1._And the Lord appeared unto him _It is uncertain whether Moses says, that God afterwards appeared again unto Abraham; or whether, reverting to the previous history, he here introduces other circumstances, which he had not before mentioned. I prefer, however, the former of these interpretations; na... [ Continue Reading ]
2._And, lo, three men stood by him. _Before Moses prceeds to his principal subject, he describes to us, the hospitality of the holy man; and he calls the angels men, because, being clothed with human bodies, they appeared to be nothing else than men. And this was done designedly, in order that he, r... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant _In asking thus meekly, and even suppliantly, there is no doubt that Abraham does it, moved by the reason which I have stated. For if he had slaughtered calves for all kinds of travelers, his house would soon have been emptied by his profuse expenditur... [ Continue Reading ]
5._For therefore are ye come to your servant _He does not mean that they had come designedly, or for the express purpose of seeking to be entertained, as his guests; but he intimates that their coming had occurred opportunely, as if he would say, ‘You have not slipped into this place by chance; but... [ Continue Reading ]
6._And Abraham hastened into the tent _Abraham’s care in entertaining his guests is here recorded; and Moses, at the same time, shows what a well-ordered house he had. In short, he presents us, in a few words, with a beautiful picture of domestic government. Abraham runs, partly, to command what he... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Where is Sarah? _Hitherto God permitted Abraham to discharge an obvious duty. But, having given him the opportunity of exercising charity, God now begins to manifest himself in his angels. The reason why Moses introduces, at one time, three speakers, while, at another, he ascribes speech to one o... [ Continue Reading ]
10._I will certainly return unto thee _Jerome translates its ‘I will return, life attending me:’ (411) as if God, speaking in the manner of men, had said, ‘I will return if I live.’ But it would be absurd, that God, who here so magnificently proclaims his power, should borrow from man a form of spee... [ Continue Reading ]
11._Were old, and well stricken in age _Moses inserts this verse to inform us that what the angel was saying, justly appeared improbable to Sarah. For it is contrary to nature that children should be promised to decrepit old men. A doubt, however, may be entertained on this point, respecting Abraham... [ Continue Reading ]
12._Therefore Sarah laughed within herself _Abraham had laughed before, as appears in the preceding chapter Genesis 17:1 : but the laughter of both was, by no means, similar. For Sarah is not transported with admiration and joy, on receiving the promise of God; but foolishly sets her own age and tha... [ Continue Reading ]
13._And the Lord said_. Because the majesty of God had now been manifested in the angels, Moses expressly mentions his Name. We have before declared, in what sense the name of God is transferred to the angel; it is not, therefore, now necessary to repeat it: except, as it is always important to rema... [ Continue Reading ]
15._Then Sarah denied_. Another sin of Sarah’s was, that she endeavored to cover and hide her laughter by a falsehood. Yet this excuse did not proceed from obstinate wickedness, according to the manner in which hypocrites are wont to snatch at subterfuges, so that they remain like themselves, even t... [ Continue Reading ]
16._And the men rose up from thence_. Moses again calls those men, whom he had openly declared to be _angels_. But he gives them the name from the form which they had assumed. We are not, however, to suppose that they were surrounded with human bodies, in the same manner in which Christ clothed hims... [ Continue Reading ]
17._Shall I hide from Abraham? _Seeing that God here takes counsel, as if concerning a doubtful matter, he does it for the sake of men; for he had already determined what he would do. But he designed, in this manner, to render Abraham more intent upon the consideration of the causes of Sodom’s destr... [ Continue Reading ]
18._Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation_. In Hebrew it is, ‘And being, he shall be,’ etc. But the copulative ought to be resolved into the causal adverb. (415) For this is the reasons to which we have already alluded, why God chose to inform his servant of the terrible... [ Continue Reading ]
19._For I know him, that he will command his children_. The second reason why God chooses to make Abraham a partaker of his counsel is, because he foresees that this would not be done in vain, and without profit. And the simple meaning of the passage is, that Abraham is admitted to the counsel of Go... [ Continue Reading ]
20._The cry of Sodom_. The Lord here begins more clearly to explain to Abraham his counsel concerning the destruction of the five cities; although he only names Sodom and Gomorrah, which were much more famous than the rest. But before he makes mention of punishment, he brings forward their iniquitie... [ Continue Reading ]
21._I will go down now_. Since this was a signal example of the wrath of God, which He intends to be celebrated through all ages, and to which he frequently refers in the Scripture; therefore Moses diligently records those things which are especially to be considered in divine judgments; just as, in... [ Continue Reading ]
22._But Abraham stood yet before the Lord_. Moses first declares that the men proceeded onwards, conveying the impression, that having finished their discourse, they took leave of Abraham, in order that he might return home. He then adds, that Abraham stood before the Lord, as persons are wont to do... [ Continue Reading ]
23._Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? _It is certain that when God chastises the body of a people, he often involves the good and the reprobate in the same punishment. So Daniel, Ezekiel, Ezra, and others like them, who worshipped God in purity in their own country, were suddenly... [ Continue Reading ]
25._Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? _He does not here teach God His duty, as if any one should say to a judge, ‘See what thy office requires, what is worthy of this place, what suits thy character;’ but he reasons from the nature of God, that it is impossible for Him to intend anythin... [ Continue Reading ]
27._Which am but dust and ashes_. Abraham speaks thus for the sake of obtaining pardon. For what is mortal man when compared with God? He therefore confesses that he is too bold, in thus familiarly interrogating God; yet he desires that this favor may be granted unto him, by the Divine indulgence. I... [ Continue Reading ]