Genesis 18:22-33

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 18:23-33

Communion with God is kept up by the word and by prayer. In the word God speaks to us; in prayer we speak to him. God had revealed to Abraham his purposes concerning Sodom; now from this Abraham takes occasion to speak to God on Sodom's behalf. Note, God's word then does us good when it furnishes us with matter for prayer and excites us to it. When God has spoken to us, we must consider what we have to say to him upon it. Observe, I. The solemnity of Abraham's address to God on this occasion:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:22

And the men turned their faces from thence ,.... From the place to which Abraham brought them on; these were only two of them, for the third continued with Abraham: and went towards Sodom ; and are the two angels said to come thither at evening, Genesis 19:1 , but Abraham stood yet before the Lord ; before the third person, whom Abraham now began to know more clearly; he stood before him with all reverence and humility, to hear what he had further to say to him, as well as to say... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:23

And Abraham drew near ,.... To the Lord; he approached nearer to him, to have more close and intimate conversation with him on the subject of the destruction of Sodom, which he perceived, by what had been said, was like to be; he drew nigh to God in prayer; so the Targum of Jonathan,"and Abraham prayed and said;'he drew nigh with faith and freedom, and an holy boldness and confidence, and yet with great reverence of the divine Majesty, and in all humility, under a deep sense of his own... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:24

Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city ,.... Within the Pentapolis, which consisted of five cities; and so ten righteous persons are supposed to be in each, as Jarchi observes, agreeably to the Targum of Jonathan;"perhaps there may be fifty righteous persons in the city who pray before thee, ten for every city, answerable to the five cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar:" wilt thou also destroy, and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:25

That be far from thee to do after this manner ,.... He represents it as a thing unbecoming the divine Majesty, and contrary to the nature and perfections of God: to slay the righteous with the wicked ; which is true of eternal punishment, but not of temporal calamities, in which the righteous are often involved with the wicked, though not for the same reasons, and under the same considerations, and for the same ends: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:26

If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city ,.... Sodom is particularly mentioned because Lot dwelt there, and being the metropolis, and the city of greatest note, as Jarchi observes, it is put for the rest; and the sense is, if fifty righteous persons could be found in all the five cities, mercy should be shown them: then will I spare all the place for their sakes ; not Sodom only, but the whole country, of which Sodom was the chief; the Lord takes up and agrees to the number... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:27

And Abraham answered and said ,.... In a very humble and modest manner, encouraged by the answer given him: behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord ; suggesting that it was bold and daring in him, and was what he was unfit for and unworthy of; or, "I have begun to speak" F5 הואלתי לדבר "coepi, loquar", V. L. "loqui", Pagninus, Montanus; so Targum Jon. ; and since he had, he intimates, it would be a favour, and what he was undeserving of, might he be permitted to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:28

Peradventure there should lack five of the fifty righteous ,.... Or there should be but forty five; for Abraham perceived, by the Lord's answer, that there were not fifty righteous persons in the place: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? Abraham proceeds gradually in his requests, and does not ask too much at once, lest he should not succeed: and he said, if l find there forty and five, I will not destroy it ; that is, forty five righteous persons. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:29

And he spake unto him yet again, and said ,.... Being encouraged by such a gracious answer: Peradventure there shall be forty found there ; forty righteous persons; and, from preceding passages, it must be supplied,"wilt thou destroy and not spare the place for their sakes?" and he said, I will not do it for forty's sake ; but spare them for their sake. read more

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