Genesis 18 Footnotes

18:1–19:2 At first glance, the identity of the persons with whom Abraham (Gn 18) and Lot (Gn 19) interacted may seem confusing. There are references to “the LORD” (18:1,10), “three men” (18:2), and “two angels” (19:1). The best explanation is that both the Lord and angels took human form (i.e., appeared as human beings). Of the three, the Lord conversed with Abraham (18:1,10-33), while the two angels (19:1) continued on to Sodom, where Lot responded to them (19:1-2) in a manner similar to the way in which Abraham had met the three men in 18:1-4, implying that their appearance remained human.

18:23-32 The negotiation between the Lord and Abraham does not imply that humans are able to manipulate God in order to change his mind. Rather, it demonstrates God’s desire to be merciful, contrasted with humanity’s wickedness and addiction to evil. God is willing to forego judgment, as evidenced by his relenting after the repentance of the people of Nineveh in response to Jonah’s preaching (Jnh 3:10). However, unlike Nineveh, not even the minimal number of ten righteous people could be found in Sodom (Gn 18:32; 19:12-13). A broader issue here is the meaning of “righteous.” The preceding account of Abraham’s life emphasizes that the basis of his righteousness was his faith in God’s promises (15:6). Thus, people who trust God are called righteous.