Genesis 18:6

18:6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Take ¹  three measures ²  of fine flour, knead it, and make bread.” ³ 

Genesis 24:67

24:67 Then Isaac brought Rebekah ⁴  into his mother Sarah’s tent. He took her ⁵  as his wife and loved her. ⁶  So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. ⁷ 

[18:6]  ¹ 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.

[18:6]  ² 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.

[18:6]  ³ sn The bread was the simple, round bread made by bedouins that is normally prepared quickly for visitors.

[24:67]  ⁴ tn Heb “her”; the referent has been specified here in the translation for clarity.

[24:67]  ⁵ tn Heb “Rebekah”; here the proper name was replaced by the pronoun (“her”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[24:67]  ⁶ tn Heb “and he took Rebekah and she became his wife and he loved her.”

[24:67]  ⁷ tn Heb “after his mother.” This must refer to Sarah’s death.