Genesis 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!