Genesis 18:1-33

An expositional study taught by
Harry Morgan

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in the “comment section” on your screen. As time
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1 Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of
Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of
the day. 2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold,
three men were standing by him; and when he saw them,
he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed
himself to the ground, 3 and said, “My Lord, if I have now
found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant.
4 Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet,
and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 And I will bring a
morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After
that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your
servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.” 6 So Abraham
hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make
ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make
cakes.”

7 And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good
calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare
it. 8 So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had
prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them
under the tree as they ate. 9 Then they said to him,
“Where is Sarah your wife?” So he said, “Here, in the
tent.” 10 And He said, “I will certainly return to you
according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife
shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door
which was behind him.) 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were
old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age
of childbearing. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself,
saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my
lord being old also?”

13 And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh,
saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ 14 Is
anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I
will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah
shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not
laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did
laugh!”

1-15 16-21 22-33
1 as he (Abraham)
was sitting in the
tent door in the
heat of the day. 2
So he lifted his
eyes and looked,
and behold, three
men were
standing by him;
16 and the men
rose up from
there, and looked
toward Sodom,
and Abraham
went with them to
send them on the
way.
22 Then the men
turned away from
there and went
toward Sodom,
but Abraham still
stood before the
LORD.
Copied with permission. H. Van Dyke Parunak, www.cyber-chapel.org
3 Scenes in Genesis 18

1. When did the Lord appear to Abraham at
the Oaks of Mamre? What occurred in
chapter 17 and will occur in chapter 19?
1 Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth
trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door
in the heat of the day.
Genesis 17 – the promise of Isaac
Genesis 19 – the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah

2. Where are the Oaks of Mamre?
Mamre was an Amorite chieftain
with whom Abraham had an alliance
(14:13). Both Mamre and his grove
are first mentioned in 13:18, where
Abraham camped after Lot chose the
best part of the land.
trees of Mamre…

trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door
in the heat of the day.
3. What was Abraham doing? Why is this
significant?

4. What did Abraham see?
2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold,
three men were standing by him; and when he
saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet
them, and bowed himself to the ground,
• Abraham was taken by
surprise.
• Abraham did not see the 3
approach him.
• They do not force themselves
on him, but stand respectfully,
waiting to be recognized.

5. Upon seeing, what did he do?
2b and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door
to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,

6. Why did he bow to the ground? What does
this gesture signify?
2 and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door
to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,
‫ה‬ִ‫שׂ‬ְ‫תּ‬ַֽ‫ח‬ֲ‫י‬ָ‫ה‬ (shachah) the usual word for “worship”
This is the first time
shachah is used in
the biblical text.

7. What did Abraham say?
3 and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in
Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. 4
Please let a little water be brought, and wash
your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5
And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may
refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by,
inasmuch as you have come to your servant.”
‫א‬ֲ‫ד‬ֹ‫נ‬ָ‫י‬ (ʾaḏōnāy) with the lengthened final diphthong
is used by the Masoretes only to refer
to God. (Gen. 15:2 “Sovereign Lord”)
‫ח‬ֵ‫ן‬ (ḥēn) favor, grace, acceptance

7a. To Whom did Abraham address “Adonai”?
“The Hebrew word for Lord is in the plural: not
Adoni, which is singular, but Adonai, which is
plural. The reason is not that he is addressing all
three, since the next second person pronoun is
singular. Rather, Abraham recognized one of the
three to be God Himself and used the divine title
of Adonai, literally, “My Lords.” The rabbis
know what the Hebrew reads, of course, and they
have come up with three options to get around the
obvious implication that one of these three men
happens to be God Himself.”
Fruchtenbaum, A. G. (2008). Ariel’s Bible commentary: the book of Genesis (1st ed.,
p. 310). San Antonio, TX: Ariel Ministries.

7b. To Whom did Abraham address “Adonai”?
• The first option is that he was merely addressing
the chief of them, and so, consequently, the
word does not imply or signify God Himself.
• The second option is that he was speaking to
God, pressing Him to wait until he had attended
to his guests.
• The third option is that he recognized that they
were angels and, therefore, called them by their
Master’s name, LORD.
All three options are attempts to get around the
obvious.
Fruchtenbaum, A. G. (2008). Ariel’s Bible commentary: the book of Genesis (1st ed.,
p. 310). San Antonio, TX: Ariel Ministries.

8. How did Abraham know who it was?
Genesis 12:1 The LORD ( ‫י‬‫ה‬‫ו‬‫ה‬ yhwh) said to Abram, “Go
forth from your native land and from your father’s
house to the land that I will show you.”
Genesis 14:19 He blessed him, saying, “Blessed be
Abram of El Elyon ( ‫ﬠ‬ֶ‫ל‬ְ‫י‬‫וֹ‬‫ן‬ ‫א‬ֵ‫ל‬ ʾēl ʿěl·yôn), Creator of
heaven and earth.”
Genesis 15:2 But Abram said, “O Lord GOD ( ‫י‬‫ה‬‫ו‬‫ה‬ ‫א‬ֲ‫ד‬ֹ‫נ‬ָ‫י‬
ʾǎḏō·nāy yhwh), what can You give me, seeing that I
shall die childless…”
Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old,
the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am
El Shaddai ( ‫שׁ‬ַ‫דּ‬ַ‫י‬ ‫א‬ֵ‫ל‬ ʾēl šǎd·dǎy).”
(Scriptures taken from the Tanakh)

9. What did Abraham say?
3 and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in
Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. 4
Please let a little water be brought, and wash
your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5
And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may
refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by,
inasmuch as you have come to your servant.”

10. Who were the three visitors? (Heb. 13:2)
Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget
to entertain strangers, for by
so doing some have
unwittingly entertained
angels.
Genesis 18:2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and
behold, three men were standing by him;
Most likely, these same 2
angels escort Lot and his
family from Sodom as it is
destroyed.

11. Why did the Lord appear to Abraham?
How many times has the Lord appeared to
Abraham?
To inform Sarah of her conception and
the birth of Isaac
12:1 Now the LORD had said to Abram…
12:7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said…
13:14 And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him…
15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision...
18:1 Then the LORD appeared to him…
21:12 But God said to Abraham…
22:1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham...
22:11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said…

12. What was the response to Abraham’s
request?
5b They said, “Do as you have said.”

13. What did Abraham tell Sarah? Why?
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and
said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of
fine meal; knead it and make cakes.”
“hurried” vv. 6, 7
“quick” v. 6
“ran” v. 7

13b. What did Abraham tell Sarah? Why?
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and
said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of
fine meal; knead it and make cakes.”
The law of grain offerings is explained in
Numbers 15:8-9.
• The smallest unit of dry measure is an omer in the
Old Testament: 3 omers = 1 seah or 1 measure.
• The smallest “meal offering” that could be given
was 1 seah, 1/3 of an ephah. It had to be of fine
flour. Abraham gave 3 seahs, 3 measures. He
went above and beyond what was required for
the “meal offering.”

14. Why did Abraham go to all the trouble in
preparing a meal for his guests?
7 And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and
good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened
to prepare it. 8 So he took butter and milk and the
calf which he had prepared and set it before them;
and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.

15. What are other illustrations of hospitality
in the Old Testament?
• Gen. 19:3 – Lot entertained angels
• Gen. 24:29-33 – Laban entertained
Abraham’s servant
• Judges 19 – a Levite entertained his
concubine
• 1Kgs. 13:11-22 – a Man of God disobeys

16. During Abraham’s conversation with his
guests what did they ask him? What was
Abraham’s response?
9 Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your
wife?” So he said, “Here, in the tent.”
• After the meal
• Purpose of the visit revealed

17. What two announcements were made to
Abraham in verse 10?
10a And He said, “I will certainly return to you
according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah
your wife shall have a son.”
emphatic Hebrew construction
( ‫שׁ‬‫וּ‬‫ב‬ ‫א‬ַ‫ש‬‫וּ‬‫ב‬ šôbʾāšûb)
My grandson, Ashton Baxter Thomas (3 mos.),
&
his great grandmother, Jeane Thomas (90 yrs).

18. Where was Sarah when the announcement
was made?
10b (Sarah was listening in the tent door which
was behind him.)
Not only is the tent door between her and the
messenger, the latter has his back to the tent.
…the important point for the narrative is that the
mysterious speaker cannot see her reaction to the
news. The promise of a son implies that the
speaker is a divine messenger; the fact that he can
discern Sarah’s reactions without seeing her
proves his status and guarantees his message.
Wenham, G. J. (1998). Genesis 16–50 (Vol. 2, p. 48). Dallas: Word,
Incorporated.

19. How did Sarah react to the announcement?
10b (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was
behind him.)
12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying,
“After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my
“Listen” ( ‫שׁ‬ָ‫מ‬ַ‫ע‬ šā·mǎʿ) – Ishmael
“Laugh” ( ‫צ‬ָ‫ח‬ַ‫ק‬ ṣā·ḥǎq) – Isaac

19b. How did Sarah react to the announcement?
10b (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was
behind him.)
“pleasure” ( ‫ﬠ‬ֶ‫ד‬ְ‫נ‬ָ‫ה‬ ʿěḏ·nāh) – joy of motherhood;
also, sexual pleasure

20. How is this announcement different or
similar to the one made to Abraham
previously? (17:16, 21) What is implied by
these two announcements?
16 And I will bless her and also give you a son by
her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother
of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”
21 But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom
Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.”
This announcement is much shorter and briefer. The
promise is for Sarah alone here, and the phrasing
( ‫ו‬‫ה‬‫נ‬‫ה‬ ) makes its fulfillment sound even closer. It
could be rendered “Your wife Sarah now has a son.”

21. What was Abraham and Sarah’s physical
condition at this time?
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced
in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

22. What was Sarah’s reaction to the
announcement? Why is her reaction
significant?
Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in
his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits.

Drew posted
yesterday on
FaceBook.

22b. What was Sarah’s reaction to the
announcement? Why is her reaction
significant?
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living
and powerful, and sharper than any two-
edged sword, piercing even to the division of
soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and
is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of
the heart.

Ø Sarah (Gen. 16:1–2; 18:11–12; 21:6–7)
Ø Rebekah (Gen. 25:21)
Ø Rachel (Gen. 29:31–30:24)
Ø Manoah’s wife (Judg. 13)
Ø Hannah (1 Sam. 1)
Ø Elizabeth (Luke 1:5–25, 57–66)

23. What two questions were asked of
Abraham following Sarah’s reaction?
13 And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah
laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I
am old?’ 14a Is anything too hard for the LORD? At
the appointed time I will return to you, according
to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of
all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?
Jeremiah 32:17 ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have
made the heavens and the earth by Your great
power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too
hard for You.

24. What is your response to the second
question asked of Abraham?

25. In addition to these questions, what
promise was made to Abraham?
14b At the appointed time I will return to you,
according to the time of life, and Sarah shall
have a son.”

26. How did Sarah respond when her reaction
was revealed? Why?
15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,”
for she was afraid.
Psalm 139:23 Search
me, O God, and know
my heart; try me, and
know my anxieties;

27. What affect did her denial have on her
guests?
15b And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”

28. When did the angels part from Abraham?
16 Then the men rose from there and looked
toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them
to send them on the way.
• When Sarah was informed of her
miraculous conception, and the birth
of the son of the covenant.
• When it was clear Sarah understood
the message.
• When it was time to move on to their
next assignment.
ἄγγελος (angelos) = messengers

29. What was the angels next assignment?
16a Then the men rose from there and looked
toward Sodom...

30. Where was the city of Sodom?
16a Then the men rose from there and looked
toward Sodom...

31. Why did Abraham go with the angels?
16 Then the men rose from there and looked
toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them
to send them on the way.
Hebrews 1:7 And of the angels He says: “Who
makes His angels spirits and His ministers a
flame of fire.”
Psalm 104:4 Who makes His angels spirits, His
ministers a flame of fire.
ἄγγελος (angelos) = messengers

32. What question did the Lord ask of Himself?
17 And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham
what I am doing…?”
John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for a
servant does not know what his master is doing;
but I have called you friends, for all things that I
heard from My Father I have made known to you.

33. What two prophecies did the Lord make
concerning Abraham that affects you?
18 since Abraham shall surely become a great and
mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth
shall be blessed in him?
Romans 1:16 For I am
not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ, for it
is the power of God to
salvation for everyone
who believes, for the
Jew first and also for
the Greek.

34. How will this prophecy be fulfilled?
Prophetic Prints – David & Linda Herman

35. What is one of the effects of God’s election
of Abraham?
19 For I have known him, in
order that he may command
his children and his household
after him, that they keep the
way of the LORD, to do
righteousness and justice, that
the LORD may bring to Abraham
what He has spoken to him.”

36. What two observations did God make of
Sodom and Gomorrah?
20 And the LORD said, “Because the outcry against
Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin
is very grave,
Antediluvian Civilization
Genesis 6:11–12 The earth also was corrupt
before God, and the earth was filled with
violence. 12 So God looked upon the earth, and
indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted
their way on the earth.

37. If God is omnipresent then what is the
meaning of the phrase “I will go down to
see…”?
21 I will go down now and see whether they have
done altogether according to the outcry against
it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”

38. What kind of cries “justify” God’s
intervention?
21 I will go down now and see whether they have
done altogether according to the outcry against it
that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”
Is there sufficient
evidence
to prosecute?

39. What did the others do while Abraham
and the Lord spoke? Why?
22 Then the men turned away from there and went
toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the
LORD.
Harrison
Hayden

40. What did Abraham ask of the Lord? Why?
23 And Abraham came near and said, “Would You
also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

41. What game-show principle did Abraham
use when interceding for the citizens of
Sodom?

42. What principle illustrates Abraham’s
intercession for Sodom?
Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth;
but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be
seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be
thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgment
to begin at the house of God; and if it begins
with us first, what will be the end of those who
do not obey the gospel of God?
What is the purpose of
God’s judgment?

43. Why does Abraham begin with the number
50 when interceding for Sodom?
24 Suppose there were fifty righteous within the
city; would You also destroy the place and not
spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it?
Represents Power & Celebration
• The Year of Jubilee – 50th year
(Lev. 25:10)
• Pentecost – 50th day after
Passover (Lev. 23:15-16)

44. Why does the innocent suffer when the
wicked are judged by God?
25 Far be it from You to do such a thing as this,
to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the
righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from
You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Habakkuk 1:13 You are of purer eyes than to
behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness.
Why do You look on those who deal
treacherously, and hold Your tongue when the
wicked devours a person more righteous than
he?

45. What was God’s response to Abraham’s
intercession?
26 So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous
within the city, then I will spare all the place for their
sakes.”
As Christ’s righteousness
covers the unrighteous,
those make righteous by
His blood spare judgment
from those associated
with them.

46. Why does Abraham mention that he is
“made of dust and ashes” when speaking
with the Lord?
27 Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed
now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it
upon myself to speak to the Lord:
Human (Latin: humus) = dust

47. Why did Abraham renegotiate the terms
of God’s judgment based on 45 to 40, to 30,
to 20, finally to 10 “righteous” citizens in
Sodom?
28 Suppose there were five less than the fifty
righteous; would You destroy all of the city for
lack of five?” So He said, “If I find there forty-five,
I will not destroy it.” 29 And he spoke to Him yet
again and said, “Suppose there should be forty
found there?” So He said, “I will not do it for the
sake of forty.” 30 Then he said, “Let not the Lord
be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should
be found there?” So He said, “I will not do it if I
find thirty there.”

47b. Why did Abraham renegotiate the terms
of God’s judgment based on 45 to 40, to 30,
to 20, finally to 10 “righteous” citizens in
Sodom?
31 And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon
myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty
should be found there?” So He said, “I will not
destroy it for the sake of twenty.” 32 Then he said,
“Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but
once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”
And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of
ten.”

48. Why did the Lord “finish” his negotiation
at 10 “righteous” citizens in Sodom?
33 So the LORD went His way as soon as He had
finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham
returned to his place.
• 10x “God said” in Genesis 1
• 10th Generation – Flood (Gen. 6:5-8)
• 10th Generation of Shem – Abraham (Gen. 11:10-26)
• 10 Plagues (Ex. 7-11)
• 10 Commandments (Ex. 20)
• 10th of Nisan – Passover (Ex. 12:3)
• 10 necessary for a minion
• 10th = tithe

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Genesis 18:1-33

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Genesis 18:1-33