Genesis 18:4-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 18:1-8

The appearance of God to Abraham seems to have had in it more of freedom and familiarity, and less of grandeur and majesty, than those we have hitherto read of; and therefore more resembles that great visit which, in the fullness of time, the Son of God was to make to the world, when the Word would be flesh, and appear as one of us. Observe here, I. How Abraham expected strangers, and how richly his expectations were answered (Gen. 18:1): He sat in the tent-door, in the heat of the day; not so... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 18:9-15

These heavenly guests (being sent to confirm the promise lately made to Abraham, that he should have a son by Sarah), while they are receiving Abraham's kind entertainment, they return his kindness. He receives angels, and has angels? rewards, a gracious message from heaven, Matt. 10:41. I. Care is taken that Sarah should be within hearing. She must conceive by faith, and therefore the promise must be made to her, Heb. 11:11. It was the modest usage of that time that the women did not sit at... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:4

Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet ,.... Which was very refreshing to travellers in hot countries, who walked barefoot or in sandals; and this he proposes to be done by one of his servants, whose business it was, only desires they would give him leave to order it, 1 Samuel 25:41 ; and so it was usual in other countries, and in later times, for servants to fetch water to wash the hands and feet of guests F12 "----- dant manibus famuli lymphas." --Virgil.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:5

And I will fetch a morsel of bread ,.... A piece or a loaf of bread, as De Dieu shows the word signifies; bread being put for all the necessaries of life: and comfort ye your hearts ; eat to refresh your spirits and renew your strength, that ye may be able to pursue your journey: and after that ye shall pass on your way; I will retard you no longer: for therefore are ye come to your servant ; not that he thought they came this way on purpose to take some refreshment with him, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:6

And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah ,.... In order to acquaint her with his guests, and to give proper instructions for providing food for them; and this he hasted to do, being hearty in the entertainment of them, and that he might not keep them too long from their journey: and said , to Sarah his wife: make ready quickly three measures of fine meal ; which was ready sifted from the bran, and was the finest flour that was in the house, and only wanted to be mixed and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:7

And Abraham ran unto the herd ,.... While Sarah and her maids were kneading the dough and making the cakes: and fetched a calf tender and good ; a fine fat calf, which was reckoned very delicious food, and much in use with the ancients F17 αυταρ εγων αγεληθεν ελασσας πιονα μοσχον --Orpheus de lapidibus, ver. 63. and generally made a part in any grand entertainment, and was accounted fit for a king, see 1 Samuel 28:24 , and gave it unto a young man : one of his servants,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:8

And he took butter and milk ,.... Jarchi says, it was the fat of the milk gathered from the top of it, he means cream, and is different both from butter and from milk: this was either Abraham himself, who took and brought these, as Sarah or her maidens might bring the cakes when baked; or else Abraham's young man, since it follows: and the calf which he had dressed ; either the whole of it, or some principal parts of it, reckoned the finest and choicest; though by what follows it seems... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:9

And they said unto him, where is Sarah thy wife ?.... One of them put the question; and so the Septuagint version renders it, "and he said unto him", the principal of them, whom Abraham at first addressed and called him "my Lord", and was no other than the Son of God in an human form; and various things in the context show him to be a divine Person, particularly his promise of return next year, and Sarah should have a son: and the question here put by him was not out of ignorance, for he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:10

And he said ,.... The same that put the question, Jehovah himself, as appears by what follows: I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life ; not by a personal appearance as now, but by the fulfilment of his promise which he had before given to Abraham, that he should have a son by Sarah, and now renews it; and this would be about the same time in the next year, perhaps at the spring of the year, which may be called "a time of life", when all things revive, which in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 18:11

Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age ,.... The one being ninety nine years of age, and the other eighty nine; and which is observed to make it the more surprising that they should have a son at such an age; and what follows still makes it more so: and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women ; her monthly visitors had left her, so that she was unfit for conception, and there could be no hope of it in a natural way; though the philosopher F23 ... read more

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