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The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:15-27
The covenant completed. I. THE ADMISSION OF SARAI. 1. The changed name. As on entering within the covenant the name of Abram was changed to Abraham, so, to signalize the reception of his spouse, Sarai was transformed in…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 17:15
"Thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be," &c. "Mother of nations;" "kings of peoples shall be of her." I. EXALTATION OF THE LOWLY. A pilgrim and stranger, made a princess. A mother of nations, t…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 17:23-27
Abraham and all his family were circumcised; so receiving the token of the covenant, and distinguishing themselves from other families that had no part nor lot in the matter. It was an implicit obedience; he did as God…
Circumcision of Abraham, &c. (b. c. 1898.)
CIRCUMCISION OF ABRAHAM, &C. (B. C. 1898.) We have here Abraham's obedience to the law of circumcision. He himself and all his family were circumcised, so receiving the token of the covenant and distinguishing themselve…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 18:1-8
Abraham was waiting to entertain any weary traveller, for inns were not to be met with as among us. While Abraham was thus sitting, he saw three men coming. These were three heavenly beings in human bodies. Some think t…
Abraham's Interview with the Angels. (b. c. 1898.)
ABRAHAM'S INTERVIEW WITH THE ANGELS. (B. C. 1898.) 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 the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:1-15
The theophany at Mamre. "The Lord appeared unto him" (Genesis 18:1). I. THE PREPARATION FOR DIVINE MANIFESTATION. 1. Abraham stands on a higher plane of spiritual life. He is endeavoring to fulfill the commandment given…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:1-15
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:1
And the Lord—Jehovah, the Divine name employed throughout the present and succeeding chapters, which are accordingly assigned to the Jehovist (Tuch, Bleek, Davidson, Colenso), with the exception of Genesis 19:29, which…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:1-15
Noontide at, Mamre, or angels' visits. I. THE ARRIVAL OF THE STRANGERS. 1. The appearance they presented. Seemingly three men, they were in reality three angels, or, more correctly, Jehovah accompanied by two celestial…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:1-15
The theophany at Mamre. I. THE DIVINE VISIT TO THE PATRIARCH. 1. A remarkable proof of the Divine condescension. 2. A striking adumbration of the incarnation of Christ. 3. An instructive emblem of God's gracious visits…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:2
And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him. Not in addition to (Kalisch), but including (Keil), Jehovah, whose appearance to the patriarch, having in the previous verse been first generally stat…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:3
And said, My Lord—Adonai, literally, Lord, as in Genesis 15:2, q.v. (LXX; κύριε; Vulgate, Domine; Syriac, Onkelos, Kalisch, Alford, Lange), though the term may have indicated nothing more than-Abraham's recognition of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:4
Let a little water, I pray yon, be fetched, and wash your feet. Feet washing was a necessary part of Oriental hospitality (cf. Genesis 19:2; Genesis 24:32; Genesis 43:24). "Among the ancient Egyptians the basins kept in…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:5
And I will fetch a morsel of bread,—a modest description of what proved a sumptuous repast (vide Genesis 18:6, Genesis 18:8)—and comfort ye your hearts;—literally, strengthen or support them, i.e. by eating and drinking…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:6
And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures. Hebrew, three seahs, a seah being a third of an ephah, and containing 374 cubic inches each (Keil); a third of a bushel (Kalisc…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:7
And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good,—the greatness of the honor done to the strangers was evinced by the personal activity of the patriarch, and the offering of animal food, which was not a…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:8
And he took butter,— חֶמְאָה, from the root חמא, to curdle or become thick, signifies curdled milk, not butter ( βούτυτρον, LXX.; butyrum, Vulgate), which was not used among Orientals except medicinally. The word occur…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 18:9-15
Where is Sarah thy wife? was asked. Note the answer, In the tent. Just at hand, in her proper place, occupied in her household concerns. There is nothing got by gadding. Those are most likely to receive comfort from God…
Matthew Henry on 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,…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:9
And they said unto him (i.e. the Principal One of the three, speaking for the others, interrogated Abraham during the progress, or perhaps at the close of, the meal saying), Where is Sarah thy wife? (thus indicating tha…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:10
And he said (the Principal Guest, as above, who, by the very nature and terms of his announcement, identifies himself with Jehovah), I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life. Literally, at the tim…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:11
Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age. Literally, gone into days, i.e. into years. This was the first natural impediment to the accomplishment of Jehovah's premise; the second was peculiar to Sarah. An…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 18:12
Therefore (literally, and) Sarah laughed within herself—Abraham had laughed in joyful amazement, (Genesis 18:17) at the first mention of Sarah's son; Sarah laughs, if not in unbelief (Calvin, Keil, 'Speaker's Commentary…