18:27 Then Abraham asked, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord 1 (although I am but dust and ashes), 2
18:30 Then Abraham 3 said, “May the Lord not be angry 4 so that I may speak! 5 What if thirty are found there?” He replied, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
18:31 Abraham 6 said, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty are found there?” He replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”
18:32 Finally Abraham 7 said, “May the Lord not be angry so that I may speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
1 tn The Hebrew term translated “Lord” here and in vv. 30, 31, 32 is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).
2 tn The disjunctive clause is a concessive clause here, drawing out the humility as a contrast to the
3 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 tn Heb “let it not be hot to the
5 tn After the jussive, the cohortative indicates purpose/result.
6 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.