11 Now Abraham H85 and Sarah H8283 were old H2205 and well stricken H935 in age; H3117 and it ceased H2308 to be with Sarah H8283 after the manner H734 of women. H802
Then Abraham H85 fell H5307 upon his face, H6440 and laughed, H6711 and said H559 in his heart, H3820 Shall a child be born H3205 unto him that is an hundred H3967 years H8141 old? H1121 and shall Sarah, H8283 that is ninety H8673 years H8141 old, H1323 bear? H3205
Through faith G4102 also G2532 Sara G4564 herself G846 received G2983 strength G1411 to G1519 conceive G2602 seed, G4690 and G2532 was delivered of a child G5088 when she was past G3844 age, G2540 G2244 because G1893 she judged G2233 him faithful G4103 who had promised. G1861 Therefore G1352 sprang there G1080 even G2532 of G575 one, G1520 and G2532 him G5023 as good as dead, G3499 so many as G2531 the stars G798 of the sky G3772 in multitude, G4128 and G2532 as G5616 the sand G285 which G3588 is by G3844 the sea G2281 shore G5491 innumerable. G382
And she said H559 to her father, H1 Let it not displease H2734 H5869 my lord H113 that I cannot H3201 rise up H6965 before thee; H6440 for the custom H1870 of women H802 is upon me. And he searched, H2664 but found H4672 not the images. H8655
And G2532 Zacharias G2197 said G2036 unto G4314 the angel, G32 Whereby G2596 G5101 shall I know G1097 this? G5124 for G1063 I G1473 am G1510 an old man, G4246 and G2532 my G3450 wife G1135 well stricken G4260 in G1722 years. G2250 G846
And, G2532 behold, G2400 thy G4675 cousin G4773 Elisabeth, G1665 she G846 hath G4815 also G2532 conceived G4815 a son G5207 in G1722 her G846 old age: G1094 and G2532 this G3778 is G2076 the sixth G1623 month G3376 with her, G846 who G3588 was called G2564 barren. G4723
Who G3739 against G3844 hope G1680 believed G4100 in G1909 hope, G1680 that G1519 he G846 might become G1096 the father G3962 of many G4183 nations, G1484 according G2596 to that which was spoken, G2046 So G3779 shall G2071 thy G4675 seed G4690 be. G2071 And G2532 being not G3361 weak G770 in faith, G4102 he considered G2657 not G3756 his own G1438 body G4983 now G2235 dead, G3499 when he was G5225 about G4225 an hundred years old, G1541 neither yet G2532 the deadness G3500 of Sara's G4564 womb: G3388 G1161 He staggered G1252 not G3756 at G1519 the promise G1860 of God G2316 through unbelief; G570 but G235 was strong G1743 in faith, G4102 giving G1325 glory G1391 to God; G2316 And G2532 being fully persuaded G4135 that, G3754 what G3739 he had promised, G1861 he was G2076 able G1415 also G2532 to perform. G4160
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 18
Commentary on Genesis 18 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 18
Ge 18:1-8. Entertainment of Angels.
1. 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.
plains of Mamre—rather, terebinth or oak of Mamre; a tall-spreading tree or grove of trees.
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.
2. lift up his eyes … and, lo, three men—Travellers in that quarter start at sunrise and continue till midday when they look out for some resting-place.
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.
3. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. milk—A bowl of camel's milk ends the repast.
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.
Ge 18:9-15. Reproof of Sarah. 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 travellers (Heb 13:2).
10. 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.
12. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself—Long delay seems to have weakened faith. Sarah treated the announcement as incredible, and when taxed with the silent sneer, she added falsehood to distrust. It was an aggravated offense (Ac 5:4), and nothing but grace saved her (Ro 9:18).
Ge 18:16-22. Disclosure of Sodom's Doom.
16. the men rose … Abraham went with them—It is customary for a host to escort his guests a little way.
17. the Lord said, Shall I hide—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.
21. I will go down … and see—language used after the manner of men. These cities were to be made examples to all future ages of God's severity; and therefore ample proof given that the judgment was neither rash nor excessive (Eze 18:23; Jer 18:7).
Ge 18:23-33. Abraham's Intercession.
23. Abraham drew near, and said, &c.—The scene described is full of interest and instruction—showing in an unmistakable manner the efficacy of prayer and intercession. (See also Pr 15:8; Jas 5:16). Abraham reasoned justly as to the rectitude of the divine procedure (Ro 3:5, 6), and many guilty cities and nations have been spared on account of God's people (Mt 5:13; 24:22).
33. the Lord … left communing … and Abraham returned unto his place—Why did Abraham cease to carry his intercessions farther? Either because he fondly thought that he was now sure of the cities being preserved (Lu 13:9), or because the Lord restrained his mind from further intercession (Jer 7:16; 11:14). But there were not ten "righteous persons." There was only one, and he might without injustice have perished in the general overthrow (Ec 9:2). But a difference is sometimes made, and on this occasion the grace of God was manifested in a signal manner for the sake of Abraham. What a blessing to be connected with a saint of God!