Georgius Syncellus, Chronographical Selection

Madam, Madiam, Iesbok. 114 When an African Famine seized the land of Canaan, Abraham went down to Egypt, and fearing lest he be killed on account of his wife's beauty, he pretends to be her brother. And being praised, Pharaoh took her (for thus do the Egyptians translate their kings), and he paid the penalty to God, but Abraham, already rich, departed with his own. In Canaan the shepherds of both Abraham and Lot quarreled, and it seeming good to them, they separated, Lot choosing to live in Sodom on account of the excellence and beauty of the land, which had five cities, Sodom, Gomorrah, Adama, Seboeim, Segor, and as many kings. The four neighboring kings of the Syrians made war on these, whose leader was Chodollagomor, king of Aelam. And they met beside the salt sea, which is now called the Dead Sea; in this I have seen most wondrous things. For that water supports no living thing, and the dead are carried submerged, but the living could not even be easily immersed. And lamps, when lit, are carried upon it, but when extinguished, they sink. Here are the springs of bitumen; it bears alum and salt, differing a little from others; for it is both bitter and transparent. And wherever fruit is found, more of the thickest smoke is found. And the water heals those who use it, and it ceases by any water, suffering the opposite effects. And if it did not have the Jordan river as nourishment, running through it like a purple stripe and enduring for a great distance, it would have ceased sooner than it appears. And beside it is the plant of balsam in great abundance. And it is supposed to have been overturned by God on account of the impiety of the inhabitants. 115 In the 100th year of his life, Abraham begot Isaac, in the cosmic year 3412. Abraham lived in all 175 years and failing, as the scripture says, he died in a good old age, an old man and full of days. And Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the double cave in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is opposite Mamre, the field and the cave which Abraham acquired from the sons of Heth; there they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife.

KINGS OF THE EGYPTIANS Of Egypt, the 19th king was Ramessomenes for 15 years. And it was the year of the world 3315. Of Egypt, the 20th king was Ousimares for 31 years. And it was the year of the world 3330. Of Egypt, the 21st king was Ramesses for 23 years. And it was the year of the world 3361. Of Egypt, the 22nd king was Ramessamenno for 19 years. This is the first Pharaoh mentioned in the divine scripture. During his reign the patriarch Abraham came down to Egypt. And it was the year of the world 3384. Of Egypt, the 23rd king was Ramesses Ioubasse for 39 years. And it was the year of the world 3403.

KINGS OF THE THEBANS Of the Theban Egyptians, the 10th king was Anouphis, which is villager, for 20 years. And it was the year of the world 3231. Of the Theban Egyptians, the 11th king was Sirios, which is son of a maiden, or according to others, unbewitched, for 18 years. And it was the year of the world 3251. Of the Theban Egyptians, the 12th king was Chnoubos Gneuros, which is Chryses son of Chrysos, for 22 years. And it was the year of the world 3269. 116 Of the Theban Egyptians, the 13th king was Rauosis, which is chief ruler, for 13 years. And it was the year of the world 3291. Of the Theban Egyptians, the 14th king was Biures for 10 years. And it was the year of the world 3304. Of the Theban Egyptians, the 15th king was Saophis, a reveler, or according to some, a money-maker, for 29 years. And it was the year of the world 3314.

KINGS OF THE SICYONIANS Of the Sicyonians, the second king was Europs for 45 years. And it was the year of the world 3291. In the 20th year of Europs, this second king of the Sicyonians, that is, of the Peloponnesians, Abraham of the Hebrews is born. From this they say

Μαδάμ, Μαδιάμ, Ἰεσβώκ. 114 Ἀφρικανοῦ Λιμοῦ κατασχόντος τὴν γῆν τὴν Χανανίτιδα κατῆλθεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον Ἀβραάμ, δεδιὼς δὲ μὴ διὰ τὸ κάλλος τῆς γυναικὸς ἀναιρεθῇ, ἀδελφὸς εἶναι σκέπτεται. ἐπαινεθεῖσαν δὲ ἠγάγετο Φαραώ (οὕτω γὰρ Αἰγύπτιοι τοὺς βασιλεῖς ἑρμηνεύουσι), καὶ ὁ μὲν δίκας ἔτισε τῷ θεῶ, ὁ δ' ἅμα τοῖς ἰδίοις Ἀβραὰμ ἤδη πλουτῶν ἀπηλλάσσετο. Ἐν Χαναὰν διεπληκτίσαντο ποιμένες τοῦ τε Ἀβραὰμ καὶ τοῦ Λώτ, καὶ δόξαντος αὐτοῖς ἐχωρίσθησαν, ἑλομένου Λὼτ ἐν Σοδόμοις οἰκεῖν δι' ἀρε τὴν καὶ κάλλος τῆς γῆς ἐχούσης πέντε πόλεις, Σόδομα, Γόμορρα, Ἄδαμα, Σεβωείμ, Σηγώρ, καὶ τοσούτους βασιλεῖς. τούτοις οἱ πλησιόχωροι τέσσα ρες βασιλεῖς Σύρων ἐπολέμησαν, ὧν ἡγεῖτο Χοδολλαγομὸρ βασιλεὺς Αἰλάμ. συνέβαλλον δὲ παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν τὴν ἁλικήν, ἣ καλεῖται νῦν θάλαττα νεκρά· ἐν ταύτῃ πλεῖστα τῶν θαυμασίων τεθέαμαι. ζῴων τε γὰρ οὐδὲν ἐκεῖνο φέρει τὸ ὕδωρ, καὶ νεκροὶ μὲν ὑποβρύχιοι φέρονται, ζῶντες δὲ οὐδ' ἂν ῥᾳδίως βαπτίσαιντο. λύχνοι δὲ καιόμενοι μὲν ἐπιφέρονται, σβεν νύμενοι δὲ καταδύουσιν. Ἐνταῦθά εἰσιν αἱ τῆς ἀσφάλτου πηγαί· φέρει δὲ στυπτηρίαν καὶ ἅλας, ὀλίγον τι τῶν ἄλλων διαφέροντα· πικρά τε γάρ ἐστι καὶ διαυγῆ. ἔνθα δ' ἂν καρπὸς εὑρεθῇ κάπνου πλέον εὑρίσκεται θολερωτάτου. τὸ δὲ ὕδωρ ἰᾶται τοὺς χρωμένους αὐτῷ, λήγει τε παντὶ ὕδατι πάσχον τὰ ἐναντία. εἰ δὲ μὴ Ἰορδάνην εἶχε τὸν ποταμὸν τροφὴν ὡς πορφύραν διατρέχοντα καὶ ἐπὶ πολὺ ἀντέχοντα, ἔληξεν ἂν θᾶττον ἢ φαίνεται. ἔστι δὲ παρ' αὐτῇ πάμ πολυ τοῦ βαλσάμου φυτόν. ὑπονοεῖται δὲ ἀνατετράφθαι ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ διὰ τὴν τῶν περιοικούντων ἀσέβειαν. 115 Τῷ ρʹ ἔτει τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ Ἀβραὰμ ἐγέννησε τὸν Ἰσαάκ, ἔτει κοσμικῷ γυιβʹ. Ἀβραὰμ ἔζησε τὰ πάντα ἔτη ροεʹ καὶ ἐκλείπων, ὥς φησιν ἡ γραφή, ἀπέθανεν ἐν γήρᾳ καλῷ πρεσβύτερος καὶ πλήρης ἡμερῶν. καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν Ἰσαὰκ καὶ Ἰσμαὴλ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ σπήλαιον τὸ διπλοῦν εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν Ἐφρὼν τοῦ Σαὰρ τοῦ Χετταίου, ὅ ἐστιν ἀπέναντι Μαμβρῆ τὸν ἀγρὸν καὶ τὸ σπήλαιον ὃ ἐκτήσατο ὁ Ἀβραὰμ παρὰ τῶν υἱῶν Χέτ· ἐκεῖ ἔθαψαν Ἀβραὰμ καὶ Σάρραν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ.

ΑΙΓΥΠΤΙΩΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΣ Αἰγύπτου ἐβασίλευσεν ιθʹ Ῥαμεσσομενὴς ἔτη ιεʹ. τοῦ δὲ

κόσμου ἦν ἔτος γτιεʹ. Αἰγύπτου ἐβασίλευσεν κʹ Οὐσιμάρης ἔτη λαʹ. τοῦ δὲ κόσμου ἦν ἔτος γτλʹ. Αἰγύπτου ἐβασίλευσεν καʹ Ῥαμεσσήσεως ἔτη κγʹ. τοῦ δὲ κόσμου ἦν ἔτος γτξαʹ. Αἰγύπτου ἐβασίλευσε κβʹ Ῥαμεσσαμένω ἔτη ιθʹ. οὗτος πρῶτος Φαραῶ ἐν τῇ θείᾳ γραφῇ μνημονεύεται. ἐπὶ τούτου ὁ πατριάρχης Ἀβραὰμ κατ ῆλθεν εἰς Αἴγυπτον. τοῦ δὲ κόσμου ἦν ἔτος γτπδʹ. Αἰγύπτου ἐβασίλευσε κγʹ Ῥαμεσσῆ Ἰουβασσῆ ἔτη λθʹ. τοῦ δὲ κόσμου ἦν ἔτος γυγʹ.

ΘΗΒΑΙΩΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΣ Θηβαίων Αἰγυπτίων ιʹ ἐβασίλευσεν Ἀνωυφίς, ὅ ἐστιν

ἐπίκωμος, ἔτη κʹ. τοῦ δὲ κόσμου ἦν ἔτος γσλαʹ. Θηβαίων Αἰγυπτίων ιαʹ ἐβασίλευσε Σίριος, ὅ ἐστιν υἱὸς κόρης, ὡς δὲ ἕτεροι ἀβάσκαντος, ἔτη ιηʹ. τοῦ δὲ κόσμου ἦν ἔτος γσναʹ. Θηβαίων Αἰγυπτίων ιβʹ ἐβασίλευσε Χνοῦβος Γνευρός, ὅ ἐστι Χρύσης Χρύσου υἱός, ἔτη κβʹ. τοῦ δὲ κόσμου ἦν ἔτος γσξθʹ. 116 Θηβαίων Αἰγυπτίων ιγʹ ἐβασίλευσε Ῥαύωσις, ὅ ἐστιν ἀρχικράτωρ, ἔτη ιγʹ. τοῦ δὲ κόσμου ἦν ἔτος γς ζαʹ. Θηβαίων Αἰγυπτίων ιδʹ ἐβασίλευσε Βιύρης ἔτη ιʹ. τοῦ δὲ κόσμου ἦν ἔτος γτδʹ. Θηβαίων Αἰγυπτίων ιεʹ ἐβασίλευσε Σαῶφις κωμαστής, κατὰ δὲ ἐνίους χρηματιστής, ἔτη κθʹ. τοῦ δὲ κόσμου ἦν ἔτος γτιδʹ.

ΣΙΚΥΩΝΙΩΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΣ Σικυωνίων δεύτερος ἐβασίλευσεν Εὔρωψ ἔτη μεʹ. τοῦ

δὲ κόσμου ἦν ἔτος γς ζαʹ. Κατὰ τὸ κʹ ἔτος Εὔρωπος τούτου τοῦ δευτέρου βασιλέως Σικυωνίων, ἤτοι Πελοποννησίων, γεννᾶται ὁ παρ' Ἑβραίοις Ἀβραάμ. ἐκ τούτου φασί