18.1-33

Genesis

Scripture must be considered in the context of the other inspired words around it. In Genesis chapter 18, Abraham negotiates for fewer righteous men in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to justify the Lord sparing these cities from being destroyed (vv.23,24,28,31,32). Mercifully, Yahweh shows patience for Abraham's requests, allowing that He will spare them for 50, then 45, then 40, then 30, then 20, then finally just ten righteous men in the two cities whose "(outcry is great, and their sin exceedingly grave)" (v20). The context is that Abraham had just greeted the Lord (אֲדֹנָ֗ Adonai v.3) and two other strangers (angels), honoring and feeding all three. Their conversation then included God inquiring about Sarah and a second revelation that she would bear a son, (which she overheard listening behind a tent flap, v10). Her response was "laughter of doubt and denial." But there is more context. Chapter 17 concluded with God's (אֱלֹהִים֙ "Elohim" 17:15) first revelation that Sarah would bear Abraham a son. Abraham's response was "laughter of joy and wonder" (17:17) and an immediately confirmed covenant in the flesh of all Hebrew males (circumcision instituted 17:10-14, 23-27). God observed Abraham's faith (17:17), followed by Sarah's doubt (18:10). Then consulting with Himself (18:17), God determined to be patient with Abraham, as He revealed the extent to which He would withhold judgment as the righteous Abraham appealed for mercy.

CHAPTER 18

Yahweh Appears to Abraham

1 Then Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day.
2 And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing nearby; he saw, and he ran from the tent door to meet them, and he bowed himself to the earth,
3 and he said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by.
4 “Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree;
5 and let me bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh your hearts; after that you may pass on, since in such a manner you have passed by your servant.” And they said, “So you shall do, as you have said.”
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Hurry, prepare three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and make bread cakes.”
7 Abraham also ran to the herd and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to his young man, and he hurried to prepare it.
8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree, and they ate.
9 Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.”
10 And He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door which was behind him.
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing.
12 And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
13 And Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a son, when I am so old?’
14 “Is anything too difficult for Yahweh? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
15 Then Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

Yahweh and Abraham Speak About Sodom

16 Then the men rose up from there and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.
17 Now Yahweh said, “Shall I conceal from Abraham what I am about to do,
18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed?
19 “For I have known him, so that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of Yahweh to do righteousness and justice, so that Yahweh may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
20 So Yahweh said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.
21 I will go down now and see whether they have done entirely according to its outcry, which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”
22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before Yahweh.
23 Then Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?
25 Far be it from You to do such a thing, to put to death the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do justice?”
26 So Yahweh said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place on their account.”
27 And Abraham answered and said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes.
28 “Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
29 Then he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it on account of the forty.”
30 Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31 And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.”
32 Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.”
33 And as soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham, Yahweh departed, and Abraham returned to his place.