Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 18

Clinging to a Counterfeit Cross
Introduction

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.
Verse 1

And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
appeared
15:1, 17:1-3,22, 26:2, 48:3, Exodus 4:1, 2 Chronicles 1:7, Acts 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.
Verse 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
Judges 13:3,9, Hebrews 13:2
three
22, 19:1, Hebrews 13:2, 1 Peter 4:9
he ran
Romans 12:13
bowed
23:7, 33:3-7, 43:26,28, 44:14, Ruth 2:10, 2 Kings 2:15
Verse 3

And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
favour
32:5
Verse 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, 1 Samuel 25:41, Luke 7:44, John 13:5-15, 1 Timothy 5:10
tree
Rest in the shade was the second requisite for the refreshment of a weary traveller.
Verse 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
Judges 6:18, 13:15, Matthew 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.
Judges 19:5, Psalms 104:15, Isaiah 3:1
are ye come
Heb. ye have passed.
19:8, 33:10
Verse 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.
Isaiah 32:8, Matthew 13:33, Luke 10:38-40, Acts 16:15, Romans 12:13, Galatians 5:13, Hebrews 13:2, 1 Peter 4:9
Verse 7

And 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.
19:3, Judges 13:15,16, Amos 6:4, Malachi 1:14, Matthew 22:4, Luke 15:23,27,30
Verse 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, Deuteronomy 32:14, Judges 5:25
stood
Nehemiah 12:44, Luke 12:37, 17:8, John 12:2, Galatians 5:13, Revelation 3:20
and they
19:3, Judges 13:15, Luke 24:30,43, Acts 10:41
Verse 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, Titus 2:5
Verse 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, 2 Kings 4:16,17
lo, Sarah
17:16,19,21, 21:2, Judges 13:3-5, Luke 1:13, Romans 9:8,9, Galatians 4:23,28
Verse 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, Luke 1:7,18,36, Romans 4:18-21, Hebrews 11:11,12,19
the
31:35, Leviticus 15:19
Verse 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, Psalms 126:2, Luke 1:18-20,34,35, Hebrews 11:11,12
my
Ephesians 5:33, 1 Peter 3:6
Verse 13

And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
Wherefore
John 2:25
Verse 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
Numbers 11:23, Deuteronomy 7:21, 1 Samuel 14:6, 2 Kings 7:1,2, Job 36:5, 42:2, Psalms 93:1, 95:3, Jeremiah 32:17, Micah 7:18, Zechariah 8:6, Matthew 3:9, 14:31, 19:26, Mark 10:27, Luke 1:13,37, 8:50, Ephesians 3:20, Philippians 3:21, 4:13, Hebrews 11:19
I will
10, 17:21, Deuteronomy 30:3, 2 Kings 4:16, Psalms 90:13, Micah 7:18, Luke 1:13,18
Verse 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, Proverbs 28:13, John 18:17,25-27, Ephesians 4:23, Colossians 3:9, 1 John 1:8
Nay
Psalms 44:21, Proverbs 12:19, Mark 2:8, John 2:25, Romans 3:19
Verse 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
Acts 15:3, 20:38, 21:5, Romans 15:24, 3 John 1:6
Verse 17

And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
2 Kings 4:27, 2 Chronicles 20:7, Psalms 25:14, Amos 3:7, John 15:15, James 2:23
Verse 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
12:2,3, 22:17,18, 26:4, Psalms 72:17, Acts 3:25,26, Galatians 3:8,14, Ephesians 1:3
Verse 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
2 Samuel 7:20, Psalms 1:6, 11:4, 34:15, John 10:14, 21:17, 2 Timothy 2:19
command
17:23-27, Deuteronomy 4:9,10, 6:6,7, 11:19-21, 32:46, Joshua 24:15, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Job 1:5, Psalms 78:2-9, Proverbs 6:20-22, 22:6, Isaiah 38:19, Ephesians 6:4, 1 Timothy 3:4, 1 Timothy 3:5,12, 2 Timothy 1:5, 3:15
that the
1 Samuel 2:30,31, Acts 27:23,24,31
Verse 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, Isaiah 3:9, 5:7, Jeremiah 14:7, James 5:4
sin
13:13
Verse 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, Exodus 3:8, 33:5, Micah 1:3, John 6:38, 1 Thessalonians 4:16
see
Job 34:22, Psalms 90:8, Jeremiah 17:1,10, Zephaniah 1:12, Hebrews 4:13
I will know
Exodus 33:5, Deuteronomy 8:2, 13:3, Joshua 22:22, Psalms 139:1-24, Luke 16:15, 2 Corinthians 11:11
Verse 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, Psalms 106:23, Jeremiah 15:1, 18:20, Ezekiel 22:30, Acts 7:55, 1 Timothy 2:1
Verse 23

And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
drew
Psalms 73:28, Jeremiah 30:21, Hebrews 10:22, James 5:17
Wilt
25, 20:4, Numbers 16:22, 2 Samuel 24:17, Job 8:3, 34:17, Psalms 11:4-7, Romans 3:5,6
Verse 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, Isaiah 1:9, Jeremiah 5:1, Matthew 7:13,14
spare
Acts 27:24
Verse 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
Jeremiah 12:1
that the
Job 8:20, 9:22,23, Ecclesiastes 7:15, 8:12,13, Isaiah 3:10,11, 57:1,2, Malachi 3:18
Shall
Deuteronomy 32:4, Job 8:3, 34:17-19, Psalms 11:5-7, 58:11, 94:2, 98:9, Romans 3:6
Judge
John 5:22-27, 2 Corinthians 5:10
Verse 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.
Isaiah 6:13, 10:22, 19:24, 65:8, Jeremiah 5:1, Ezekiel 22:30, Matthew 24:22
Verse 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, Ezra 9:6, Job 42:6-8, Isaiah 6:5, Luke 18:1
dust
2:7, 3:19, Job 4:19, Psalms 8:4, 144:3, Ecclesiastes 12:7, Isaiah 6:5, 64:8, Luke 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:47,48, 2 Corinthians 5:1,2
Verse 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
Numbers 14:17-19, 1 Kings 20:32,33, Job 23:3,4
If I
26,29
Verse 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.
Ephesians 6:18, Hebrews 4:16
Verse 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, Judges 6:39, Esther 4:11-16, Job 40:4, Psalms 9:12, 10:17, 89:7, Isaiah 6:5, Isaiah 55:8,9, Hebrews 12:28,29
Verse 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, Matthew 7:7,11, Luke 11:8, 18:1, Ephesians 6:18, Hebrews 4:16, 10:20-22
Verse 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, Judges 6:39, Proverbs 15:8, Isaiah 42:6,7, James 5:15-17, 1 John 5:15,16
I will not
Exodus 32:9,10,14, 33:13,14, 34:6,7,9,10, Numbers 14:11-20, Job 33:23, Psalms 86:5, Isaiah 65:8, Micah 7:18, Matthew 7:7, Ephesians 3:20, James 5:16
Verse 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

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