GENESIS CHAPTER 18 The Lord appears to Abraham, GENESIS 18:1. He sees three men, GENESIS 18:2; invites them, GENESIS 18:3. They accept it, GENESIS 18:5. He prepares for them a calf, &c.; they eat, GENESIS 18:6. The promise of a son by Sarah renewed; the time appointed, GENESIS 18:9,10. Sarah, being... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
A practice usual in those parts, GENESIS 19:2, GENESIS 24:32 43:24 1 THESSALONIANS 13:4,5 1 TIMOTHY 5:10, because they used to travel either bare-footed, or only with sandals to cover and secure the bottom of their feet.... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
THREE MEASURES, containing each the third part of an ephah. See EXODUS 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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THE CALF, to wit, the choicest parts of the calf. HE STOOD BY THEM, to wait upon them, as the word _standing_ is used, NEHEMIAH 12:44 JEREMIAH 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... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. But if it belonge... [ Continue Reading ]
As to those monthly effluviums peculiar to her sex, which are necessary to conception, compare GENESIS 31:35.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. SHALL I HAVE PLEASURE? Not so much in the conception, as in the education and fru... [ Continue Reading ]
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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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
A civility usual then and afterwards. See ACTS 20:38, ACTS 21:5 ROMANS 15:24 1 CORINTHIANS 16:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 SAMUEL 7:5, with 1 CHRONICLES 17:4; and MATTHEW 7:16, with LUKE 6:43. See also AMOS 3:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
q.d. Seeing I have done greater things for him, how can I deny him the less? Compare the argument, ROMANS 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 JEREMIAH 1:5, JEREMIAH 24:5 HOSEA 13:5 AMOS 3:2. THAT HE WILL COMMAND, or... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. whether the... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 SAMUEL 14:36 PSALMS 73:28 ISAIAH 29:13 HEBREWS 10:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHIN THE CITY, i.e. in the cities concerned, as appears by GENESIS 18:20, and GENESIS 19:25; the singular number for the plural, as is frequent, as GENESIS 3:22 1 CHRONICLES 10:1, compared with 1 SAMUEL 31:1, and oft elsewhere. Or the city Sodom alone is mentioned, but the rest are comprehended un... [ Continue Reading ]
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 1 THESSALONIANS 5:22,27 AC 10:42 17:31. He speaks not this as if it were simply unjust for God to invo... [ Continue Reading ]
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In regard of the composition of my body, which was taken out of the dust, and shall return into it again. See GENESIS 3:19 JOB 4:19 ECCLESIASTES 12:7 1 CORINTHIANS 15:47,48.... [ Continue Reading ]
LACK OF FIVE, Heb. _for five, _ or _because of five, _ to wit, which are lacking or wanting. The same supplement we have also PSALMS 119:24 LAMENTATIONS 4:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
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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. No doubt Abraham remembered Lot in his prayers; but that large and generou... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]