Gen 18:1 | Clarke | STEP | The Lord appears unto Abraham in Mamre, . Three angels, in human appearance, come towards his tent, . He invites them in to wash and refresh themselves, ; prepares a calf, bread, butter, and milk, for their entertainment; and himself serves them, . They promise that within a year Sarah shall have a son, , . Sarah, knowing herself and husband to be superannuated, smiles at the promise, , . One of the three, who is called the Lord or Jehovah, chides her, and asserts the sufficiency of the Divine power to accomplish the promise, , . Sarah, through fear, denies that she had laughed or showed signs of unbelief, . Abraham accompanies these Divine persons on their way to Sodom, ; and that one who is called Jehovah informs him of his purpose to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, because of their great wickedness, . The two former proceed toward Sodom, while the latter (Jehovah) remains with Abraham, . Abraham intercedes for the inhabitants of those cities, entreating the Lord to spare them provided fifty righteous persons should be found in them, . The Lord grants this request, . He pleads for the same mercy should only forty-five be found there; which is also granted, , . He pleads the same for forty, which is also granted, ; for thirty, with the same success, ; for twenty, and receives the some gracious answer, ; for ten, and the Lord assures him that should ten righteous persons be found there, he will not destroy the place, . Jehovah then departs, and Abraham returns to his tent, . Verse 1 And the Lord appeared - See note on . Sat in the tent door - For the purpose of enjoying the refreshing air in the heat of the day, when the sun had most power. A custom still frequent among the Asiatics.

Genesis 18:1

Introduction

The Lord appears unto Abraham in Mamre, Gen 18:1. Three angels, in human appearance, come towards his tent, Gen 18:2. He invites them in to wash and refresh themselves, Gen 18:3-5; prepares a calf, bread, butter, and milk, for their entertainment; and himself serves them, Gen 18:6-8. They promise that within a year Sarah shall have a son, Gen 18:9, Gen 18:10. Sarah, knowing herself and husband to be superannuated, smiles at the promise, Gen 18:11, Gen 18:12. One of the three, who is called the Lord or Jehovah, chides her, and asserts the sufficiency of the Divine power to accomplish the promise, Gen 18:13, Gen 18:14. Sarah, through fear, denies that she had laughed or showed signs of unbelief, Gen 18:15. Abraham accompanies these Divine persons on their way to Sodom, Gen 18:16; and that one who is called Jehovah informs him of his purpose to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, because of their great wickedness, Gen 18:17-21. The two former proceed toward Sodom, while the latter (Jehovah) remains with Abraham, Gen 18:22. Abraham intercedes for the inhabitants of those cities, entreating the Lord to spare them provided fifty righteous persons should be found in them, Gen 18:23-25. The Lord grants this request, Gen 18:26. He pleads for the same mercy should only forty-five be found there; which is also granted, Gen 18:27, Gen 18:28. He pleads the same for forty, which is also granted, Gen 18:29; for thirty, with the same success, Gen 18:30; for twenty, and receives the some gracious answer, Gen 18:31; for ten, and the Lord assures him that should ten righteous persons be found there, he will not destroy the place, Gen 18:32. Jehovah then departs, and Abraham returns to his tent, Gen 18:33.

Verse 1

And the Lord appeared - See note on Gen 15:1.

Sat in the tent door - For the purpose of enjoying the refreshing air in the heat of the day, when the sun had most power. A custom still frequent among the Asiatics.