32 And he said, H559 Oh let not the Lord H136 be angry, H2734 and I will speak H1696 yet H389 but this once: H6471 Peradventure ten H6235 shall be found H4672 there. And he said, H559 I will not destroy H7843 it for ten's H6235 sake.
And G2532 the prayer G2171 of faith G4102 shall save G4982 the sick, G2577 and G2532 the Lord G2962 shall raise G1453 him G846 up; G1453 and if G2579 he have G5600 committed G4160 sins, G266 they shall be forgiven G863 him. G846 Confess G1843 your faults G3900 one to another, G240 and G2532 pray G2172 one G240 for G5228 another, G240 that G3704 ye may be healed. G2390 The effectual fervent G1754 prayer G1162 of a righteous man G1342 availeth G2480 much. G4183 Elias G2243 was G2258 a man G444 subject to like passions as G3663 we are, G2254 and G2532 he prayed G4336 earnestly G4335 that it might G1026 not G3361 rain: G1026 and G2532 it rained G1026 not G3756 on G1909 the earth G1093 by the space of three G5140 years G1763 and G2532 six G1803 months. G3376
And G2532 if G1437 we know G1492 that G3754 he hear G191 us, G2257 whatsoever G3739 G302 we ask, G154 we know G1492 that G3754 we have G2192 the petitions G155 that G3739 we desired G154 of G3844 him. G846 If G1437 any man G5100 see G1492 his G846 brother G80 sin G264 a sin G266 which is not G3361 unto G4314 death, G2288 he shall ask, G154 and G2532 he shall give G1325 him G846 life G2222 for them that sin G264 not G3361 unto G4314 death. G2288 There is G2076 a sin G266 unto G4314 death: G2288 I do not G3756 say G3004 that G2443 he shall pray G2065 for G4012 it. G1565
I the LORD H3068 have called H7121 thee in righteousness, H6664 and will hold H2388 thine hand, H3027 and will keep H5341 thee, and give H5414 thee for a covenant H1285 of the people, H5971 for a light H216 of the Gentiles; H1471 To open H6491 the blind H5787 eyes, H5869 to bring out H3318 the prisoners H616 from the prison, H4525 and them that sit H3427 in darkness H2822 out of the prison H3608 house. H1004
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 How long will this people H5971 provoke H5006 me? and how long will it be ere H3808 they believe H539 me, for all the signs H226 which I have shewed H6213 among H7130 them? I will smite H5221 them with the pestilence, H1698 and disinherit H3423 them, and will make H6213 of thee a greater H1419 nation H1471 and mightier H6099 than they. And Moses H4872 said H559 unto the LORD, H3068 Then the Egyptians H4714 shall hear H8085 it, (for thou broughtest up H5927 this people H5971 in thy might H3581 from among H7130 them;) And they will tell H559 it to the inhabitants H3427 of this land: H776 for they have heard H8085 that thou LORD H3068 art among H7130 this people, H5971 that thou LORD H3068 art seen H7200 face H5869 to face, H5869 and that thy cloud H6051 standeth H5975 over them, and that thou goest H1980 before H6440 them, by day time H3119 in a pillar H5982 of a cloud, H6051 and in a pillar H5982 of fire H784 by night. H3915 Now if thou shalt kill H4191 all this people H5971 as one H259 man, H376 then the nations H1471 which have heard H8085 the fame H8088 of thee will speak, H559 saying, H559 Because the LORD H3068 was not H1115 able H3201 to bring H935 this people H5971 into the land H776 which he sware H7650 unto them, therefore he hath slain H7819 them in the wilderness. H4057 And now, I beseech thee, let the power H3581 of my Lord H136 be great, H1431 according H834 as thou hast spoken, H1696 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 is longsuffering, H750 H639 and of great H7227 mercy, H2617 forgiving H5375 iniquity H5771 and transgression, H6588 and by no means H5352 clearing H5352 the guilty, visiting H6485 the iniquity H5771 of the fathers H1 upon the children H1121 unto the third H8029 and fourth H7256 generation. Pardon, H5545 I beseech thee, the iniquity H5771 of this people H5971 according unto the greatness H1433 of thy mercy, H2617 and as thou hast forgiven H5375 this people, H5971 from Egypt H4714 even until now. H2008 And the LORD H3068 said, H559 I have pardoned H5545 according to thy word: H1697
And he said, H559 If now I have found H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight, H5869 O Lord, H136 let my Lord, H136 I pray thee, go H3212 among H7130 us; for it is a stiffnecked H7186 H6203 people; H5971 and pardon H5545 our iniquity H5771 and our sin, H2403 and take us for thine inheritance. H5157 And he said, H559 Behold, I make H3772 a covenant: H1285 before all thy people H5971 I will do H6213 marvels, H6381 such as have not been done H1254 in all the earth, H776 nor in any nation: H1471 and all the people H5971 among H7130 which thou art shall see H7200 the work H4639 of the LORD: H3068 for it is a terrible thing H3372 that I will do H6213 with thee.
And the LORD H3068 passed by H5674 before him, H6440 and proclaimed, H7121 The LORD, H3068 The LORD H3068 God, H410 merciful H7349 and gracious, H2587 longsuffering, H750 H639 and abundant H7227 in goodness H2617 and truth, H571 Keeping H5341 mercy H2617 for thousands, H505 forgiving H5375 iniquity H5771 and transgression H6588 and sin, H2403 and that will by no means H5352 clear H5352 the guilty; visiting H6485 the iniquity H5771 of the fathers H1 upon the children, H1121 and upon the children's H1121 children, unto the third H8029 and to the fourth H7256 generation.
Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight, H5869 shew H3045 me now thy way, H1870 that I may know H3045 thee, that I may find H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight: H5869 and consider H7200 that this nation H1471 is thy people. H5971 And he said, H559 My presence H6440 shall go H3212 with thee, and I will give thee rest. H5117
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 I have seen H7200 this people, H5971 and, behold, it is a stiffnecked H7186 H6203 people: H5971 Now therefore let me alone, H3240 that my wrath H639 may wax hot H2734 against them, and that I may consume H3615 them: and I will make H6213 of thee a great H1419 nation. H1471
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!