Genesis 18:4

4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,

Genesis 18:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 18:4

Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your
feet
Which was very refreshing to travellers in hot countries, who walked barefoot or in sandals; and this he proposes to be done by one of his servants, whose business it was, only desires they would give him leave to order it, ( 1 Samuel 25:41 ) ; and so it was usual in other countries, and in later times, for servants to fetch water to wash the hands and feet of guests F12:

and rest yourselves under the tree;
before the tent door, under which doubtless were seats to sit down upon, where they might rest their weary limbs; it is very probable this was an oak tree, and which, and a turpentine tree the ancient writers speak of, continued unto the times of Constantine, (See Gill on Genesis 13:18); and the Jewish writers say F13, that now near the city (Hebron), between the vineyards, are the oaks of Mamre, where is the house of Abraham our father, on whom be peace, and the tree under which the angels ate, and the stone on which he (Abraham) sat when he was circumcised.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 "----- dant manibus famuli lymphas." --Virgil. Aeneid. l. 1.
F13 Cippi Hebr. p. 9. Ed. Hottinger.

Genesis 18:4 In-Context

2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the earth,
3 and said, "My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.
4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,
5 while I fetch a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on--since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said."
6 And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes."
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.