CHAPTER 18

(Genesis 18:1)  And the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ appeared⁷²⁰⁰ unto⁴¹³ him in the plains⁴³⁶ of Mamre:⁴⁴⁷¹ and he¹⁹³¹ sat³⁴²⁷ in the tent¹⁶⁸ door⁶⁶⁰⁷ in the heat²⁵²⁷ of the day;³¹¹⁷

the LORD:  From H1961 [i.e., to exist]; (the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.[S]  While Elohim is God as the Creator of all things, Jehovah is the same God in covenant relation to those whom He has created (compare 2 Chronicles 18:31).  Jehovah means the Eternal, the Immutable One.  He Who WAS, and IS, and IS TO COME.  The Divine definition is given in Genesis 21:33.  He is especially, therefore, the God of Israel; and the God of those who are redeemed, and are thus now “in Christ”.  We can say “My God”, but not “My Jehovah”, for Jehovah is “My God”.  Jehovah is indicated (as in A.V.) by small capital letters, “lord”; and by “God” when it occurs in combination with Adonai, in which case Lord GOD = Adonai Jehovah.  the Lord appeared—another manifestation of the divine presence, more familiar than any yet narrated; and more like that in the fulness of time, when the Word was made flesh.[JFB] in the plains of:  Prolonged from H352; an oak or other strong tree.[S]  Mamre:  From H4754 (in the sense of vigor); lusty; Mamre, an Amorite.[S]  in the plains of Mamre = among the oaks of Mamre.[B]  Rather, terebinth or oak of Mamre; a tall-spreading tree or grove of trees.[JFB]  the tent:  From H166 [i.e., to be clear]; a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance).[S]  He sat in the tent-door in the heat of the day - Not so much to repose himself, as to seek an opportunity of doing good, by giving entertainment to strangers.[JW]  sat in the tent door—The tent itself being too close and sultry at noon, the shaded open front is usually resorted to for the air that may be stirring.[JFB]

(Genesis 18:2)  And he lifted up⁵³⁷⁵ his eyes⁵⁸⁶⁹ and looked,⁷²⁰⁰ and, lo,²⁰⁰⁹ three⁷⁹⁶⁹ men³⁷⁶ stood⁵³²⁴ by⁵⁹²¹ him: and when he saw⁷²⁰⁰ them, he ran⁷³²³ to meet⁷¹²⁵ them from the tent door,^{4480, 6607, 168} and bowed himself⁷⁸¹² toward the ground,⁷⁷⁶

and looked:  Note Abraham’s four “looks”:  13:14 (earth); 15:5 (heaven); 18:2 (Jehovah); 22:13 (a substitute).[B]  three men:  Elohim and two angels called men (Hebrew ‘ish) here, and verses 16, 22; but in 19:1, 15 the two are called “angels”.  Three the Number of Divine perfection.  When two departed, Elohim (the Divine Presence) remained (verses 16, 22).[B]  That is, three angels in the shape of men.[GSB]  And lo three men - These three men were three spiritual heavenly beings, now assuming human shapes, that they might be visible to Abraham, and conversable with him.  Some think they were all three created angels; others, that one of them was the Son of God.[JW]  by:  Above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications.[S]  lift up his eyes . . . and, lo, three men—Travelers  in that quarter start at sunrise and continue till midday when they look out for some resting-place.[JFB]  he ran to meet them—When the visitor is an ordinary person, the host merely rises; but if of superior rank, the custom is to advance a little towards the stranger, and after a very low bow, turn and lead him to the tent, putting an arm round his waist, or tapping him on the shoulder as they go, to assure him of welcome.[JFB] and bowed himself:  A primitive root; to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God).[S] Religion doth not destroy but improve good manners, and teaches us to honour all men.[JW]

(Genesis 18:3)  And said,⁵⁵⁹ My Lord,¹³⁶ if⁵¹⁸ now⁴⁹⁹⁴ I have found⁴⁶⁷² favor²⁵⁸⁰ in Thy sight,⁵⁸⁶⁹ pass not away,^{5674, 408} I pray Thee,⁴⁹⁹⁴ from^{4480, 5921} Thy servant:⁵⁶⁵⁰

My Lord:  An emphatic form of H113 [i.e., sovereign, that is, controller (human or divine)]; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only).[S]  The Lord, a title of the one true God, with a focus on His majesty and authority.[SS]  Jehovah.[B]  have found:  A primitive root; properly to come forth to, that is, appear or exist; transitively to attain, that is, find or acquire; figuratively to occur, meet or be present.[S]  favor:  From H2603; graciousness, that is, subjectively (kindness, favor) or objectively (beauty).[S]  My Lord, if now I have found favor—The  hospitalities offered are just of the kind that are necessary and most grateful, the refreshment of water, for feet exposed to dust and heat by the sandals, being still the first observed among the pastoral people of Hebron.[JFB]  I pray Thee:  A primitive particle of incitement and entreaty, which may usually be rendered I pray, now or then; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjugation.[S]

(Genesis 18:4)  Let a little⁴⁵⁹² water,⁴³²⁵ I pray you,⁴⁹⁹⁴ be fetched,³⁹⁴⁷ and wash⁷³⁶⁴ your feet,⁷²⁷² and rest yourselves⁸¹⁷² under⁸⁴⁷⁸ the tree:⁶⁰⁸⁶

Let … be fetched: A primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications).[S]  To go and bring.[W]  and rest yourselves:  A primitive root; to support one’s self.[S]  To lean on, to rely, as upon a staff or support.[WW]

(Genesis 18:5)  And I will fetch³⁹⁴⁷ a morsel⁶⁵⁹⁵ of bread,³⁸⁹⁹ and comfort⁵⁵⁸² ye your hearts;³⁸²⁰ after that³¹⁰ ye shall pass on:⁵⁶⁷⁴ for³⁵⁸⁸ therefore^{5921, 3651} are ye come⁵⁶⁷⁴ to⁵⁹²¹ your servant.⁵⁶⁵⁰ And they said,⁵⁵⁹ So³⁶⁵¹ do,⁶²¹³ as⁸³⁴ thou hast said.¹⁶⁹⁶

a morsel of:  From H6626 [i.e., to open, that is, break]; a bit.[S]  bread:  From H3898; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it).[S]  Put for food in general.[S]  and comfort ye:  A primitive root; to support (mostly figuratively).[S]  To support; applied to refreshing the heart with food.[WW]  so:  From H3559; properly set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjugation) rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and relation; often with other particles).[S] for therefore are ye come—No questions were asked.  But Abraham knew their object by the course they took—approaching directly in front of the chief sheik's tent, which is always distinguishable from the rest and thus showing their wish to be his guests.[JFB]

(Genesis 18:6)  And Abraham⁸⁵ hastened⁴¹¹⁶ into the tent¹⁶⁸ unto⁴¹³ Sarah,⁸²⁸³ and said,⁵⁵⁹ Make ready quickly⁴¹¹⁶ three⁷⁹⁶⁹ measures⁵⁴²⁹ of fine⁵⁵⁶⁰ meal,⁷⁰⁵⁸ knead³⁸⁸⁸ it, and make⁶²¹³ cakes upon the hearth.⁵⁶⁹²

And … hastened/Make ready quickly:  A primitive root; properly to be liquid or flow easily, that is, (by implication); to hurry (in a good or bad sense); often used (with another verb) adverbially promptly.[S] To make haste, to be very expeditious.[WW]  measures:  From an unused root meaning to define; a seah, or certain measure (as determinative) for grain.[S]  A certain measure for grain, seah; according to the Rabbins, the third part of an ephah [1 1/12 English bushel].[WW]  fine:  From an unused root meaning to strip; flour (as chipped off).[S]  meal:  From an unused root probably meaning to grind; flour.[S]  fine meal = very fine meal.[WW]  cakes upon the hearth:  From H5746 [i.e., to bake (round cakes on the hearth)]; an ashcake (as round).[S]  A cake baked upon the hearth; or upon hot stones, and covered with ashes, such as could be hastily prepared.[WW]  Evidently unleavened.[B] Abraham hastened . . . unto Sarah . . . make cakes upon the hearth—Bread  is baked daily, no more than is required for family use, and always by the women, commonly the wife.  It is a short process.  Flour mixed with water is made into dough, and being rolled out into cakes, it is placed on the earthen floor, previously heated by a fire. The fire being removed, the cakes are laid on the ground, and being covered over with hot embers, are soon baked, and eaten the moment they are taken off.[JFB]

(Genesis 18:7)  And Abraham⁸⁵ ran⁷³²³ unto⁴¹³ the herd,¹²⁴¹ and fetched³⁹⁴⁷ a calf^{1121, 1241} tender⁷³⁹⁰ and good,²⁸⁹⁶ and gave⁵⁴¹⁴ it unto⁴¹³ a young man;⁵²⁸⁸ and he hasted⁴¹¹⁶ to dress⁶²¹³ it.

And ran:  Such speedy hospitality is common in the East.[B]  the herd/a calf:  From H1239; a beeve or animal of the ox kind of either gender (as used for ploughing); collectively a herd.[S]  Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf—Animal food is never provided, except for visitors of a superior rank when a kid or lamb is killed.  A calf is still a higher stretch of hospitality, and it would probably be cooked as is usually done when haste is required—either by roasting it whole or by cutting it up into small pieces and broiling them on skewers over the fire.  It is always eaten along with boiled corn swimming in butter or melted fat, into which every morsel of meat, laid upon a piece of bread, is dipped, before being conveyed by the fingers to the mouth.[JFB]  tender:  From H7401; tender (literally or figuratively); by implication weak.[S]  Soft, not hard.[WW]  a young man:  From H5287; (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication a servant; also (by interchange of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age).[S]  dress it:  To work about anything, to prepare food.[WW]

(Genesis 18:8)  And he took³⁹⁴⁷ butter,²⁵²⁹ and milk,²⁴⁶¹ and the calf^{1121, 1241} which⁸³⁴ he had dressed,⁶²¹³ and set⁵⁴¹⁴ it before⁶⁴⁴⁰ them; and he¹⁹³¹ stood⁵⁹⁷⁵ by⁵⁹²¹ them under⁸⁴⁷⁸ the tree,⁶⁰⁸⁶ and they did eat.³⁹⁸

milk—A bowl of camel's milk ends the repast.[JFB]  he stood by them under the tree—The host himself, even though he has a number of servants, deems it a necessary act of politeness to stand while his guests are at their food, and Abraham evidently did this before he was aware of the real character of his visitors.[JFB]

(Genesis 18:9)  And they said⁵⁵⁹ unto⁴¹³ him, Where³⁴⁶ is Sarah⁸²⁸³ thy wife?⁸⁰² And he said,⁵⁵⁹ Behold,²⁰⁰⁹ in the tent.¹⁶⁸

Where is Sarah thy wife? - By naming her, they gave intimation to Abraham, that tho' they seemed strangers, yet they well knew him and his family:  by enquiring after her, they shewed a kind concern for the family of one, whom they found respectful to them.  And by speaking of her, she over-hearing it, they drew her to listen to what was farther to be said.[JW]   An inquiry about his wife, so surprising in strangers, the subject of conversation, and the fulfilment of the fondly cherished promise within a specified time, showed Abraham that he had been entertaining more than ordinary travelers (Hebrews 13:2).[JFB]

(Genesis 18:10)  And he said,⁵⁵⁹ I will certainly return^{7725, 7725} unto⁴¹³ thee according to the time⁶²⁵⁶ of life;²⁴¹⁶ and, lo,²⁰⁰⁹ Sarah⁸²⁸³ thy wife⁸⁰² shall have a son.¹¹²¹ And Sarah⁸²⁸³ heard⁸⁰⁸⁵ it in the tent¹⁶⁸ door,⁶⁶⁰⁷ which¹⁹³¹ was behind³¹⁰ him.

I will certainly return unto thee - And visit thee.  God will return to those that bid him welcome.[JW]

(Genesis 18:11)  Now Abraham⁸⁵ and Sarah⁸²⁸³ were old²²⁰⁵ and well stricken⁹³⁵ in age;³¹¹⁷ and it ceased²³⁰⁸ to be¹⁹⁶¹ with Sarah⁸²⁸³ after the manner⁷³⁴ of women.⁸⁰²

after the manner of:  Literally the way as of women; what is customary or incident to.[WW]  Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him—The women's apartment is in the back of the tent, divided by a thin partition from the men's.[JFB]

(Genesis 18:12)  Therefore Sarah⁸²⁸³ laughed⁶⁷¹¹ within⁷¹³⁰ herself, saying,⁵⁵⁹ After³¹⁰ I am waxed old¹⁰⁸⁶ shall I have¹⁹⁶¹ pleasure,⁵⁷³⁰ my lord¹¹³ being old²²⁰⁴ also?

Therefore … laughed:  To laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by implication to sport.[S]  To laugh; to play, to sport, to jest; to laugh may imply admiration and joy [Abraham], or unbelief and mistrust [Sarah]:  see Genesis 17:17 and 18:12.[WW] The laughter of incredulity.[KWSB] Sarah did not fall down as Abraham in 17:(3), 17.[B]  I am waxed old: A primitive root; to fail; by implication to wear out, decay (causatively consume, spend).[S]  Had passed the age of child-bearing.[ASB]  pleasure: From H5727 [i.e., figuratively and reflexively to live voluptuously]; pleasure.[S Sarah laughed within herself - It was not a laughter of faith, like Abraham's, Genesis 17:17, but a laughter of doubting and distrust. The great objection which Sarah could not get over was her age.  I am waxed old, and past child-bearing in a course of nature, especially having been hitherto barren, and which magnifies the difficulty, My lord is old also.  Observe here, That Sarah calls Abraham her lord, and the Holy Ghost takes notice of it to her honour, and recommends it to the imitation of all Christian wives, 1 Peter 3:6. Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him lord, in token of respect and subjection.[JW]] 

(Genesis 18:13)  And the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ said⁵⁵⁹ unto⁴¹³ Abraham,⁸⁵ Wherefore^{4100, 2088} did Sarah⁸²⁸³ laugh,⁶⁷¹¹ saying,⁵⁵⁹ Shall I of a surety^{637, 552} bear a child,³²⁰⁵ which⁵⁸⁹ am old?²²⁰⁴

of a surety:  A primitive particle; meaning accession (used as an adverb or conjugation); also or yea; adversatively though.[H 637]  An orthographical variation of H551 [i.e., verily].[H552][S]

(Genesis 18:14)  Is any thing¹⁶⁹⁷ too hard⁶³⁸¹ for the LORD?^{4480, 3068} At the time appointed⁴¹⁵⁰ I will return⁷⁷²⁵ unto⁴¹³ thee, according to the time⁶²⁵⁶ of life,²⁴¹⁶ and Sarah⁸²⁸³ shall have a son.¹¹²¹

too hard:  A primitive root; properly perhaps to separate, that is, distinguish (literally or figuratively); by implication to be (causatively make) great, difficult, wonderful.[S]  Difficult, arduous.[WW]  Wonderful; a similar question and same Figure used in Luke 1:37.[B]  Difficult of accomplishment; not easy to be done or accomplished.[W]  At the time appointed:  From H3259; properly an appointment, that is, a fixed time or season; specifically a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand).[S]  according to the time of:  From H5703; time, especially (adverbially with preposition) now, when, etc.[S]

(Genesis 18:15)  Then Sarah⁸²⁸³ denied,³⁵⁸⁴ saying,⁵⁵⁹ I laughed⁶⁷¹¹ not;³⁸⁰⁸ for³⁵⁸⁸ she was afraid.³³⁷² And he said,⁵⁵⁹ Nay;³⁸⁰⁸ but³⁵⁸⁸ thou didst laugh.⁶⁷¹¹

Then … denied:  A primitive root; to be untrue, in word (to lie, feign, disown) or deed (to disappoint, fail, cringe).[S]  To deny what is true, to disavow a person or thing.[WW]  she was afraid:  A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten.[S] 

(Genesis 18:16)  And the men³⁷⁶ rose up⁶⁹⁶⁵ from thence,^{4480, 8033} and looked⁸²⁵⁹ toward^{5921, 6440} Sodom:⁵⁴⁶⁷ and Abraham⁸⁵ went¹⁹⁸⁰ with⁵⁹⁷³ them to bring them on the way.⁷⁹⁷¹

and looked:  A primitive root; properly to lean out (of a window), that is, (by implication) peep or gaze (passively be a spectacle).[S]  and looked toward = looked down upon.[B]  Sodom:  From an unused root meaning to scorch; burnt (that is, volcanic or bituminous) district; Sedom, a place near the Dead Sea.[S]  to bring them on their way:  A primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications).[S]  the men rose . . . Abraham went with them—It is customary for a host to escort his guests a little way.[JFB]

(Genesis 18:17)  And the LORD³⁰⁶⁸ said,⁵⁵⁹ Shall I⁵⁸⁹ hide³⁶⁸⁰ from Abraham^{4480, 85} that thing which⁸³⁴ I⁵⁸⁹ do;⁶²¹³

Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do - Thus doth God in His councils express Himself after the manner of men, with deliberation.  The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him.  Those that by faith live a life of communion with God, cannot but know more of His mind than other people. They have a better insight into what is present, and a better foresight of what is to come.[JW]  The chief stranger, no other than the Lord, disclosed to Abraham the awful doom about to be inflicted on Sodom and the cities of the plain for their enormous wickedness.[JFB]

(Genesis 18:18)  Seeing that Abraham⁸⁵ shall surely become^{1961, 1961} a great¹⁴¹⁹ and mighty⁶⁰⁹⁹ nation,¹⁴⁷¹ and all³⁶⁰⁵ the nations¹⁴⁷¹ of the earth⁷⁷⁶ shall be blessed¹²⁸⁸