1 The Lord appears to Abraham, who entertains angels.
9 Sarah is reproved for laughing at the promise of a son.
16 The destruction of Sodom is revealed to Abraham.
23 Abraham makes intercession for the inhabitants.

appeared. 15:1 17:1-3,22 26:2 48:3 Ex 4:1 2Ch 1:7 Ac 7:2

Mamre. 13:18 14:13

and he sat. In these verses we have a delightful picture of genuine and primitive hospitality: a venerable father sits at the tent door, not only to enjoy the current of refreshing air, but that if he saw any weary and exhausted travellers, he might invite them to rest and refresh themselves during the heat of the day, and the same custom still continues in the east. It was not the custom, nor was there any necessity, for strangers to knock at the door, or to speak first, but to stand till they were invited.

2 And 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,

And he. Jud 13:3,9 Heb 13:2

three. 22 19:1 Heb 13:2 1Pe 4:9

he ran. Ro 12:13

bowed. 23:7 33:3-7 43:26,28 44:14 Ru 2:10 2Ki 2:15

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

favour. 32:5

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

wash your feet. In those ancient times, shoes such as ours, were not in use; and the foot was protected only with sandals or soles, fastened round the foot with straps. It was, therefore, not only necessary from motives of cleanliness, but also a very great refreshment, in so hot a country, to get the feet washed at the end of a day's journey; and this is the first thing that Abraham proposes.

19:2 24:32 43:24 1Sa 25:41 Lu 7:44 Joh 13:5-15 1Ti 5:10

tree. Rest in the shade was the second requisite for the refreshment of a weary traveller.

5 And 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.

And I. Jud 6:18 13:15 Mt 6:11

bread. This was the third requisite, and is introduced in its proper order; as eating immediately after exertion or fatigue is very unwholesome.

comfort. Heb. stay. Jud 19:5 Ps 104:15 Isa 3:1

are ye come. Heb. ye have passed. 19:8 33:10

6 And 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.

Make ready quickly. Heb. hasten. three. Isa 32:8 Mt 13:33 Lu 10:38-40 Ac 16:15 Ro 12:13 Ga 5:13 Heb 13:2 1Pe 4:9

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

19:3 Jud 13:15,16 Am 6:4 Mal 1:14 Mt 22:4 Lu 15:23,27,30

8 And 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.

he took. 19:3 De 32:14 Jud 5:25

stood. Ne 12:44 Lu 12:37 17:8 Joh 12:2 Ga 5:13 Re 3:20

and they. 19:3 Jud 13:15 Lu 24:30,43 Ac 10:41

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

Where. 4:9

in. 24:67 31:33 Tit 2:5

10 And 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.

he said. 13,14 16:10 22:15,16

according. 17:21 21:2 2Ki 4:16,17

lo, Sarah. 17:16,19,21 21:2 Jud 13:3-5 Lu 1:13 Ro 9:8,9 Ga 4:23,28

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

old. 17:17,24 Lu 1:7,18,36 Ro 4:18-21 Heb 11:11,12,19

the. 31:35 Le 15:19

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

laughed. 13 17:17 21:6,7 Ps 126:2 Lu 1:18-20,34,35 Heb 11:11,12

my. Eph 5:33 1Pe 3:6

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

Wherefore. Joh 2:25

14 Is 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.

Is. Nu 11:23 De 7:21 1Sa 14:6 2Ki 7:1,2 Job 36:5 42:2 Ps 93:1 95:3 Jer 32:17 Mic 7:18 Zec 8:6 Mt 3:9 14:31 19:26 Mr 10:27 Lu 1:13,37 8:50 Eph 3:20 Php 3:21 4:13 Heb 11:19

I will. 10 17:21 De 30:3 2Ki 4:16 Ps 90:13 Mic 7:18 Lu 1:13,18

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

denied. 4:9 12:13 Job 2:10 Pr 28:13 Joh 18:17,25-27 Eph 4:23 Col 3:9 1Jo 1:8

Nay. Ps 44:21 Pr 12:19 Mr 2:8 Joh 2:25 Ro 3:19

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

to bring. Ac 15:3 20:38 21:5 Ro 15:24 3Jo 1:6

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

2Ki 4:27 2Ch 20:7 Ps 25:14 Am 3:7 Joh 15:15 Jas 2:23

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

become. See on ch. 12:2,3 22:17,18 26:4 Ps 72:17 Ac 3:25,26 Ga 3:8,14 Eph 1:3

19 For 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.

For I. 2Sa 7:20 Ps 1:6 11:4 34:15 Joh 10:14 21:17 2Ti 2:19

command. 17:23-27 De 4:9,10 6:6,7 11:19-21 32:46 Jos 24:15 1Ch 28:9 Job 1:5 Ps 78:2-9 Pr 6:20-22 22:6 Isa 38:19 Eph 6:4 1Ti 3:4 1Ti 3:5,12 2Ti 1:5 3:15

that the. 1Sa 2:30,31 Ac 27:23,24,31

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

the cry. 4:10 19:13 Isa 3:9 5:7 Jer 14:7 Jas 5:4

sin. 13:13

21 I 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.

I will go down. This is spoken figuratively; and as the Jewish writers speak, according to the language of men. So eyes, ears, hands, and other members of the body are attributed to God, for effecting those things which men cannot accomplish without these members.

11:5,7 Ex 3:8 33:5 Mic 1:3 Joh 6:38 1Th 4:16

see. Job 34:22 Ps 90:8 Jer 17:1,10 Zep 1:12 Heb 4:13

I will know. Ex 33:5 De 8:2 13:3 Jos 22:22 Ps 139:1-24 Lu 16:15 2Co 11:11

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

the men. 2 19:1

stood. The two, whom we suppose to have been created angels, departed at this time; and accordingly two entered Sodom at evening: while the one, called Jehovah throughout the chapter, continued with Abraham, who stood yet before the Lord. --Scott. 1 Ps 106:23 Jer 15:1 18:20 Eze 22:30 Ac 7:55 1Ti 2:1

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

drew. Ps 73:28 Jer 30:21 Heb 10:22 Jas 5:17

Wilt. 25 20:4 Nu 16:22 2Sa 24:17 Job 8:3 34:17 Ps 11:4-7 Ro 3:5,6

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

there. 32 Isa 1:9 Jer 5:1 Mt 7:13,14

spare. Ac 27:24

25 That 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?

be far. Jer 12:1

that the. Job 8:20 9:22,23 Ec 7:15 8:12,13 Isa 3:10,11 57:1,2 Mal 3:18

Shall. De 32:4 Job 8:3 34:17-19 Ps 11:5-7 58:11 94:2 98:9 Ro 3:6

Judge. Joh 5:22-27 2Co 5:10

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

Isa 6:13 10:22 19:24 65:8 Jer 5:1 Eze 22:30 Mt 24:22

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

I have. 30-32 Ezr 9:6 Job 42:6-8 Isa 6:5 Lu 18:1

dust. 2:7 3:19 Job 4:19 Ps 8:4 144:3 Ec 12:7 Isa 6:5 64:8 Lu 5:8 1Co 15:47,48 2Co 5:1,2

28 Peradventure 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.

wilt. Nu 14:17-19 1Ki 20:32,33 Job 23:3,4

If I. 26,29

29 And 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.

Eph 6:18 Heb 4:16

30 And 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.

44:18 Jud 6:39 Es 4:11-16 Job 40:4 Ps 9:12 10:17 89:7 Isa 6:5 Isa 55:8,9 Heb 12:28,29

31 And 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.

27 Mt 7:7,11 Lu 11:8 18:1 Eph 6:18 Heb 4:16 10:20-22

32 And 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.

Oh. 30 Jud 6:39 Pr 15:8 Isa 42:6,7 Jas 5:15-17 1Jo 5:15,16

I will not. Ex 32:9,10,14 33:13,14 34:6,7,9,10 Nu 14:11-20 Job 33:23 Ps 86:5 Isa 65:8 Mic 7:18 Mt 7:7 Eph 3:20 Jas 5:16

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

And the. 16,22 32:26

and Abraham. 31:55