Genesis 18

Chapter 18

A Son Is Promised to Sarah

1 The LORD appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day.

2 He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground.
3 “My lord,” he said, “if it pleases you, stop here for a while.4 Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet.

5 And since you’ve honored your servant with this visit, let me prepare some food to refresh you before you continue on your journey.”
“All right,” they said. “Do as you have said.”
6 So Abraham ran back to the tent and said to Sarah, “Hurry! Get three large measurest of your best flour, knead it into dough, and bake some bread.”7 Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it.

8 When the food was ready, Abraham took some yogurt and milk and the roasted meat, and he served it to the men. As they ate, Abraham waited on them in the shade of the trees.

9 “Where is Sarah, your wife?” the visitors asked.
“She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied.

10 Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!”

Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent.11 Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children.

12 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?”
13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’

14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

15 Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.”
But the LORD said, “No, you did laugh.”

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

16 Then the men got up from their meal and looked out toward Sodom. As they left, Abraham went with them to send them on their way.
17 “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the LORD asked.18 “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.

19 I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”
20 So the LORD told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.

21 I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”
22 The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the LORD remained with Abraham.23 Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked?24 Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes?

25 Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”

26 And the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”
27 Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes.

28 Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”
And the LORD said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”

29 Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?”
And the LORD replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”

30 “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”
And the LORD replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”

31 Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?”
And the LORD replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”

32 Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?”
And the LORD replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”

33 When the LORD had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.

GENESIS 18

The [Lord] Promises //Abraham a Son

1 One hot summer afternoon while Abraham was sitting by the entrance to his tent near the sacred trees of Mamre, the [Lord] appeared to him. 2 t Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. He quickly ran to meet them, bowed with his face to the ground, 3 and said, “Please come to my home where I can serve you. 4 I'll have some water brought, so you can wash your feet, then you can rest under a tree.

5 Let me get you some food to give you strength before you leave. I would be honored to serve you.”
“Thank you very much,” they answered. “We accept your offer.”
6 Abraham went quickly to his tent and said to Sarah, “Hurry! Get a large sack of flour and make some bread.” 7 After saying this, he rushed off to his herd of cattle and picked out one of the best calves, which his servant quickly prepared.

8 He then served his guests some yogurt and milk together with the meat.
While they were eating, he stood near them under the tree,

9 and they asked, “Where's your wife Sarah?”
“She is right there in the tent,” Abraham answered.

10  t One of the guests was the [Lord], and he said, “I'll come back about this time next year, and when I do, Sarah will already have a son.”
Sarah was behind Abraham, listening at the entrance to the tent. 11 Abraham and Sarah were very old, and Sarah was well past the age for having children.

12 t So she laughed and said to herself, “Now that I am worn out and my husband is old, will I really know such happiness?”t
13 The [Lord] asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Does she doubt that she can have a child in her old age?

14 t I am the [Lord]! There is nothing too difficult for me. I'll come back next year at the time I promised, and Sarah will already have a son.”

15 Sarah was so frightened that she lied and said, “I didn't laugh.”
“Yes, you did!” he answered.

Abraham Prays for Sodom

16 When the three men got ready to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked part of the way with them.
17 The [Lord] said to himself, “I should tell Abraham what I am going to do, 18 since his family will become a great and powerful nation that will be a blessing to all the other nations on earth.t

19 I have chosen him to teach his family to obey me forever and to do what is right and fair. If they do, I will give Abraham many descendants, just as I promised.”
20 The [Lord] said, “Abraham, I have heard that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are doing all kinds of evil things.

21 Now I am going down to see for myself if those people really are that bad. If they aren't, I would like to know.”
22 The men turned and started toward Sodom. But the [Lord] stayed with Abraham. 23 And Abraham asked him, “[Lord], when you destroy the evil people, are you also going to destroy those who are good? 24 Wouldn't you spare the city if there are only 50 good people in it?

25 You surely wouldn't let them be killed when you destroy the evil ones. You are the judge of all the earth, and you do what is right.”

26 The [Lord] replied, “If I find 50 good people in Sodom, I will save the city to keep them from being killed.”
27 Abraham answered, “I am nothing more than the dust of the earth. Please forgive me, [Lord], for daring to speak to you like this.

28 But suppose there are only 45 good people in Sodom. Would you still wipe out the whole city?”
“If I find 45 good people,” the [Lord] replied, “I won't destroy the city.”

29 “Suppose there are just 40 good people?” Abraham asked.
“Even for them,” the [Lord] replied, “I won't destroy the city.”

30 Abraham said, “Please don't be angry, [Lord], if I ask you what you will do if there are only 30 good people in the city.”
“If I find 30,” the [Lord] replied, “I still won't destroy it.”

31 Then Abraham said, “I don't have any right to ask you, [Lord], but what would you do if you find only 20?”
“Because of them, I won't destroy the city,” was the [Lord]'s answer.

32 Finally, Abraham said, “Please don't get angry, [Lord], if I speak just once more. Suppose you find only 10 good people there.”
“For the sake of 10 good people,” the [Lord] told him, “I still won't destroy the city.”
33 After speaking with Abraham, the [Lord] left, and Abraham went back home.