10:1 This is the account 1 of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons 2 were born 3 to them after the flood.
18:1 The Lord appeared to Abraham 4 by the oaks 5 of Mamre while 6 he was sitting at the entrance 7 to his tent during the hottest time of the day. 18:2 Abraham 8 looked up 9 and saw 10 three men standing across 11 from him. When he saw them 12 he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed low 13 to the ground. 14
18:3 He said, “My lord, 15 if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant. 16 18:4 Let a little water be brought so that 17 you may all 18 wash your feet and rest under the tree. 18:5 And let me get 19 a bit of food 20 so that you may refresh yourselves 21 since you have passed by your servant’s home. After that you may be on your way.” 22 “All right,” they replied, “you may do as you say.”
18:6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Take 23 three measures 24 of fine flour, knead it, and make bread.” 25 18:7 Then Abraham ran to the herd and chose a fine, tender calf, and gave it to a servant, 26 who quickly prepared it. 27 18:8 Abraham 28 then took some curds and milk, along with the calf that had been prepared, and placed the food 29 before them. They ate while 30 he was standing near them under a tree.
18:9 Then they asked him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” He replied, “There, 31 in the tent.” 18:10 One of them 32 said, “I will surely return 33 to you when the season comes round again, 34 and your wife Sarah will have a son!” 35 (Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, not far behind him. 36 18:11 Abraham and Sarah were old and advancing in years; 37 Sarah had long since passed menopause.) 38 18:12 So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, 39 “After I am worn out will I have pleasure, 40 especially when my husband is old too?” 41
18:13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why 42 did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really 43 have a child when I am old?’ 18:14 Is anything impossible 44 for the Lord? I will return to you when the season comes round again and Sarah will have a son.” 45 18:15 Then Sarah lied, saying, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid. But the Lord said, “No! You did laugh.” 46
18:16 When the men got up to leave, 47 they looked out over 48 Sodom. (Now 49 Abraham was walking with them to see them on their way.) 50 18:17 Then the Lord said, “Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 51 18:18 After all, Abraham 52 will surely become 53 a great and powerful nation, and all the nations on the earth will pronounce blessings on one another 54 using his name. 18:19 I have chosen him 55 so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep 56 the way of the Lord by doing 57 what is right and just. Then the Lord will give 58 to Abraham what he promised 59 him.”
18:20 So the Lord said, “The outcry against 60 Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so blatant 61 18:21 that I must go down 62 and see if they are as wicked as the outcry suggests. 63 If not, 64 I want to know.”
18:22 The two men turned 65 and headed 66 toward Sodom, but Abraham was still standing before the Lord. 67 18:23 Abraham approached and said, “Will you sweep away the godly along with the wicked? 18:24 What if there are fifty godly people in the city? Will you really wipe it out and not spare 68 the place for the sake of the fifty godly people who are in it? 18:25 Far be it from you to do such a thing – to kill the godly with the wicked, treating the godly and the wicked alike! Far be it from you! Will not the judge 69 of the whole earth do what is right?” 70
18:26 So the Lord replied, “If I find in the city of Sodom fifty godly people, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
18:27 Then Abraham asked, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord 71 (although I am but dust and ashes), 72 18:28 what if there are five less than the fifty godly people? Will you destroy 73 the whole city because five are lacking?” 74 He replied, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
18:29 Abraham 75 spoke to him again, 76 “What if forty are found there?” He replied, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty.”
18:30 Then Abraham 77 said, “May the Lord not be angry 78 so that I may speak! 79 What if thirty are found there?” He replied, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
18:31 Abraham 80 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 81 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.”
18:33 The Lord went on his way 82 when he had finished speaking 83 to Abraham. Then Abraham returned home. 84
1 tn The title אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת (’elle tolÿdot, here translated as “This is the account”) here covers 10:1–11:9, which contains the so-called Table of Nations and the account of how the nations came to be dispersed.
2 sn Sons were born to them. A vertical genealogy such as this encompasses more than the names of sons. The list includes cities, tribes, and even nations. In a loose way, the names in the list have some derivation or connection to the three ancestors.
3 tn It appears that the Table of Nations is a composite of at least two ancient sources: Some sections begin with the phrase “the sons of” (בְּנֵי, bÿne) while other sections use “begot” (יָלָד, yalad). It may very well be that the “sons of” list was an old, “bare bones” list that was retained in the family records, while the “begot” sections were editorial inserts by the writer of Genesis, reflecting his special interests. See A. P. Ross, “The Table of Nations in Genesis 10 – Its Structure,” BSac 137 (1980): 340-53; idem, “The Table of Nations in Genesis 10 – Its Content,” BSac 138 (1981): 22-34.
4 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 tn Or “terebinths.”
6 tn The disjunctive clause here is circumstantial to the main clause.
7 tn The Hebrew noun translated “entrance” is an adverbial accusative of place.
7 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
8 tn Heb “lifted up his eyes.”
9 tn Heb “and saw, and look.” The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) draws attention to what he saw. The drawn-out description focuses the reader’s attention on Abraham’s deliberate, fixed gaze and indicates that what he is seeing is significant.
10 tn The Hebrew preposition עַל (’al) indicates the three men were nearby, but not close by, for Abraham had to run to meet them.
11 tn The pronoun “them” has been supplied in the translation for clarification. In the Hebrew text the verb has no stated object.
12 tn The form וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ (vayyishtakhu, “and bowed low”) is from the verb הִשְׁתַּחֲוָה (hishtakhavah, “to worship, bow low to the ground”). It is probably from a root חָוָה (khavah), though some derive it from שָׁחָה (shakhah).
13 sn The reader knows this is a theophany. The three visitors are probably the
10 tc The MT has the form אֲדֹנָי (’adonay, “Master”) which is reserved for God. This may reflect later scribal activity. The scribes, knowing it was the
11 tn Heb “do not pass by from upon your servant.”
13 tn The imperative after the jussive indicates purpose here.
14 tn The word “all” has been supplied in the translation because the Hebrew verb translated “wash” and the pronominal suffix on the word “feet” are plural, referring to all three of the visitors.
16 tn The Qal cohortative here probably has the nuance of polite request.
17 tn Heb “a piece of bread.” The Hebrew word לֶחֶם (lekhem) can refer either to bread specifically or to food in general. Based on Abraham’s directions to Sarah in v. 6, bread was certainly involved, but v. 7 indicates that Abraham had a more elaborate meal in mind.
18 tn Heb “strengthen your heart.” The imperative after the cohortative indicates purpose here.
19 tn Heb “so that you may refresh yourselves, after [which] you may be on your way – for therefore you passed by near your servant.”
19 tn The word “take” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text the sentence lacks a verb other than the imperative “hurry.” The elliptical structure of the language reflects Abraham’s haste to get things ready quickly.
20 sn Three measures (Heb “three seahs”) was equivalent to about twenty quarts (twenty-two liters) of flour, which would make a lot of bread. The animal prepared for the meal was far more than the three visitors needed. This was a banquet for royalty. Either it had been a lonely time for Abraham and the presence of visitors made him very happy, or he sensed this was a momentous visit.
21 sn The bread was the simple, round bread made by bedouins that is normally prepared quickly for visitors.
22 tn Heb “the young man.”
23 tn The construction uses the Piel preterite, “he hurried,” followed by the infinitive construct; the two probably form a verbal hendiadys: “he quickly prepared.”
25 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
26 tn The words “the food” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. In the Hebrew text the verb has no stated object.
27 tn The disjunctive clause is a temporal circumstantial clause subordinate to the main verb.
28 tn The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh) often accompanies a gesture of pointing or a focused gaze.
31 tn Heb “he”; the referent (one of the three men introduced in v. 2) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Some English translations have specified the referent as the
32 tn The Hebrew construction is emphatic, using the infinitive absolute with the imperfect tense.
33 tn Heb “as/when the time lives” or “revives,” possibly referring to the springtime.
34 tn Heb “and there will be (הִנֵּה, hinneh) a son for Sarah.”
35 tn This is the first of two disjunctive parenthetical clauses preparing the reader for Sarah’s response (see v. 12).
34 tn Heb “days.”
35 tn Heb “it had ceased to be for Sarah [after] a way like women.”
37 tn Heb “saying.”
38 tn It has been suggested that this word should be translated “conception,” not “pleasure.” See A. A. McIntosh, “A Third Root ‘adah in Biblical Hebrew,” VT 24 (1974): 454-73.
39 tn The word “too” has been added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
40 tn Heb “Why, this?” The demonstrative pronoun following the interrogative pronoun is enclitic, emphasizing the
41 tn The Hebrew construction uses both הַאַף (ha’af) and אֻמְנָם (’umnam): “Indeed, truly, will I have a child?”
43 tn The Hebrew verb פָּלָא (pala’) means “to be wonderful, to be extraordinary, to be surpassing, to be amazing.”
44 sn Sarah will have a son. The passage brings God’s promise into clear focus. As long as it was a promise for the future, it really could be believed without much involvement. But now, when it seemed so impossible from the human standpoint, when the
46 tn Heb “And he said, ‘No, but you did laugh.’” The referent (the
49 tn Heb “And the men arose from there.”
50 tn Heb “toward the face of.”
51 tn The disjunctive parenthetical clause sets the stage for the following speech.
52 tn The Piel of שָׁלַח (shalakh) means “to lead out, to send out, to expel”; here it is used in the friendly sense of seeing the visitors on their way.
52 tn The active participle here refers to an action that is imminent.
55 tn Heb “And Abraham.” The disjunctive clause is probably causal, giving a reason why God should not hide his intentions from Abraham. One could translate, “Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation?”
56 tn The infinitive absolute lends emphasis to the finite verb that follows.
57 tn Theoretically the Niphal can be translated either as passive or reflexive/reciprocal. (The Niphal of “bless” is only used in formulations of the Abrahamic covenant. See Gen 12:2; 18:18; 28:14.) Traditionally the verb is taken as passive here, as if Abram were going to be a channel or source of blessing. But in later formulations of the Abrahamic covenant (see Gen 22:18; 26:4) the Hitpael replaces this Niphal form, suggesting a translation “will bless [i.e., “pronounce blessings upon”] themselves [or “one another”].” The Hitpael of “bless” is used with a reflexive/reciprocal sense in Deut 29:18; Ps 72:17; Isa 65:16; Jer 4:2. Gen 18:18 (like 12:2) predicts that Abraham will be held up as a paradigm of divine blessing and that people will use his name in their blessing formulae. For examples of blessing formulae utilizing an individual as an example of blessing see Gen 48:20 and Ruth 4:11.
58 tn Heb “For I have known him.” The verb יָדַע (yada’) here means “to recognize and treat in a special manner, to choose” (see Amos 3:2). It indicates that Abraham stood in a special covenantal relationship with the
59 tn Heb “and they will keep.” The perfect verbal form with vav consecutive carries on the subjective nuance of the preceding imperfect verbal form (translated “so that he may command”).
60 tn The infinitive construct here indicates manner, explaining how Abraham’s children and his household will keep the way of the
61 tn Heb “bring on.” The infinitive after לְמַעַן (lÿma’an) indicates result here.
62 tn Heb “spoke to.”
61 tn Heb “the outcry of Sodom,” which apparently refers to the outcry for divine justice from those (unidentified persons) who observe its sinful ways.
62 tn Heb “heavy.”
64 tn The cohortative indicates the
65 tn Heb “[if] according to the outcry that has come to me they have done completely.” Even the
66 sn The short phrase if not provides a ray of hope and inspires Abraham’s intercession.
67 tn Heb “And the men turned from there.” The word “two” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied here for clarity. Gen 19:1 mentions only two individuals (described as “angels”), while Abraham had entertained three visitors (18:2). The implication is that the
68 tn Heb “went.”
69 tc An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition reads “but the
70 tn Heb “lift up,” perhaps in the sense of “bear with” (cf. NRSV “forgive”).
73 tn Or “ruler.”
74 sn Will not the judge of the whole earth do what is right? For discussion of this text see J. L. Crenshaw, “Popular Questioning of the Justice of God in Ancient Israel,” ZAW 82 (1970): 380-95, and C. S. Rodd, “Shall Not the Judge of All the Earth Do What Is Just?” ExpTim 83 (1972): 137-39.
76 tn The Hebrew term translated “Lord” here and in vv. 30, 31, 32 is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).
77 tn The disjunctive clause is a concessive clause here, drawing out the humility as a contrast to the
79 tn The Hebrew verb שָׁחַת (shakhat, “to destroy”) was used earlier to describe the effect of the flood.
80 tn Heb “because of five.”
82 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
83 tn The construction is a verbal hendiadys – the preterite (“he added”) is combined with an adverb “yet” and an infinitive “to speak.”
85 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
86 tn Heb “let it not be hot to the
87 tn After the jussive, the cohortative indicates purpose/result.
88 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
91 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Abraham) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
94 tn Heb “And the
95 tn The infinitive construct (“speaking”) serves as the direct object of the verb “finished.”
96 tn Heb “to his place.”