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Genesis 18

1And Jehovah appeared unto him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

1And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

Commentary · verse 1

This was the same place Abram built an altar to God (Genesis 13:18).

2and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth, 3and said, My lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: 4let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: 5and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and strengthen ye your heart; after that ye shall pass on: forasmuch as ye are come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

2And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

3And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

4Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

5And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

Commentary · verses 2-5

Abraham ran to meet these three men. The rest of the chapter implied it was God and two or three angels.

6And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.

7And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hasted to dress it.

8And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

6And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.

7And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

8And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

Commentary · verses 6-8

Abraham had a feast prepared for God and the angels. Abraham told Sarah to use three measures of fine meal.

9And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

9And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

Commentary · verse 9

"They" asked Abraham a question.

10And he said, I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.

10And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

Commentary · verse 10

God alone spoke to Abraham. Paul referenced this verse in Romans 9:9.

11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

12And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

11Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

12Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

Commentary · verses 11-12

God confirmed His promise to Abraham. This time, Sarah laughed regarding how old she and Abraham were. 1 Peter 3:6 referenced this verse to point out that Sarah called Abraham "lord."

13And Jehovah said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old?

14Is anything too hard for Jehovah? At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.

13And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

14Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Commentary · verses 13-14

God asked Abraham questions. God asked if anything was too hard for Him. "Anything" meant "anything that is of value, that is good."

15Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

15Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

Commentary · verse 15

Sarah lied. Abraham confronted her.

16And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

17And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do; 18seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

16And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

17And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

18Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Commentary · verses 16-18

God asked the angels if He should hide from Abraham what He was going to do. God stated the purpose of this 4th Dispensation: use one nation (consisting of patriarchs) as an example to benefit all nations.

19For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Commentary · verse 19

Remember, this occurred before the Law was given. The Law was an effect of God's Nature. Here, God stated His goal was to do Righteousness and Justice. These results were direct effects of God's Nature: Right and Just.

Doctrines on this passage

20And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

20And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

21I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

Commentary · verses 20-21

God stated the cry concerning Sodom and Gomorrah was great. God had heard about Sodom and Gomorrah, most likely through the angels He was with. Now, God, himself, was going to see whether the reports were factual.

22And the men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before Jehovah.

23And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou consume the righteous with the wicked?

22And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

23And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Commentary · verses 22-23

The angels went to Sodom, but God stayed with Abraham for the moment. God planned to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham referenced God's objective by directly and boldly asking if it would be just for the righteous to be destroyed with the wicked. Notice how Abraham makes his requests through questions...

24Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

26And Jehovah said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake.

24Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

26And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

Commentary · verses 24-26

Abraham convinced God to agree to not destroying the cities for the sake of fifty righteous people.

27And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes: 28peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five.

29And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for the forty’s sake.

27And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

28Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

29And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.

Commentary · verses 27-29

This time, Abraham humbled himself before he asked about the value of five people. Once God changed His Mind, Abraham quickly asked about five more people. God again changed His Mind. God had changed His Mind for ten people.

30And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

31And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.

32And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.

30And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

31And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.

32And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

Commentary · verses 30-32

Abraham humbled himself each of the next three times he asked about the value of ten people. Once Abraham convinced God to agree to spare the cities for ten people, the amount he had been using to change God's Mind, he could not get any lower. If Abraham had kept asking God about the value of five people, would he have been able to get God to spare the city for five people?

33And Jehovah went his way, as soon as he had left off communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

33And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Commentary · verse 33

The Lord left after He agreed Sodom and Gomorrah would not be destroyed for the sake of ten people. Remember, God destroyed the world in the Flood and only eight people were saved. God did not spare the world for the sake of eight people: Genesis 7.

Genesis 16-18 covered the new everlasting Covenant God made with Abraham and his seed. God also told Abraham His plans for judging Sodom and Gomorrah. God would spare the city for ten people.

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