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The upper register of folio 25v
Abram Routs & Pursues the Four Kings and Rescues Lot
British Library, MS Cotton Claudius B IV
Hexateuch
An Old English translation of the first six books of the Old Testament


A larger image of 'Abram Routs & Pursues the Four Kings and Rescues Lot', in the Old English Hexateuch, British Library, MS Cotton Claudius B IV.

¹⁵ He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and routed them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. ¹⁶ Then he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his nephew Lot with his goods, and the women and the people. (Genesis 14:15-16)

Date: 2nd quarter of the 11th century-2nd half of the 12th century
Title: Old English Hexateuch (imperfect), comprising Ælfric’s preface (1r–v), Genesis (1v–72v), Exodus (72v–105v), Leviticus (105v–110v), Numbers (111r–128r), Deuteronomy (128v–140r) and Joshua (140v–156v)

Claudius B.iv. was probably compiled in the second quarter of the 11th century at St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury. It incorporates translations and a preface by Ælfric of Eynsham, while the remaining parts of the translation were carried out by anonymous authors. Peter Clemoes suggests that Byrhtferth of Ramsey was responsible for the compilation as well as for parts of the translation.