Genesis 18

Genesis 18:1

PLaine of Mamre] See Annot. on Chap. 13. vers. 18. V. 2. three men] That is, three Angels in mens shape, so they seemed to him, and as such he entertained them; and so (though he knew it not) he had Angels for his guests, Hebrews 13:2. and among them Christ, for he assuming an humane shape as the other two did, made one among them, and was the chiefe of them, as the title given to him, vers. 3. & 17. sheweth: and he is called an Angel also, Mal. 3.1.

Genesis 18:2

towards the ground] He did them humble reverence after the manner of the Easterne Countreys

Genesis 18:3

Lord] Speaking to one of them, in whom appeared to be most majestie, he calleth him Lord, and that truly, for be is indeed the Lord not onely of men but of Angels, Hebrews 1:6.

Genesis 18:4

wash your feet] For men used becaus eof the great heat to goe bare-footed in those parts, either altogether bare, or with sandals which had soles below, but were open above, and fastned to the foot with a buckle or lace; therefore it is noted by the Apostle for an act of charitie to wash the Saints feete, 1 Timothy 5:10.

Genesis 18:5

a morsell of bread] He speakes sparingly, but entertains bountifully, vers. 6, 7. It is good to have our deeds exceed our words.

comfort] Heb. stay. Isaiah 3:1.

therefore are ye come] (Chap. 19. 8. & 33. 10.) As directed to me by the speciall providence of God, to give me occasion and opportunitie to expresse my respect, and to doe offices of charitable observance unto you.

Genesis 18:6

unto Sarah] Though Sarah were a great woman, so great as to be styled Lady or Princesse, having at least there hundred and eighteene servants under her, yet she is bidden to make ready meal, knead and bake cakes of it; and if she did it not with her owne hands, she was (at least) to oversee the doing of it in due manner, and with good dispatch: A good example for great Ladies, that they doe not thinke themselves too great or too good to play the good huswives. See Prov. 31. from vers. 10. to the 24.

three measures] The least measure among the Hebrewes was of the quantity of an Hens egge, whereof twenty foure make a Cab, and sixe Cabs are thought to be one of these measures.

fine meale] Well and curiously sisted for the separation of brans, and all the grosser part of the corne when it cometh from the Mill.

Genesis 18:7

ran] This hospitalitie of Abraham is v ery commendable, not onely for the plenty of provision, and choyce of the best, but for the speedy preparation.

Genesis 18:8

cate] As God gave them bodies for a time, so he gave them the faculties thereof to walke, to speake, to eate, and drinke, and such lke; yet what was let into body in an extraordinary manner might afterwards be resolved into aire; and what they did might not be so much by any naturall faculties of those bodies they assumed, as by a supernaturall application of those parts they had to what they did; and though our saviour say, Luke 24. 37, 38, 39. that a Spirit hath no such parts as man hath, and tehrefore gives them sensible satisfaction by handling that he was no spirit, yet spirits might, and sometimes did assume humane shapes.

Genesis 18:9

Where is Sarah] This question is moved not out of ignorance, but to take an occasion by it for what was after to be said, as Gen. 4. 9, 10.

Genesis 18:10

return] Hebr. returning I will return. By a visitation of performance, as now of promise.

time of life] (2 Kings 4:16. Romans 9:9.) Some referre this to the Angel, as if he should say; If I live, &c. but then it must 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉be taken after the manner of men, for Angels de not. Or, according to the time of life, may import as much assurance of the thing, as of the life of an Angel who is immortall; or, when the child shal come into this life by thy conception and delivery, wherein was an implicite promise both of the mothers and of the childs life also, this God could have effected presently, but he would not hasten the pace of production before the ordinary time of bringing into life.

behind him] It seemes by this time he was neerer the Tent then Abraham was, and standing with his face towards Abraham without it, Sarah was at his backe, being in the doore of the Tent.

Genesis 18:11

stricken in age] Though Abraham being 99. yeares of age was past the prime of his strength, and so in a declining state of body, and in respect of fruit as a dead tree in his own conceipt, Romans 4:19. (especially, having continued childlesse untill this time) yet living to the age of 175 yeares, he was not so farre decayed, as to be altogether unapt for the begetting of a sonne. See Annot. on Chap. 17. vers. 17.

manner of women] Who have helps to conception, which after that age doe usually cease with that sexe, though sometimes they may continue longer, and some now and then conceive without them. Arist. hist. animal. lib. 7. cap. 2. and it is reported by Pliny, of one that bare a child at sixtie yeares of age, of another at eightie: Plin. Nt. Hist. lib. 7. cap. 14. Howsoever Sarah being of this age, and state of body, the prediction of her child bearing, must needs be of Divine revelation, and the accomplishment of it by a Divine vertue.

Genesis 18:12

laughed] Not as Abraham did out of joy and admiration, Chap. 17. 7. nor as the wicked, by way of derision; but out of some diffidence mingled perhaps with some degree of irreverence, by reason of her own defect of faith, for she rather had respect to the order of nature, then beleeved the promise of God: but this was at the first apprehension of the news, which then seemed to be more strange, then true, but afterwards she recollected her religious thoughts of God, and beleeved that which at first she but admired, rather then beleeved. See Hebrews 11:11.

within her selfe] Secretly, which gave her confidence to deny what she did, but that was soone turned into feare, when she saw she had to doe with one that could discover what unto men was most concealed.

my lord] Though she failed of faith in the promise, she was not wanting in her due respect to her husband, whom in her heart she honoured as her Lord, and not onely tearmed him so in outward speech, 1 Peter 3:6.

Genesis 18:14

too hard] See the Annot. on Chap. 17. vers. 1.

Genesis 18:15

she was afraid] To her weaknesse of faith, she addeth the telling of an untruth, and fearing to receive a rebuke, she is not afraid to deserve it by denying what she did; Such failings of the godly are noted not for imitation, but for caution.

Genesis 18:16

• bring them on the way] * Acts 20:38. Romans 15:24. 1 Corinthians 16:6. 11 / Titus 3:13.

Genesis 18:17

Lord] Jehovah the Hebrew word sheweth, that this Angel was Christ; for this word is onely applyed to God.

hide] As it is a part of friendship to have the same friends and the same enemies, and to communicate in secret counsels, so God sheweth that he taketh Abraham for his friend, 2 Chronicles 20:7. in both; for the former, see Gen. Chap. 12. 5: 3. and for the later this place is sufficient evidence, where it appeareth that God sheweth himselfe as a familiar friend to his faithfull, and obedient servants, communicating unto them his secret counsels, Genesis 6:13. Psalms 25:14. Amos 3:7. John 15:15. They then being so instructed of God may well be wiser then other men, Psal. 119. 98, 99.

This Judgement was the more meet to be revealed unto Abraham, as to a chiefe member of the Church, and might and would thence give good documents, and instructions to his Church. Whereof God giveth him a very good testimony vers. 19. and it was also to give him occasion to exercise his charitie and devotion in praying for the Sodomites

Genesis 18:18

a great Nation] By reason of his multiplyed posteritie.

blessed in him] That is, by reason of Christ descended from his loynes.

Genesis 18:19

I know] God knoweth not only what a man is, but what he shall be; not only what he doth, but what he will doe; therefore we must not msure his dealing with men by mens rules or examples, who know no further then for the present.

he will command] (Genesis 28:1. Deuteronomy 32:46. Proverbs 6:20.) That which is here said of Abraham, should be done by every father of a family; who is so religiously to order his houshold, as to make it like unto a Church; so it is like Philemon did, vers. 2. Though the Church in his house might be also the Assembly of Christians in the Primitive and persecuting times of the Gospel.

after him] The godly precepts of parents, and masters binde their children and servants to obedience when they are dead. See Jeremiah 35. from the sixteen to the end of the Chapter.

that the LORD may bring] Mans obedience is no meritorious cause, though it be a condition of Gods beneficence; his love is the root, the goodnesse, and good things of his children the fruit of it, Deuteronomy 4:37.

upon Abraham] The happy condition of posteritie redounds to the honour, and to the comfort of their progenitors; and so on the contrary parents may be said to suffer in their children, Matthew 15:22.

Genesis 18:20

the cry] The notice that God takes of sinne is figuratively set out by a great cry or noise that cannot but be heard; be the sinne never so secret or silent, he knows it as well as that which is most open and clamorous.

Sodom and Gomorrah] There were two cities more destroyed with fire and brimstone, but he nameth onely these two, as being more notable for estate and greatnesse, and more notorious for lewdnesse: they were guiltie of other sinnes besides these expressed in this story. See Ezekiel 16:49.

Genesis 18:21

I will goe down] (Genesis 11:5. Exodus 3:8. Mic. 13.) God speaketh after the manner of men, to let them know, that he taketh especiall notice of notorious sinners, and will take a course to punish them; and to set them an example to enter into Judgement with good advice, as Job saith of himselfe, The cause which I knew not, I searched out, Job 29:16. But God knoweth all things presently, without searching, though never so secret; certainly, without erring, though never so doubtfull, in respect of men. See Chap. 2. vers. 19.

cry] Our sinnes cry for vengeance, though none accuse: it is a figurative phrase importing that God is much provoked before he punish, Jonah 1:2. See Annot. on vers. 20.

Genesis 18:22

stood yet before] Abraham by this time knew him, whom he talked with, to be God, to whom he sueth as to the Judge of all the world; and he taketh it upon him, and answereth as having the power of God to save, and to destroy; when the other two, that were with him, were gone before toward Sodome.

Genesis 18:23

the righteous] (Ezek. 9. & Chap. 21. 3.) That is, such as his Nephew Lot, or others who were not guiltie either by act, or approbation of those hainous crimes, which called for vengeance upon that sinfull Citie.

Genesis 18:25

shall not the Judge] And in this negative question is emphatically implyed an affirmative position, which is, that God above all others must and will doe right, because from his Judgement there is none Appeale.

Genesis 18:27

dust and ashes] Dust, by the basenesse of his originall, and end for his bodily part, Genesis 3:19. and ashes, as deserving to be burned to ashes, if God should deale with him rather in justice then in mercy: of this he is the more apprehensive by his neerer approach unto God. See Isaiah 6:5. Luke 5:8.

Genesis 18:32

this once] If God refused not the prayer for the wicked Sodomites even to the sixt request, how much more will he heare the prayers of the godly for the afflicted Church? In this intercession of Abraham, his charitie, his humilitie, his modesty, his fervency and importunitie, excellent qualifications for a petitioner to God, are worthy to be observed and used in prayer. It is to be noted, that he prayeth not for Lot in particular, not doubting but God would set him in safetie from punishment, as well as he had kept him from societie in sinne, See vers. 23.

ten] He speakes of Sodome onely, (and in Sodome (as some conceive) with especiall respect to Lots family) which had most provoked God to wrath, and which for Lots sake he desired most to be spared. God declareth that his judgements were done in great mercy, for as much as all were so corrupt, that not only not fiftie, but not ten righteous men could be found there, and also that the wicked are spared for the righteous sake. See Genesis 12:3. Jeremiah 5:1. Isaiah 65:8. Yet these be acts of especiall grace, granted to great favourites, as Abraham was; but are not to be drawn into a generall rule, Ezekiel 14:18.