Genesis 18

Abraham's Three Visitors

1 Then the Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre[a] while he was sitting in the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day.
2 He looked up, and he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed to the ground.
3 Then he said, "My lord,[b] if I have found favor in your sight, please do not go on past your servant.
4 Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.
5 I will bring a bit of bread so that you may strengthen yourselves.[c] This is why you have passed your servant's [way]. Later, you can continue on." "Yes," they replied, "do as you have said."
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, "Quick! Knead three measures[d] of fine flour and make bread."[e]
7 Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it.
8 Then Abraham took curds[f] and milk, and the calf that he had prepared, and set [them] before the men. He served[g] them as they ate under the tree.

Sarah Laughs

9 "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he answered.
10 The Lord said, "I will certainly come back to you in about a year's time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!"[h] Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him.
11 Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years.[i] Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.[j]
12 So she laughed to herself: "After I have become shriveled up and my lord is old, will I have delight?"
13 But the Lord asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Can I really have a baby when I'm old?'
14 Is anything impossible for the Lord? At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son."
15 Sarah denied it. "I did not laugh," she said, because she was afraid. But He replied, "No, you did laugh."

Abraham's Plea for Sodom

16 The men got up from there and looked out over Sodom, and Abraham was walking with them to see them off.
17 Then the Lord said, "Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
18 Abraham is to become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.[k]
19 For I have chosen[l] him so that he will command his children and his house after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. This is how the Lord will fulfill to Abraham what He promised him."
20 Then the Lord said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious.
21 I will go down to see if what they have done justifies the cry that has come up to Me. If not, I will find out."
22 The men turned from there and went toward Sodom[m] while Abraham remained standing before the Lord.[n]
23 Abraham stepped forward and said, "Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24 What if there are 50 righteous people in the city? Will You really sweep it away instead of sparing the place for the sake of the 50 righteous people who are in it?
25 You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won't the Judge of all the earth do what is just?"
26 The Lord said, "If at Sodom I find 50 righteous people in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake."
27 Then Abraham answered, "Since I have ventured to speak to the Lord-even though I am dust and ashes-
28 suppose the 50 righteous lack five. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" He replied, "I will not destroy [it] if I find 45 there."
29 Then he spoke to Him again, "Suppose 40 are found there?" He answered, "I will not do [it] on account of 40."
30 Then he said, "Let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak further. Suppose 30 are found there?" He answered, "I will not do [it] if I find 30 there."
31 Then he said, "Since I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose 20 are found there?" He replied, "I will not destroy [it] on account of 20."
32 Then he said, "Let the Lord not be angry, and I will speak one more time. Suppose 10 are found there?" He answered, "I will not destroy [it] on account of 10."
33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned to his place.

Genesis 18 Commentary

Chapter 18

The Lord appears to Abraham. (1-8) Sarah's unbelief reproved. (9-15) God reveals to Abraham the destruction of Sodom. (16-22) Abraham's intercession for Sodom. (23-33)

Verses 1-8 Abraham was waiting to entertain any weary traveller, for inns were not to be met with as among us. While Abraham was thus sitting, he saw three men coming. These were three heavenly beings in human bodies. Some think they were all created angels; others, that one of them was the Son of God, the Angel of the covenant. Washing the feet is customary in those hot climates, where only sandals are worn. We should not be forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares, ( Hebrews 13:2 ) ; nay, the Lord of angels himself; as we always do, when for his sake we entertain the least of his brethren. Cheerful and obliging manners in showing kindness, are great ornaments to piety. Though our condescending Lord vouchsafes not personal visits to us, yet still by his Spirit he stands at the door and knocks; when we are inclined to open, he deigns to enter; and by his gracious consolations he provides a rich feast, of which we partake with him, ( Revelation 3:20 ) .

Verses 9-15 Where is Sarah thy wife? was asked. Note the answer, In the tent. Just at hand, in her proper place, occupied in her household concerns. There is nothing got by gadding. Those are most likely to receive comfort from God and his promises, who are in their proper place, and in the way of their duty, Lu. 2:8 . We are slow of heart to believe, and need line upon line to the same purport. The blessings others have from common providence, believers have from the Divine promise, which makes them very sweet, and very sure. The spiritual seed of Abraham owe their life, and joy, and hope, and all, to the promise. Sarah thinks this too good news to be true; she laughed, and therefore cannot as yet find in her heart to believe it. Sarah laughed. We might not have thought there was a difference between Sarah's laughter and Abraham's, ch. 17:17 ; but He who searches the heart, saw that the one sprung from unbelief, and the other from faith. She denied that she had laughed. One sin commonly brings in another, and it is not likely we shall strictly keep to truth, when we question the Divine truth. But whom the Lord loves he will rebuke, convict, silence, and bring to repentance, and if they sin before him.

Verses 16-22 The two who are supposed to have been created angels went toward Sodom. The one who is called Jehovah throughout the chapter, continued with Abraham, and would not hide from him the thing he intended to do. Though God long forbears with sinners, from which they fancy that the Lord does not see, and does not regard; yet when the day of his wrath comes, he will look toward them. The Lord will give Abraham an opportunity to intercede with him, and shows him the reason of his conduct. Consider, as a very bright part of Abraham's character and example, that he not only prayed with his family, but he was very careful to teach and rule them well. Those who expect family blessings must make conscience of family duty. Abraham did not fill their heads with matters of doubtful dispute; but he taught them to be serious and devout in the worship of God, and to be honest in their dealings with all men. Of how few may such a character be given in our days! How little care is taken by masters of families to ground those under them in the principles of religion! Do we watch from sabbath to sabbath whether they go forward or backward?

Verses 23-33 Here is the first solemn prayer upon record in the Bible; and it is a prayer for the sparing of Sodom. Abraham prayed earnestly that Sodom might be spared, if but a few righteous persons should be found in it. Come and learn from Abraham what compassion we should feel for sinners, and how earnestly we should pray for them. We see here that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Abraham, indeed, failed in his request for the whole place, but Lot was miraculously delivered. Be encouraged then to expect, by earnest prayer, the blessing of God upon your families, your friends, your neighbourhood. To this end you must not only pray, but you must live like Abraham. He knew the Judge of all the earth would do right. He does not plead that the wicked may be spared for their own sake, or because it would be severe to destroy them, but for the sake of the righteous who might be found among them. And righteousness only can be made a plea before God. How then did Christ make intercession for transgressors? Not by blaming the Divine law, nor by alleging aught in extenuation or excuse of human guilt; but by pleading HIS OWN obedience unto death.

Footnotes 14

  • [a]. Gn 13:18; 14:13; 23:17-19
  • [b]. Or My Lord, or The Lord
  • [c]. Lit may sustain your heart
  • [d]. Lit three seahs; about 21 quarts
  • [e]. A round, thin, unleavened bread
  • [f]. Or butter
  • [g]. Lit was standing by
  • [h]. Gn 17:10; 21:1
  • [i]. Lit days
  • [j]. Lit The way of women had ceased for Sarah
  • [k]. Gn 12:3; 26:4; Gl 3:8
  • [l]. Lit known
  • [m]. Gn 19:1
  • [n]. One ancient Jewish tradition reads while the Lord remained standing before Abraham

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 18

Another appearance of God to Abraham is here recorded; three persons are seen by him in an human form, whom he kindly invites to stop with him, and generously entertains them, Ge 18:1-8; they inquire concerning Sarah his wife, and one of them renews the promise of her bearing a son to him, which occasions laughter in her, for which she is reproved, Ge 18:9-15; upon their departure the Lord thought fit, for reasons given, to make known to Abraham his intention to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Ge 18:16-22; when Abraham intercedes for the preservation of those cities in a most importunate and affectionate manner, Ge 18:23-33.

Genesis 18 Commentaries

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