Genesis 18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:13

And the Lord (Jehovah) said, etc. - So it appears that one of those three persons was Jehovah, and as this name is never given to any created being, consequently the ever-blessed God is intended; and as he was never seen in any bodily shape, consequently the great Angel of the covenant, Jesus Christ, must be meant. See note on Genesis 16:7 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:14

Is any thing too hard for the Lord? - דבר מיהוה היפלא hayippale meihovah dabar , shall a word (or thing) be wonderful from the Lord? i.e., Can any thing be too great a miracle for him to effect? The Septuagint translate the passage, Μη αδυνατησει παρα τῳ Θεῳ ῥημα ; which St. Luke adopts almost literatim , only making it an affirmative position instead of a question: Ουκ αδυνατησει παρα τῳ Θεῳ παν ῥημα , which we translate, "With God nothing shall be impossible," Luke 1:37 .... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:16

Abraham went with them to bring them on the way - This was another piece of primitive hospitality - to direct strangers in the way. Public roads did not then exist and guides were essentially necessary in countries where villages were seldom to be met with, and where solitary dwellings did not exist. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:17

Shall I hide from Abraham - That is, I will not hide. A common mode of speech in Scripture - a question asked when an affirmative is designed. Do men gather grapes of thorns? Men do not gather grapes of thorns, etc. read more

Adam Clarke

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

Shall surely become a great and mighty nation - The revelation that I make to him shall be preserved among his posterity; and the exact fulfillment of my promises, made so long before, shall lead them to believe in my name and trust in my goodness. read more

Adam Clarke

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:22

And the men turned their faces - That is, the two angels who accompanied Jehovah were now sent towards Sodom; while the third, who is called the Lord or Jehovah, remained with Abraham for the purpose of teaching him the great usefulness and importance of faith and prayer. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 18:23

Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? - A form of speech similar to that in Genesis 18:17 , an invariable principle of justice, that the righteous shall not be punished for the crimes of the impious. And this Abraham lays down as the foundation of his supplications. Who can pray with any hope of success who cannot assign a reason to God and his conscience for the petitions he offers? The great sacrifice offered by Christ is an infinite reason why a penitent sinner should... read more

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