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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 18:24

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:30

And he said unto him, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak ,.... He feared, through his importunity, he should be wearisome to him and incur his displeasure; this being often the case among men, especially when inferiors are soliciting their superiors, and, not content with one favour, are pressing for more: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there ; the abatement is larger than before; he only made an abatement of five at a time, now ten at once, and so he proceeds: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:31

And he said, behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord ,.... See Gill on Genesis 18:27 , Peradventure there shall be twenty found there ; wouldest thou destroy it, such a number being in it; or, wouldest thou spare it for their sakes? and he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake ; if there were no more in it, I would spare it for their sake. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:32

And he said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once ,.... This should be the last request he should make on this account, and therefore he desired he might be heard without any marks of his displeasure: Peradventure ten shall be found there : how would the place be dealt with then? would it be consumed or not? and he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake ; though no more righteous persons were found in it. Some of the Jewish writers say F7 ... read more

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