Genesis 18:5

18:5 And let me get ¹  a bit of food ²  so that you may refresh yourselves ³  since you have passed by your servant’s home. After that you may be on your way.” ⁴  “All right,” they replied, “you may do as you say.”

Genesis 19:2

19:2 He said, “Here, my lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house. Stay the night ⁵  and wash your feet. Then you can be on your way early in the morning.” ⁶  “No,” they replied, “we’ll spend the night in the town square.” ⁷ 

[18:5]  ¹ tn The Qal cohortative here probably has the nuance of polite request.

[18:5]  ² 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.

[18:5]  ³ tn Heb “strengthen your heart.” The imperative after the cohortative indicates purpose here.

[18:5]  ⁴ tn Heb “so that you may refresh yourselves, after [which] you may be on your way – for therefore you passed by near your servant.”

[19:2]  ⁵ tn The imperatives have the force of invitation.

[19:2]  ⁶ tn These two verbs form a verbal hendiadys: “you can rise up early and go” means “you can go early.”

[19:2]  ⁷ sn The town square refers to the wide street area at the gate complex of the city.