Gen. 18 The Lord appears to Abraham, Gen. 18:1. He sees three men, Gen. 18:2; invites them, Gen. 18:3–5. They accept it, Gen. 18:5. He prepares for them a calf, &c. they eat, Gen. 18:6–8. The promise of a son by Sarah renewed; the time appointed, Gen. 18:9–10. Sarah, being old, laughs, Gen.

Waiting for strangers which might pass that way; for whom no public places being provided in those times and places, virtuous persons used to entertain them in their houses. See Heb. 13:2.

Three men, as they seemed to be, though indeed they were angels in men’s shape. Bowed himself toward the ground; a respect usually paid to persons of quality, such as these seemed to be.

He directeth his speech to one, who, by the majesty of his countenance, and the respect which the other two showed him, seemed to be the chief of them.

A practice usual in those parts, Gen. 19:2, Gen. 24:32, Gen. 43:24, John 13:4–5, 1 Tim. 5:10, because they used to travel either bare-footed, or only with sandals to cover and secure the bottom of their feet.

Therefore are ye come to your servant; not that he saith or thought that this was their design, but an effect of Divine Providence. The meaning is, Therefore hath God directed you this way, that I might have an occasion of performing my duty to you, which I cheerfully embrace.

Three measures, containing each the third part of an ephah. See Ex. 16:36. Upon the hearth; upon the coals, or in the warm cinders, or in an oven. He had doubtless other bread ready, but he would have new bread for them, which he thought most grateful.

The calf, to wit, the choicest parts of the calf. He stood by them, to wait upon them, as the word standing is used, Neh. 12:44, Jer. 52:12. They did eat; either seemingly, as the Scripture oft speaks of things according to appearance; or really, they received the meat into the bodies which they…

They said unto him, i.e. one of them, in the name of all, said; which he did not for his own satisfaction, for he who knew her name knew also where she was, but to give occasion for the following discourse. In the tent; in her tent; for men and women had then their several tents or apartments.

I will certainly return unto thee, not in a visible shape, but with my powerful and effectual presence, to fulfil my promise. According to the time of life: this time may respect, either, 1. Abraham and Sarah, in the time of life, i.e. when you shall be both alive and in health.

As to those monthly effluviums peculiar to her sex, which are necessary to conception, compare Gen. 31:35.

Sarah laughed within herself; not from joy and admiration, but from distrust and contempt, as if it were incredible. Heb. In her heart, i.e. she secretly derided it, though none but herself, as she thought, knew it.

Is any thing too hard for the Lord? Heb. Hid from God? So the sense is: Though she laughed only in her heart, it is not unknown to me. Or rather, too wonderful for God to effect? Which best suits with the following words.

Sarah denied, from the sense of guilt, and the discovery of her shame, and the expectation of a sharp rebuke, both from this person, and from her husband.

A civility usual then and afterwards. See Acts 20:38, Acts 21:5, Rom. 15:24, 1 Cor. 16:11.

q.d. I will not, cannot hide it; it is against the laws of friendship to conceal my secrets from him. The interrogation here is in effect a negation, as elsewhere. Compare 2 Sam. 7:5, with 1 Chron. 17:4, Matt. 7:16, with Luke 6:43, Amos 3:7.

q.d. Seeing I have done greater things for him, how can I deny him the less? Compare the argument, Rom. 8:32. God’s ways are not like men’s ways. Former favours to men are arguments why they should do no more, but to God they are motives for the adding of new ones.

For I know him; I know him to be such a one as I am now describing; or I know this concerning him which now follows. Others, I love him, and therefore cannot conceal this from him. Words of knowledge being oft put for love, as Jer. 1:5, Jer. 24:5, Hos. 13:5, Amos 3:2.

Sins are said to cry when they are gross, and manifest, and impudent, and such as highly provoke God to anger. He names only these two cities, as being the most eminent in state, and exemplary in wickedness; but under them he includes the rest, as appears by the story.

i.e. I will inquire into the truth of the thing. God here speaks after the manner of men, and for the example and instruction of judges to search into causes ere they pass sentence. Whether they have done altogether; Heb. Whether they have made a consummation or accomplishment; i.e.

And the men, i.e. two of them; for the third staid with Abraham, as it here follows. Before the Lord, the third of these persons, whom now he perceived to be the Lord himself, who had assumed a human shape.

i.e. He approached unto God to inquire of him, and to pray unto him; for so the phrase of drawing near to God is used, 1 Sam. 14:36, Ps. 73:28, Isa. 29:13, Heb. 10:22.

Within the city, i.e. in the cities concerned, as appears by Gen. 18:20, Gen. 19:25; the singular number for the plural, as is frequent, as Gen. 3:22, 1 Chron. 10:1, compared with 1 Sam. 31:1, and oft elsewhere.

Now he clearly perceiveth that this person was no less than the Creator, Governor, and Judge of the world, even the second person in the blessed Trinity, to whom that title and work is ascribed, as John 5:22, John 5:27, Acts 10:42, Acts 17:31.

In regard of the composition of my body, which was taken out of the dust, and shall return into it again. See Gen. 3:19, Job 4:19, Eccles. 12:7, 1 Cor. 15:47–48.

Lack of five, Heb. for five, or because of five, to wit, which are lacking or wanting. The same supplement we have also Ps. 119:24, Lam. 4:9.

Abraham in modesty could proceed no further; and being a good man himself, he had a charitable opinion of others, and thought there certainly were so many good men in all those cities, especially including Lot and his family.