Genesis 18:16-21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:19

And they shall keep the way of the Lord - The true religion; God's way; that in which God walks himself, and in which, of course, his followers walk also; to do justice and judgment; not only to preserve the truth in their creed, but maintain it in their practice. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:20

Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah - See note on Genesis 13:13 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:21

I will go down now, etc. - A lesson to magistrates, teaching them not to judge according to report, but accurately to inquire into the facts themselves - Jarchi. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:16

Verse 16 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 himself in our nature, together with our flesh; but God invested them with temporary bodies, in which they might be visible to Abraham, and might speak familiarly with him. Abraham is said to have... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:17

Verse 17 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 destruction. He adduces two reasons why He wished to manifest his design to Abraham, before he carried it into execution. The former is, that he had already granted him a singularly honorable... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:18

Verse 18 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 vengeance He was about to take upon the men of Sodom; namely, that He had adorned him, above all others, with peculiar gifts. For, in this way, God continues his acts of kindness towards the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:19

Verse 19 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 God, because he would faithfully fulfill the office of a good householder, in instructing his own family. Hence we infer, that Abraham was informed of the destruction of Sodom, not for his own... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:20

Verse 20 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 iniquities, to teach Abraham that they justly deserved to be destroyed: otherwise the history would not tend to instruction. But when we perceive that the anger of God is provoked by the sin of man, we... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:21

Verse 21 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 this place, he commends the moderation of God, who does not immediately fulminate against the ungodly and pour out his vengeance upon them; but who, when affairs were utterly desperate, at... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 18:16

And the men rose up from thence ,—Mamre ( vide supra , Genesis 18:1 )— and looked towards Sodom . Literally, toward the face (Rosenmüller), or towards the plain (Keil), of Sodom, as if intending to proceed thither. And Abraham went with them —across the mountains on the east of Hebron, as far as Caphar-barucha, according to tradition, whence a view can be obtained of the Dead Sea— solitudinem ac terras Sodomae (vide Keil, in loco ) — to bring them on the way .... read more

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