Genesis 18:1-33

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:7

And Abraham ran unto the herd ,.... While Sarah and her maids were kneading the dough and making the cakes: and fetched a calf tender and good ; a fine fat calf, which was reckoned very delicious food, and much in use with the ancients F17 αυταρ εγων αγεληθεν ελασσας πιονα μοσχον --Orpheus de lapidibus, ver. 63. and generally made a part in any grand entertainment, and was accounted fit for a king, see 1 Samuel 28:24 , and gave it unto a young man : one of his servants,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:8

And he took butter and milk ,.... Jarchi says, it was the fat of the milk gathered from the top of it, he means cream, and is different both from butter and from milk: this was either Abraham himself, who took and brought these, as Sarah or her maidens might bring the cakes when baked; or else Abraham's young man, since it follows: and the calf which he had dressed ; either the whole of it, or some principal parts of it, reckoned the finest and choicest; though by what follows it seems... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:9

And they said unto him, where is Sarah thy wife ?.... One of them put the question; and so the Septuagint version renders it, "and he said unto him", the principal of them, whom Abraham at first addressed and called him "my Lord", and was no other than the Son of God in an human form; and various things in the context show him to be a divine Person, particularly his promise of return next year, and Sarah should have a son: and the question here put by him was not out of ignorance, for he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:10

And he said ,.... The same that put the question, Jehovah himself, as appears by what follows: I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life ; not by a personal appearance as now, but by the fulfilment of his promise which he had before given to Abraham, that he should have a son by Sarah, and now renews it; and this would be about the same time in the next year, perhaps at the spring of the year, which may be called "a time of life", when all things revive, which in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:11

Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age ,.... The one being ninety nine years of age, and the other eighty nine; and which is observed to make it the more surprising that they should have a son at such an age; and what follows still makes it more so: and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women ; her monthly visitors had left her, so that she was unfit for conception, and there could be no hope of it in a natural way; though the philosopher F23 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:12

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself ,.... Not for joy of a son, and as pleased with it, believing so it would be; but as disbelieving it, and perhaps deriding it, and confuting it with a laugh, which, though it did not appear in her countenance, was secretly in her heart: saying , not with her mouth, but in her mind: after I am waxed old , being almost ninety years of age: shall I have pleasure ? in conception, or rather in having a son, and in suckling and nursing him, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:13

And the Lord said unto Abraham ,.... This discovers who the person was that had been conversing with Abraham, that he was a divine Person, as appears by his name "Jehovah", as well as by his knowledge of Sarah's behaviour; he did not turn himself to her, that it might be more manifest that it was not upon the sight of her he judged she laughed, but from his own omniscience; and he chose rather to speak to her husband than to her, appearing as a stranger, and that he might reprove her: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:14

Is anything too hard for the Lord ?.... Whose power is infinite; or "too wonderful" F24 היפלא "nunquid mirabile vel mirificabitur", Munster, Piscator, Schmidt. , so wonderful and beyond all belief, that it can never be thought it will be done by him; and why then should it be thought incredible or impossible that Sarah should have a child, though she is old? Or, is "anything hidden from the Lord" F25 "Nunquid abscondetur", Pagninus, Cartwright; "an potest occultari", Junius &... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:15

Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not ,.... Some render the words, "Sarah lied" F26 תכחש "mentita est", Drusius. ; and indeed it was no other than a lie, to say she did not laugh when she did; which she might be tempted to say in her confusion, partly because the back of the speaker was to her, and he could not see her, and partly because it was inward, and very little at least discoverable in her countenance: for she was afraid ; of the reproof of her husband; and of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:16

And the men rose up from thence ,.... From their seats at Abraham's table under the tree, all three of them: and looked toward Sodom ; set their faces and steered their course that way, by which it appeared they intended to go thither: the Targum of Jonathan says, that he that brought the news to Sarah went up, to the highest heavens, and two of them looked toward Sodom; but it seems most likely, that, when the two went on their way to Sodom, the third stayed with Abraham: and Abraham... read more

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