Genesis Chapter 18

The Birth of Isaac Promised

¹ Yahveh appeared to Abraham by the grove of oaks that belonged to Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the heat of the day. ² He looked up and saw three men standing a little way off. He ran to meet them and bowed to the ground,

³ “Sir, if you^sg please, ⁴ let me bring some water so you can wash your feet and rest under the tree. ⁵ I’ll bring a loaf of bread so you can refresh yourselves. Then you can go on.”

            “All right.” 

⁶ Abraham hurried to Sarah in the tent, “Quick! Get three measures of fine flour ready, knead it, and make bread cakes.” ⁷ He ran to the herd and took a choice, tender calf, and gave it to a servant to fix quickly. ⁸ He took yogurt, milk, and the veal he’d fixed and set it in front of them. He stood there under the tree while they ate.                                                                          

Gen 18:1-8

⁹ Then they asked, “Where’s Sarah?”

“In the tent.”

¹⁰ He said, “I’ll come back next year at this time, and Sarah will have a son.” She was listening at the entrance to the tent behind him. ¹¹ Abraham and Sarah were getting old. She was too old to have children.

¹² Sarah laughed to herself, “At this age, am I really going to have that delight? My husband [lord] is old too.”

¹³ Yahveh asked Abraham,

“Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child when I’m so old?’ ¹⁴ Is there anything I^Y can’t do? Like I said, at this time next year Sarah will have a son.”

¹⁵ Sarah denied it, “I didn’t laugh.” (She was afraid.)

“Oh yes, you did.”                                                                                               

Gen 18:9-15

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

¹⁶ The men got up and looked down toward Sodom. Abraham was walking with them to see them off. ¹⁷ Yahveh said,

“Should I keep from Abraham what I’m about to do?  ¹⁸ He’ll certainly become a large, strong nation, and bless every nation. ¹⁹ I’ve chosen him to command his children and household after him to keep my^Y way by doing what’s good and just; so I can bring on him what I’ve promised.”

²⁰ He^Y told Abraham, “The outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah is extreme. Their sin is awful. ²¹ I’m going down to see if they’re as bad as their outcry. If not, I’ll know.”                                                   

Gen 18:16-21

²² The other men turned and started toward Sodom while Abraham was still standing in front of Yahveh, ²³ Abraham came and said,

“Will you sweep away the good with the bad? ²⁴ Supposing there are 50 good people in the city; won’t you spare it for their sake? ²⁵ Surely you wouldn’t kill the good with the bad and treat them alike! Surely not! Won’t the Judge of the whole world do what’s right?”

                        ²⁶ Yahveh said, “If I find 50 good people in Sodom, I’ll spare the whole place.”                

Gen 18:22-26

            ²⁷ Abraham answered, “I’ve dared to speak to you though I’m only dust and ashes, ²⁸ Suppose there are 45, will you destroy the whole city because of 5?”

            “I won’t destroy it if I find 45.”

            ²⁹ “Suppose there are 40?”

            “I won’t do it for the 40.”

            ³⁰ “Lord, don’t be angry. I’ll ask again: suppose you find 30 there?”

            “I won’t do it if I find 30 there.”

            ³¹ “I’ve dared to speak to the Lord; suppose there are 20?”

            “I won’t destroy it for the 20.”

            ³² “Lord, don’t be angry, and I’ll speak just one more time. Suppose there are 10?”

            “I won’t destroy it for the 10.”

³³ As soon as he’d finished talking to Abraham, he left, and Abraham went back.

Gen 18:27-33