Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? Literally, on account of five, i.e. because they are wanting. A rare example of holy ingenuity in prayer. Abraham, instead of pleading for the city's safety on account of forty-five, deprecates its destruction on account of five. And its said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. read more
And he spoke unto him yet again —literally, and he added yet to speak to him (cf. Genesis 4:2 ; Genesis 8:10 , Genesis 8:12 ; Genesis 25:1 ) and said (increasing in his boldness as God abounded in his grace), Peradventure there shall be forty found there. Does Abraham hesitate to add the query, "Wilt thou also?" &c; as if fearing he had at last touched the limit of the Divine condescension. If so, he must have been surprised by the continued gracious response which his... read more
And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord he angry ,—literally, let there not be burning with anger to the Lord ( Adonai )— and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. read more
And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me ( vide Genesis 18:27 ) to speak unto the Lord (Adonai): Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake. read more
And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry ( vide supra ) , and I will speak but this once (literally, only this time more, as in Exodus 10:17 ): Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. read more
And the Lord (Jehovah) went his way ,—i.e. vanished (Keil); not to avoid further entreaties on the part of Abraham (Delitzsch), but for the reason specified in the next words— as soon as he had left communing with Abraham (because Abraham's supplications were ended): and Abraham returned unto his place (viz; Mature near Hebron). HOMILETICS read more
- The Visit of the Lord to Abraham2. השׂתחיה vayı̂śtachû “bow,” or bend the body in token of respect to God or man. The attitude varies from a slight inclination of the body to entire prostration with the forehead touching the ground.6. סאה se'ah a “seah,” about an English peck, the third part of an ephah. The ephah contained ten omers. The omer held about five pints.This chapter describes Abraham’s fellowship with God. On the gracious assurance of the Redeemer and Vindicator, “Fear not, I am... read more
A.M. 2107. B.C. 1897. We have an account in this chapter of another interview between God and Abraham, probably within a few days after the former, as the reward of his cheerful obedience to the law of circumcision. Here is, ( 1,) The visit which God made him, Genesis 18:1-8 . (2,) The matters discoursed of between them; 1, The purposes of God’s love concerning Sarah, Gen 18:9 to Genesis 15:2 , The purposes of God’s wrath concerning Sodom. First, The discovery God made to Abraham... read more
Genesis 18:1. This appearance of God to Abraham seems to have had in it more of freedom and familiarity, and less of grandeur and majesty, than those we have hitherto read of, and therefore more resembles that great visit, which in the fulness of time the Son of God was to make to the world. He sat in the tent-door in the heat of the day Not so much to repose himself, as to seek an opportunity of doing good, by giving entertainment to strangers. And when there were no inns where travellers... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 18:27
And Abraham answered and said (being emboldened by the success of his first petition), Behold now, I have taken upon me , literally, I have begun, though here perhaps used in a more emphatic sense: I have undertaken or ventured— to speak unto the Lord —Adonai ( Genesis 15:2 )— which am but dust and ashes . "Dust in his origin and ashes in his end" (Delitzsch; vide Genesis 3:19 ). read more