Genesis 18

Genesis 18:1 And Yahveh appeared to him near the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day.

Genesis 18:2 He lifted his eyes and looked, and noticed three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the ground

Genesis 18:3 and said, “O Lord,[1] if I have found favor in your sight, do not disregard your slave.

Genesis 18:4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,

Genesis 18:5 while I bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on – since you have passed by your slave.” So, they said, “Do as you have said.”

Genesis 18:6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it and make cakes.”

Genesis 18:7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and exceptional, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.

Genesis 18:8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared and set it before them. And he stood beside them under the tree while they ate.

Genesis 18:9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “Notice, she is in the tent.”

Genesis 18:10 Yahveh said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.

Genesis 18:11 Abraham and Sarah were old. Many years had happened. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.

Genesis 18:12 So Sarah laughed to herself, and this is what she said, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, will I have this pleasure?”

Genesis 18:13 Yahveh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really give birth to a child, now that I am old?’

Genesis 18:14 Is anything too tough for Yahveh? At the appointed time I will revisit you about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

Genesis 18:15 But Sarah denied it, and this is what she said, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid. He said, “No, because you did laugh.”

Genesis 18:16 Then the men stood up, intending to leave there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham walked beside them to send them off.

Genesis 18:17 Yahveh said, “Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

Genesis 18:18 since Abraham will surely become an influential and mighty nation, and all the nations of the land will be blessed in him?

Genesis 18:19 Because I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of Yahveh by practicing righteousness and justice, so that Yahveh may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

Genesis 18:20 Then Yahveh said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave,

Genesis 18:21 I will go down to verify whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”

Genesis 18:22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before Yahveh.

Genesis 18:23 Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

Genesis 18:24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it because of the fifty righteous who are in it?

Genesis 18:25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous experience the same as the wicked! Far be that from you! Will not the Judge of all the land do what is just?”

Genesis 18:26 And Yahveh said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

Genesis 18:27 Abraham answered and said, “Notice now, I have dared to speak to Yahveh, I who am but dust and ashes.

Genesis 18:28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

Genesis 18:29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.”

Genesis 18:30 Then he said, “Oh now, let not Yahveh be hot with anger, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.”

Genesis 18:31 He said, “Notice now, I have dared to speak to Yahveh. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.”

Genesis 18:32 Then he said, “Oh now let not Yahveh be hot with anger, and I will speak again just this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”

Genesis 18:33 And Yahveh went on, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

[1] אָדוֹן = Lord, lord. Genesis 18:3, 12; 23:6, 11, 15; 24:9, 10, 12, 14, 18, 27, 35, 36, 37, 39, 42, 44, 48, 49, 51, 54, 56, 65; 31:35; 32:4, 5, 18; 33:8, 13, 14, 15; 39:2, 3, 7, 8, 16, 19, 20; 40:1, 7; 42:10, 30, 33; 43:20; 44:5, 7, 8, 9, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 33; 45:8, 9; 47:18, 25.

Genesis 18 quotes:

“This episode in Genesis 18 can also be viewed as a literal fulfilment of Jesus’ words on the Day of Judgement, ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in’ (Matthew 25:35). Yet is it not our privilege to be able to do precisely the same? For whatever we do for the least of our brothers and sisters in Christ, we do for him (Matthew 25:40). Hospitality is a great and necessary Christian grace and one that is highly productive of fruit for God’s kingdom.”

Stephen, Jonathan. Theophany: Close Encounters with the Son of God. Day One Publications, 1998. p. 85.

“After each test Abraham’s faith becomes stronger. In Genesis 18 we have wonderful evidence of this fact. Here Abraham becomes the great prevailing intercessor for his back-slidden nephew, Lot.”

DeHaan, M. R. Adventures in Faith: Studies in the Life of Abraham. Kregel Publications, 1996. p. 58

“Out of the destruction brought on by sin, God saves Lot because God remembered Abraham (see Genesis 18:22-33). To remember is not just to recall something. Remembering also involves action and commitment either on God’s part (see, for example. Genesis 8:1; 9:15; Jeremiah 31:34) or on the part of human beings (see Micah 6:5; Deuteronomy 9:7). God remembers Abraham by showing mercy and grace, so that, after all, the righteousness of one may affect the fate of another.

Hinton, Linda B. Genesis. Abingdon Press, 1994. p. 67.