Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
1, Abraham entertaineth three Angels, 9, who promiseth Sarah a sonne, 12, where at she laugheth, and is reproved. 17, The destruction of Sodom is revealed to Abraham: 23, and hee maketh intercession for the men thereof. 32, The whole Citie should bee spared, if but ten just persons were found therein.
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ANd Iehovah appeared unto him, in the Okes of Mamree: and he was sitting at the tent doore, in the heat of the day. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw; and loe three men standing before him: and he saw, and ranne to meet them, from the tent doore; and bowed-downe himselfe to the ground. And hee said: Lord, if now I hauehave found grace in thine eyes; passe not away I pray thee, from thy servant. Let a little water I pray you be taken, and wash ye your feet: and leane-ye-downe under the tree. And I will take a morsell of bread, and sustaine ye your heart, after that ye shall passon; for therfore have you passed, unto your servant: And they sayd; So doe as thou hast spoken. And Abraham hastned into the tent, to Sarah: and hee said, Hasten three peckes of flowry meale: knead, and make cakes. And Abraham ranne unto the herd; and he tooke a Calfe of the herd, tender and good: and gave it to a yongman; and hee hastned to make it (ready.) And hee tooke butter and milke, and the calfe of the herd which he had made (ready,) and set it before them: and he was standing by them, under the tree, and they did eat. And they said unto him; where is Sarah thy wife? And hee said, behold in the tent. And hee said, Returning I will returne unto thee, when this time reviveth; and loe, Sarah thy wife shall have a sonne: And Sarah heard, in the tent doore, and it was behind him. And Abraham and Sarah were old, comming into daies: it ceased …o be with Sarah, after the way of women. And Sarah laughed, within her selfe saying: after I am wexed-old, shall I have pleasure? also my Lord is old. And Iehovah said unto Abraham: wherefore laugheth Sarah, saying, Shall I verily bear-a-child, and I am old? Shall any-thing be unpossible for Iehovah? At the appointed-time will I returne unto thee, when this time reviveth, and Sarah shall have a sonne. And Sarah falsly-denyed, saying, I laugbed not: for she was afraid: and he said, nay, but thou didst laugh. And the men rose-up from thence, and looked towards Sodom: and Abraham went with them, to bring them on the way. And Iehovah sayd; shall I hide from Abraham, that which I am doing? And Abraham being shall bee a great and mighty nation: and blessed shall be in him, all nations of the earth? For I know him, how that hee will command his sonnes, and his house after him; and they shall keepe the way of Iehovah, to doe justice and judgement: that, Iehovah may bring upon Abraham, that which he hath spoken unto him. And Iehovah said; The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha, because it is much: and their sinne, because it is very heavy. I will goe-downe now and see, whether according to the cry therof that is come unto me, they have done altogether: and if not, that I may know. And the men turnedthe face from thence, and went to Sodom: and Abraham, he yet stood before Iehovah. And Abraham drew-neere, and said; wilt thou also consume the just with the wicked? If so be there bee fifty just men, within the City: wilt thou also consume, and not spare the place, for the fifty just, which are within it? Far-be-it from thee to doe according to this word, to slay the just with the wicked, and that the just should bee as the wicked: far-be-it from thee; shall the Iudge of all the earth, not doe judgement? And Iehovah said; If I shall find in Sodom, fifty just men within the city: then will I spare all the place for their sake. And Abraham answered, and said: Behold now I have taken upon me to speake unto the Lord; and I, am dust and ashes. If-so-be there lacke of fifty just men, five; wilt thou destroy for five, all the city? And he said, I will not destroy, if I shall find there, fourty and five. And he added again, to speake unto him, and said; If-so-be fourty be found there: and hee said, I will not doe it, for fourties sake. And he said, O let not now the Lord be wroth, and I will speake; If-so-be thirty be found there: and hee said, I will not doe it, if I shall find thirty there. And he said, Behold now I have taken-upon me to speake unto the Lord; If so be twenty shall be found there: And he sayd, I will not destroy, for twenties sake. And hee sayd, O let not now the Lord bee wroth, and I will speake but this once; If-so-be, ten shall bee found there: And he said, I will not destroy, for tennes sake. And Iehovah went-away, when as he had made-an-end, of speaking unto Abraham: and Abraham, returned to his place.
Annotations.
foreign Here beginneth the fourth section of the Law, called of the first word Vajera, that is, And (the Lord) appeared. See Gen. 6. 9.
Vers. 1. appeared] or, was seene of him, meaning Abraham. This vision was to renew the promise of Isaaks birth; and to acquaint Abraham with Gods purpose of destroying Sodom. And for us, to see how Abrahams faith wrought with his workes; and by workes, faith was made perfect, as Iam. 2. 22. the akes] that is, the oke-grove, or the plaine: see Gen. 13. 18. in the heat] that is, at …oone: as the Greeke translateth it. At such time travellers wexe saint and hungry: heat also figureth afflictions, Mat. 13. 6. 21. Rev. 7. 16. the due time to shew forth works of grace, Mat. 25. 35.
Vers. 2. three men] so they seemed at first to Abraham; but he entertained Angels unawares, Heb. 13. 2. for one of these is called Iehovah, vers. 13. 14. 17. 20. 22. and Abraham after so acknowledged him as the Lord and Iudge of all the earth, ver. 25. 27. And this was Christ, Rom. 10 9. Iohn 5. 22. The other two were created Angels, Gen. 19. 1. The Hebrew Doctors here say; And behold three Angels were sent to Abraham our father: and they three were sent for three things, because it cannot be, that moe things then one should be sent by the hand of one of the high Angels. The first Angell was sent to shew gladtidings unto Abraham our father, that Sarah should beare Isaak. The second Angell was sent to deliver Let from the overthrow (of Sodom.) The third Angell was sent to overthrow Sodom and Gomorrha, Admah and Seboim: Thargum Ierusalemy on Gen. 18. before him] or, against him; thus occasioning Abraham to come unto them: who presently ran; and so pursued hospitality, as the Apostle speaketh, Rom. 12. 13.
Vers. 3. Lord] the Hebrew Adonai is written with long A in the end, which is the usuall title of God, as is observed on Gen. 15. 2. The Greeke also translateth it absolutely Lord, and the Chaldee expresseth it by the letters of Iehovah; otherwise then in Gen. 19. 2. And Abraham in vers. 27. under this title, acknowledgeth him for God; opposing himselfe, as dust and ashes.
Vers. 4. leane ye downe] that is, rest ye; or as the Greeke translateth, refresh your selves.
Vers. 5. sustaine ye] or uphold; that is, comfort or strengthen your heart: the Greeke translateth it eat. Bread is compared to a staffe or stay, Esay 3. 1. for that it is the chiefe sustenance that upholds the life of man. So in Iudg. 19. 5. Psal. 104. 15.
Vers. 6. three peckes] or measures, each of them was at least a pottle bigger then our English pecke, for three of them made an Ephah, or Bushel, (wherof see Exodus 16. 36.) The Hebrewes write that this their pecke, (which they call Seah, the Greeke Saton,) contained as much as 144 common hens egges. For their least measure is the quantity of an egge; sixe whereof doe make a measure called Log, or Pinte, (whereof see Lev. 14. 10.) and foure of them Logs make a Kab, (wherof see 2 Kin. 6. 25.) and sixe Kabs make this Seah or Pecke; three whereof Abraham prepareth here, for three mens dinner; which with other things doe manifest his liberality: contrary to Nabals, 1 Sam. 25. 11. Our Saviour also hath a Parable of three peckes of meale which a woman leavened, Mat. 13. 33. That which in Ruth 2. 17. is an Ephah (or Bushell) of barly; the Chaldee Paraphrase there calleth three Seahs (or peckes.) So also in Exod. 16. 36. flowery meale] that is, fine meale: Hebr. meale of flower. This, and the tender and good calfe, vers. 7. sheweth that Abrahams benevolence was of the best things that hee had. See the annotations on Gen. 4. 4.
Vers. 7. the herd] or, the beeves: as the Greeke and Chaldee turne it. a calfe] Hebr. son of the herd, or beefe: so, sonnes of the flocke, for Lambes, Psal. 114. 4. sonne of the asse, for a foale, Gen. 49. 11. …es of the V…icorne, Psal. 29. 6. and sundry the like. to make it] to weet, ready, that is, to dresse it. An usuall phrase for preparing, dressing, or trimming any thing; so, to make the Passover, Exod. 12. 48. Mat. 26. 18. and other sacrifices, Exod. 10. 25. Psal. 66. 15.
Vers. 8. set] Hebr. gave. standing] the Chaldee translateth; he ministred to them. And so the Hebrew word oft signifieth, as the Levites that stood, Neh. 12. 44. that is, served, or wayted: so hee which stood before the King, Ier. 52. 12. is said to bee the servant of the King, 2 King. 25. 8. And this setteth forth Abrahams humility.
Vers. 9. in the tent] It is a vertue for women, to be keepers at home, Tit. 2. 5. but the lewd womens feet, abide not in her house, Prov. 7. 11.
Vers. 10. Returning I will returne] that is, I will certainly returne: see Gen. 2. 17. This was a word of promise, whereby the children of God, and true seed of Abraham, were discerned from the other, Rom. 9. 8. 9. Neither doe wee find that this returne was by the Angels apparition againe: but by the complement of the thing promised. when this time reviveth] or liveth; that is, the next yeere at this time: as appeareth by the accomplishment, Gen. 21. 2. 5. for then Abraham was an hundred yeere old, and now he was ninety nine, Gen. 17. 24. In the revolution of the yeere, things returne to the same life and estate, which they had before. And in spirituall things, when promises are fulfilled, it is called the acceptable yeere of the Lord, Luke 4. 19. So a City is said to be revived, when it is built and repaired, 1 Chron. 11. 8. and stones revive, when they are restored to their former state, Nehem. 4. 2. And the Apostle confirmeth this interpretation, citing the place thus, At this time will I come, Rom. 9. 9. It may also be translated, According to the time of life: or rather, at this time of life: the word this, being usually understood, as in Exod. 9. 18. 1 Sam. 9. 16. and 20. 12. and sometime expressed, as in Ios. 9. 6. The Chaldee referreth it to Abraham and his wife, According to this time when ye shall be alive. A like promise is made in 2 King. 4. 16. 17. where the Greeke version hath, as the time (or when the houre) liveth.
Vers. 11. into dayes] that is, into yeeres: as Gen. 4. 3. A like phrase the Evangelist useth of some gone forward in dayes; for, very aged, Luke 1. 7. 18. So Gen. 24. 1. the way,] that is, the custome (or manner) of women, for the ordinary and naturall course of the body, or fluors; mentioned Levit. 15. 19. 25. meaning, that she was past naturall strength to conceive and beare children; as is explained in Rom. 4. 19. Heb. 11. 11. So the promise of redemption was fulfilled for us by Christ, when wee were without strength, Rom. 5. 6. even dead in trespasses and sinnes, Ephes. 2. 1.
Vers. 12. laughed] as thinking it could not bee: which her weake faith is after reproved, and shee strengthned, vers. 13. 14. But Abrahams laughing was for joy; in beleefe, and admiration, Gen. 7. 17. and so was Satahs afterward, Gen. 21. 6. wherefore her faith also is commended unto us, Heb. 11. 11. my Lord] that is, my husband, whom Sarah reverenceth by this name: wherefore her obedience is set forth for an example to all women, in 1 Peter 3. 6.
Vers. 14. any thing] or word, that is, whatsoever can be spoken of. unpossible] or, marvellous; that is, hard to be done; or unpossible, as the holy Ghost translateth this according to the Greeke version, Luke 1. 37. So in Zach. 8. 6. It implyed also a thing hidden and unknowne. Here God graciously pardoneth Sarahs infirmity, after he hath reproved her; and repeateth his promise to strengthen her faith, that shee might bee blessed, in beleeving that there should be a performance of those things, which were told her from the Lord, (as Luke 1. 45.) For Zachary was stricken dumbe for a time, because hee beleeved not a like promise made unto him, Luke 1. 13. 18. 20.
Vers. 16. to bring them on the way] or, to send them away, to weet, with honour, and after a godly sort, as the Apostle speaketh, 3 Ioh. 6. for this is a dutifull kindnesse much spoken of; as in Act. 20. 38. and 21. 5. Rom 15. 24. 1 Cor. 16. 11. Tit. 3. 13.
Vers. 17. shall I hide] that is, I will not hide. As, shalt thou build me an house? 2 Sam. 7. 5. is the same that, thou shalt not build, 1 Chron. 17. 4. And, doe men gather grapes of thornes? Mat. 7. 16. which another Evangelist recording, saith, men doe not gather, Luke 6. 44. The Lord will doe nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the Prophets, Amos. 37.
Vers. 18. being shall be] that is, shall surely bee, or, become. in him] that is, in his seed, Christ: see Gen. 12. 3.
Vers. 19. how that hee will] or, to the end that hee may command: but the Greeke keepeth the former sense. his house] the men of his house, as the Chaldee explaineth it. According to this is the law, Deut. 6. 7. and 11. 19. and they shall keepe] or, that they may keepe: these two phrases are implyed in the Hebrew, and the Scripture useth them indifferently, as, judge not, and ye shall not bee judged, Luke 6. 37. or, that ye be not judged, as Mat. 7. 1. the way] that is, the true religion, faith, and obedience prescribed for men to walke it, Act. 18. 25. 26. Deut. 8. 6. and 10. 12. The Chaldee saith, the wates that are right before the Lord. unto him,] or, of him. The Greeke translateth, all things that he hath spoken unto him.
Vers. 20. heavy] or grievous: of their sinnes, see the notes on Gen. 73. 13. The Greeke here translateth, their sinnes are very great.
Vers. 21. I will goe downe] see this phrase in Gen. 11. 5. The Chaldee saith, I will appeare and judge. done altogether] or, made a full end: that is, have wholly finished their sinne, which bringeth forth death, Iam. 1. 15. This word full-end, (or consummation) is used also for the full-punishment and consuming of the sinners, Ier. 46. 28. that I may know] so the Greeke translateth: it may also be Englished, I will know; that is, make triall. God speaketh of himselfe, after the manner of men: So in Gen. 22. 12. Exod. 33. 5. The Chaldee paraphraseth; I will consume them if they repent not; but if they doe repent, I will not take vengeance.
Vers. 22. the men] two of the three which appeared to Abraham, vers. 2. which were two Angels, Gen. 19. 1. the third stayed with Abraham, and he is called Iehovah; the Lord Christ. stood] or, was standing, as the Greeke translateth: the Chaldee addeth, stood in prayer before the Lord: so Gen. 19. 27. And elsewhere by standing before God: prayer is meant, as Ier. 15. 1. And Christ saith, when ye stand, praying, Mark 11. 25.
Vers. 23. drew-neere] to make his requests to the Lord: a signe and fruit of faith, Heb. 7. 19. and 10. 22. consume] or, make-an-end of.
Vers. 24. If so be] or, It may be; peradventure: it is a word that intimateth difficulty, and yet with some hope of possibility: as in Exod. 32. 30. Ios. 14. 12. Zoph. 2. 3. 1 Sam. 14. 6. 2 King. 19. 4. spare] or forbeare, forgive the place, under one City Sodom, implying all the rest.
Vers. 25. Far be it from thee] The Hebrew Chalilah, signifieth a profanation, or profane thing; and so forbidden to be done. And sometime the name of God and Lord is added, as in 1 Chron. 11. 19. 2 Sam. 23. 17. and it is in our phrase, God forbid, or Gods forbod. The Apostles, following the Greeke version, expresse it sometime by (Me genoito) bee it not, or sarre be it, Rom. 3. 4. 6. sometime by hileos, that is, propitious or favourable; as praying God in mercy to keepe it away: as Matth. 16. 22. Farre be it from thee, (or God forbid,) Lord. to doe] or from doing. this word] or, this thing. judgement] that is, right judgement, or equity. So the word judgement is often used, as Psal. 9. 5. 17. and 119. 121. Mat. 23. 23.
Vers. 26. all the place] and so, the people of the place. In Ier. 5. 1. God offreth the like for Ierusalem, if there could a man be found that executed judgement, and sought the truth, hee would spare it.
Vers. 27. have taken upon me] or, have willingly begun; for so the originall word sometime signifieth willingnesse and content, Ios. 17. 12. Iudg. 17. 11. sometime a voluntary beginning, or, or taking hand, Deut. 1. 5. Accordingly the Greeke here translateth, I have begunne. dust] that is, base, vile: see Gen. 3. 19.
Vers. 28. destroy] or, corrupt, marre: see Gen. 6. 13 for five] that is, for lacke of five. So, for fatnesse, Psal. 109. 24. and, for the fruits, Lam. 4. 9. is, for the lacke of them.
Vers. 30. and I will] or, that I speake: as verse 19. the Greeke translateth it, If I speake: so verse 32. Also and, is put for and if, in Exodus 4. 23. Malac. 1. 2.
Vers. 32. this once] Abraham descended not to sewer then ten: a reason whereof the Hebrew Doctors give to be this, that in the generation of the floud, there were eight, Noah and his wife, and his three sonnes, and their wives; and yet the world was not saved for their sakes: Breshith rabbah, on Gen. 18.
Vers. 33 Iehovah went away:] the Chaldee saith, the glorie of the Lord was lifted up. made an end] the Greeke turneth it, had ceased speaking.