixed with the dark clouds on the horizon, painting the landscape the color of rotted wine. Mamre's army positioned themselves on the foothills. Each man carried two torches, making their army seem twice the size of the four king. Alliance immediately began preparing for an attack. Abram and his men lingered in the shadows near the enemy camp. Abram grinned to himself as he and his men skirted the perimeter, hearing the commanders bark orders with terse, frayed tempers. They were likely used to have been the hunter, never the prey, and the reversal of roles had them on edge. Abram turned to Eliezer, smirked.

Abram (18:25)

You'd ever expect us to be here.

Eleazar (18:27)

With you, my lord, I've come to expect the unexpected.

Abram (18:31)

That's the spirit. First company, attack.

Narrator (18:37)

The first cluster of men charged out of the woods into the enemy camp. None of them grew up as warriors, but they were fiercely loyal to Abram. Their war cries were deep and triumphant. They burst through the camp, slashing away at unprepared sodomite soldiers.

Abram (18:55)

Second Company, charge.

Narrator (18:58)

Abram stationed clusters of his men at regular intervals along their eastern flank, making 300 men feel like 300,000 in the dark. More men burst through the tree with fresh legs, passing the men who had paused for combat. The sound of clanging steel and torn flesh filled the camp. Abram tightened his belt and drew his blade. He was no longer a young man. The white in his beard and creases in his eyes contrasted sharply with the tight muscles in his arm holding up a sword.

Abram (19:32)

Fueled by passion, he bellowed, third company, follow me.

Narrator (19:38)

The last of Abram's men paced behind him and around him. He ran with the vigor of a man half his age. The first man he saw was a foot soldier poised with a spear. Abram swiped his sword across his body from left to right, splitting the shaft of the spear in half. He replanted his feet and swung back to the left across his body, slashing the man's neck. Blood sprayed out on Abram's face. Each phase of the camp brought a new challenger. Abram was no warrior, but a friend. Force more powerful than him fueled him. Eleazar was beside him, protecting his blindside. All the men pressed forward, slowly diminishing their forces. As Abram predicted, they panicked at the surprise attack from the opposite direction and fled north. Abram, his men, and the amirites pursued them as far as Laish, picking off any squadrons who fell behind or broke ranks from the larger mass. When they reached the northern city of Laish beyond the mouth of the Euphrates river, they launched another attack. This time, Abram charged with more than a thousand men by his side. His God promised him that he would make him Great. Since leaving the comforts of Ur, Abram has sat in the palace of Pharaoh, dined with warlords and led an army into battle. As Abram rushed the enemy, he couldn't help but wonder what other things did this God had in store for him? The second attack was more successful than the last. Abram held a staff in one hand and a sword in another, parrying with the staff before attacking with the blade. He was no master in warfare, but it didn't seem to matter. The collective forces of Abram again pursued the last of the great army to Hobah, north of Damascus. They had travelled hundreds of hundreds of miles from where they started, Abram's God sustaining them and granting them victory after victory. And it was there that Abram and his men made their last stand. With face caked in blood and sand, Abram screamed with passion, dicing the enemy one by one. Each was a barrier to his nephew. What had started as chaffed, irritated skin had turned raw and inflamed on Lot's wrists and ankles. He knew somewhere in the back of his muddled mind that the overwhelming fatigue that gnawed at him day and night was probably an infection. The wounds from his bonds had never been adequately tended to. His wife and daughters were the same. He tried not to think about tomorrow, the next day, or even the next hour, and what horrors they were sure to hold. They sat in the dark prisoner's tent, trying to remain optimistic amid tragedy and suffering. Lot could tell that his captors were anxious. The pace they had adopted was grueling and they were clearly frustrated. He had the feeling that they were being pursued. Their captors often took their frustrations out on Lot. Despite this, he feared that if these pursuers were to overtake them, they could be trading one evil for a more terrifying one. To strike fear in the hearts of King Kedorlaomer was no small feat. It was just before dawn and the sun was only starting to warm at the tail end of the night when the shouting and fighting began. Whoever had been pursuing them finally caught up to their caravan. Lot and his family couldn't see any of it. All they could hear was the sound of clanging metal battle cries and tearing flesh.

Narrator (23:24)

What will happen to us? Will they take the camp?

Sarai (23:28)

We should never have left Iran or.

Lot (23:30)

Egypt or Bethel or AI or anywhere.

Announcer (23:35)

Quiet.

Narrator (23:36)

Keep quiet.

Sarai (23:37)

Listen.

Narrator (23:38)

Sure enough, the sounds of battle started to change. The rhythm of blows and suffering began to slow. Someone was winning. And from the inside of the prisoner's tent, it was impossible to tell who was was Lot. And his family exchanged leery glances with the other captives. An armored hand and forearm threw back the sheepskin hide that was their tent's opening. The warrior silently made a terse assessment of the space and called for aid. Lot's fever laden head spun as his thoughts raced. The armor was not that of their captors. This warrior was one of their pursuers. More soldiers poured into the tent, taking in the prisoners, all bound and roped together. They drew daggers as one, a diligent and practiced force. Lot braced himself for the worst and squeezed his eyes shut. But then came the sound of rope being frayed. Lot's eyes snapped open. They were being released. Moments later, the prisoners were being helped to their feet and their wounds assessed and tended to. One particularly brusque soldier hauled Lot to his feet and shouted something to the men outside ahead of him in a language Lot did not know. He pulled Lot outside the tent. Lot found himself squinting into the bright morning sun. One last warrior was locked in battle with the general of King Kadilaomer's army. He seemed to be the last man standing. The warrior was sure footed and moved deftly. Despite being smaller and much older, he had a confident gravitas to him. This man could be a king. Abrum could barely keep his legs up. Every breath was heavy, strained, and painful. But he couldn't show weakness. Not yet. He and King Kedileomer's general circled each other, waiting for the other to make another move. The others had surrounded them, withholding their aid. They knew this was a battle of honor. The general made another move, gliding his feet through the dirt to jab at Abram's ribs. Abram stepped to the side, but the blade grazed him. Abram winced, but quickly parried with a downward chop of his sword. The general blocked it with the thick leather armor on his arm. Abram heard the sound of cracking bone. This was his chance. Abram turned his hips back and cocked his arm. He swung his staff at the general's head. The whack made everyone watching gasp. Then, before the general could gather himself, Abram thrust the tip of his sword into the general's throat. The general fell. The crowd cheered, and the euphoria of victory rushed through him. The exhaustion of the supernatural feat finally washed over him. Abram stumbled to his knees. It wasn't over yet. He had to see if Lot was alive. He limped over to the prisoner's tent. Several of his men were helping the prisoners out of their bonds and to their feet. Knees buckling, he collapsed before a familiar face he knew almost as well as his own. The two wept at the sight of each other. Still shaking with weariness and raw emotion, he pulled Lot and his family into an embrace. All alive, all safe. Abram hadn't failed them.

Lot (27:18)

Abram, you came. You came for us.

Abram (27:21)

Of course I did.

Lot (27:24)

I hadn't even let myself hope that you would, or that anyone would.

Abram (27:28)

You are my family, Lot. I will always fight for you and come to your rescue, man, through the faithfulness of my God.

Lot (27:37)

I hear you made it. You saved us. Oh, thank you, Abram. Perhaps I should thank your God as well, for saving me and my family.

Narrator (27:48)

Together, Abram and Lot set about aiding the captured women and other prisoners. They also discovered that the gold and silver Lot lost in the abduction was still there, along with riches from other kingdoms the Four King alliance had plundered before. They broke camp to begin the long trek southward. And after they had recovered, they freed the other prisoners of war and sent them home to to their countries in peace. Once everything was settled, Abram's men, the Amorites, Lot, his wife and daughters, and the women and men who had been captured along with Lot's family, started their long trek home together.

Announcer (28:32)

This pray.com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Catena, Max Bard, Zach Shellavaga and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of the Chosen People. Narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Steven Ringwald, Sylvia zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Jr. Rosanna Pilcher and Mitch Leschinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith. Written by Aaron Salvato, Bree Rosely and Chris Baig. You can hear more prey.com productions on the prey.com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed the Chosen People, please rate and leave a review.

Narrator (29:18)

This is an iHeart podcast.