Genesis 18:16-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 18:16-22

The messengers from heaven had now despatched one part of their business, which was an errand of grace to Abraham and Sarah, and which they delivered first; but now they have before them work of another nature. Sodom is to be destroyed, and they must do it, Gen. 19:13. Note, As with the Lord there is mercy, so he is the God to whom vengeance belongs. Pursuant to their commission, we here find, 1. That they looked towards Sodom (Gen. 18:16); they set their faces against it in wrath, as God is... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:17

And the Lord said ,.... Either unto Abraham himself, so leading on to what he was about to make known to him; and without supposing this it will be difficult to account for Abraham's intercession for Sodom upon this: or to the two angels with him; not as consulting them whether he should or no do what he next suggests, but to give to them Abraham's just character, and the reasons of his using him in such a friendly manner: or it may be, to the other divine Persons, the Father and Spirit, one... read more

John Gill

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

Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation ,.... Which was fulfilled in the nation of Israel, so called, not so much for the largeness of the place they dwelt in, and the number of its inhabitants, as for the law of God that was given them, and the worship of God kept up among them; on account of which there was no nation so great, Deuteronomy 4:8 , and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him ; in his seed, the Messiah, in whom some of all nations... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:19

For I know him ,.... Not only by his omniscience, but with a special knowledge, such as is accompanied with peculiar love and affection; and so Jarchi says, it is expressive of love. God loved Abraham, he was a peculiar favourite of his, and therefore he would reveal his secrets to him, see Amos 3:2 ; and he knew not only who he was, but what he was, a holy good man, made so by his own grace, and what he would do by the assistance of that grace, and particularly what follows: that he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:20

And the Lord said ,.... The Targum of Jonathan adds, to the ministering angels, the two angels that were with him in the likeness of men; or to Abraham, at least in his hearing, by which he understood that Sodom and other cities were about to be destroyed for their sins: because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great ; either of Lot in it, whose righteous soul was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked, and cried to heaven against them; or of the inhabitants that were oppressed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:21

I will go down now ,.... The Son of God in an human form now with Abraham, who proposes to go from the place where he was, which perhaps was on higher ground, to the plain in which Sodom and Gomorrah stood; and whither it seems certain he did go down, after he had done talking with Abraham, see Genesis 19:24 , and see whether they have done altogether ; committed all the sins, and in such manner, and with such circumstances as reported; or, "have made a full end" F3 עשו כלה ... 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

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