Abraham Welcomes Three Visitors
Study note
Abraham is sitting at the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day when he sees three men approaching. He runs to greet them and bows low, showing the generous hospitality that was central to life in the ancient Near East. Abraham hurries to prepare a feast for them — fresh bread, a tender calf, curds, and milk. He stands nearby while they eat. These three visitors are later revealed to include the Lord himself, along with two angels.
1 One hot afternoon, Abraham was sitting at the opening of his tent near the oak trees at Mamre. The Lord came to visit him. And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2 Abraham looked up and spotted three men standing nearby. The second he saw them, he jumped up and ran over to greet them, bowing low to the ground. And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
3 He said, "Please, sir, if you would be so kind, don't walk on by." And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
4 "Let me bring some water so you can wash your feet and relax under this tree." Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
5 "Let me get some food for you so you can recharge before you continue on your way — after all, you've honored me by stopping here." They said, "That sounds great. Go ahead." And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
6 Abraham rushed inside the tent to Sarah and said, "Quick! Get three big scoops of your finest flour, mix the dough, and bake some fresh bread!" And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
7 Then Abraham ran out to his herd. He picked out a tender young calf and gave it to a servant, who quickly got it ready. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
8 Abraham brought out some yogurt, milk, and the prepared meat and set everything in front of his guests. He stood nearby under a tree while they ate. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
Sarah Laughs at the Promise
Study note
The visitors ask where Sarah is, and Abraham says she is in the tent. One of them — identified as the Lord — says he will return in about a year, and Sarah will have a son. Sarah, listening from inside the tent, laughs to herself. She and Abraham are both very old. The Lord asks Abraham why Sarah laughed and asks the powerful question: 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?' Sarah, afraid, denies laughing, but the Lord says she did laugh. The name Isaac, which means 'he laughs,' will be a permanent reminder of this moment.
9 "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked. "She's inside the tent," Abraham answered. And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
10 One of them said, "I will definitely come back to visit you about this time next year, and when I do, your wife Sarah will have a son." Sarah was listening from just inside the tent entrance behind him. And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
11 Now, Abraham and Sarah were both very old. Sarah was well past the age when women normally have children. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12 So Sarah couldn't help but laugh quietly to herself, thinking, "I'm old and worn out, and my husband is old too. I could never have such joy now!" Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
13 The Lord asked Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, 'Could I truly have a baby at my age?'" And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
14 "Is there anything that's too hard for the Lord to do? I will come back to you at the time I promised, and Sarah will have a son." Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
15 Sarah got nervous and denied it, saying, "I didn't laugh!" But the Lord replied, "Oh yes, you did." Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
Abraham Pleads for Sodom
Study note
As the men leave and look toward Sodom, the Lord decides to tell Abraham what he is about to do. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah is very great, and the Lord is going to investigate. Two of the men head toward Sodom, but Abraham remains standing before the Lord. In one of the most remarkable conversations in the Bible, Abraham boldly negotiates with God. He asks if God would destroy the righteous along with the wicked. Starting at fifty righteous people, Abraham talks God down to ten. Each time God agrees to spare the city for the sake of the righteous. This passage reveals both Abraham's courage and God's mercy.
16 The three men stood up to leave, looking out toward Sodom in the distance. Abraham walked along with them to see them off. And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17 The Lord thought to himself, "Should I keep my plans hidden from Abraham?" And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18 "Abraham is going to become the father of a great and powerful nation. Every nation on earth will be blessed through him." Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 "I have chosen him specifically so that he will teach his children and grandchildren to follow the Lord's ways — to live right and do what is fair. That way, I can keep every promise I have made to him." For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
20 Then the Lord said, "I have heard so many complaints about Sodom and Gomorrah. Their sin is very, very serious." And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21 "I'm going down to see for myself whether things are truly as bad as the reports I've been getting. I need to find out." I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
22 The two other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but Abraham stayed there in front of the Lord. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
23 Abraham stepped closer and asked, "Are you truly going to destroy good people along with the bad?" And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24 "What if there are fifty good people living in that city? Would you still wipe it out? Wouldn't you spare the whole place for those fifty good people?" Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25 "You would never do something like that — killing the good along with the evil, treating everyone the same! Certainly not! Surely the Judge of the whole earth will always do what is right!" That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26 The Lord answered, "If I find fifty good people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city because of them." And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27 Abraham spoke up again: "I know I am dust and ashes talking to the Lord of everything. But let me keep going." And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
28 "What if the number falls five short — only forty-five good people? Will you destroy the whole city over five people?" God answered, "If I find forty-five, I will not destroy it." Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
29 Abraham pressed further: "What about forty?" God answered, "I will spare it for forty." And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
30 Abraham said, "Please don't get upset with me, Lord, but what if there are only thirty?" God answered, "I will spare it for thirty." And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31 Abraham continued, "I know I'm being bold, but what about twenty?" God answered, "I will spare it for twenty." And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
32 Abraham said, "Please, Lord, don't be angry — let me ask one more time. What if only ten can be found?" God answered, "I will spare it for ten." And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
33 When the Lord finished talking with Abraham, he left. And Abraham headed back home. And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.