Bible Commentaries

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

And the Lord appeared - See note on Genesis 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.

Three men stood by him - נצבים עליו nitstsabim alaiv, were standing over against him; for if they had been standing by him, as our translation says, he needed not to have "run from the tent door to meet them." To Abraham these appeared at first as men; but he entertained angels unawares, see Hebrews 13:2.

And said, My Lord, etc. - The word is אדני Adonai, not יהוה Yehovah, for as yet Abraham did not know the quality of his guests. For an explanation of this word, See note on Genesis 15:8.

Let a little water - be fetched, and wash your feet, etc. - In these verses we find a delightful picture of primitive hospitality. In those ancient times shoes such as ours were not in use; and the foot was protected only by sandals or soles, which fastened round the foot with straps. It was therefore a 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.

Rest yourselves under the tree - We have already heard of the oak grove of Mamre, Genesis 12:6, and this was the second requisite for the refreshment of a weary traveler, viz., rest in the shade.

I will fetch a morsel of bread - This was the third requisite, and is introduced in its proper order; as eating immediately after exertion or fatigue is very unwholesome. The strong action of the lungs and heart should have time to diminish before any food is received into the stomach, as otherwise concoction is prevented, and fever in a less or greater degree produced.

For therefore are ye come - In those ancient days every traveler conceived he had a right to refreshment, when he needed it, at the first tent he met with on his journey.

So do as thou hast said - How exceedingly simple was all this! On neither side is there any compliment but such as a generous heart and sound sense dictate.

Three measures of fine meal - The סאה seah, which is here translated measure, contained, according to Bishop Cumberland, about two gallons and a half; and Mr. Ainsworth translates the word peck. On this circumstance the following observations of the judicious and pious Abbe Fleury cannot fail to be acceptable to the reader. Speaking of the frugality of the patriarchs he says: "We have an instance of a splendid entertainment in that which Abraham made for the three angels. He set a whole calf before them, new bread, but baked on the hearth, together with butter and milk. Three measures of meal were baked into bread on this occasion, which come to more than two of our bushels, and nearly to fifty-six pounds of our weight; hence we may conclude that men were great eaters in those days, used much exercise, were probably of a much larger stature as well as longer lives than we. Homer (Odyss. lib. xiv., ver. 74, etc). makes his heroes great eaters. When Eumaeus entertained Ulysses, he dressed two pigs for himself and his guest.

'So saying, he girded quick his tunic close,

And issuing sought the styes; thence bringing two,

Of the imprisoned herd, he slaughtered both,

Singed them and slash'd and spitted them, and placed

The whole well roasted, banquets spits, and all,

Reeking before Ulysses.'

Cowper.

On another occasion a hog of five years old was slaughtered and served up for five persons: -

' - His wood for fuel he prepared,

And dragging thither a well-fatted brawn

Of the fifth year:

Next piercing him, and scorching close his hair,

The joints they parted,' etc.

Cowper. Ibid. ver. 419.

Homer's heroes wait upon themselves and guests in the common occasions of life; the patriarchs do the same. Abraham, who had so many servants, and was nearly a hundred years old, brought the water himself to wash the feet of his guests, ordered his wife to make the bread quickly, went himself to choose the calf from the herd, and came again to serve them standing. I will allow that he was animated on this occasion with a desire of showing hospitality, but the lives of all the rest of the patriarchs were similar to this."

Make cakes upon the hearth - Or under the ashes. This mode is used in the east to the present day. When the hearth is strongly heated with the fire that has been kindled on it, they remove the coals, sweep off the ashes, lay on the bread, and then cover it with the hot cinders.

And he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat - Nothing is more common in Hindostan than to see travelers and guests eating under the shade of trees. Feasts are scarcely ever held in houses. The house of a Hindoo serves for sleeping and cooking, and for shutting up the women; but is never considered as a sitting or dining room - Ward.