Genesis 18 Background Information with Maps and Images (Picture Study Bible - Genesis) Free Bible Online

Genesis 18

1 - The LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.

2 - He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood opposite him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,

And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

3 - and said, "My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don't go away from your servant.

4 - Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.

5 - I will get a morsel of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant."They said, "Very well, do as you have said."

6 - Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quickly prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes."

7 - Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it.

8 - He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

9 - They asked him, "Where is Sarah, your wife?"He said, "See, in the tent."

10 - He said, "I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son."Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.

11 - Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.

12 - Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?"

13 - The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Will I really bear a child, yet I am old?'

14 - Is anything too hard for The LORD? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son."

15 - Then Sarah denied it, saying, "I didn't laugh," for she was afraid.He said, "No, but you did laugh."

16 - The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.

17 - The LORD said, "Will I hide from Abraham what I do,

18 - since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him?

19 - For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of The LORD, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that the LORD may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him."

20 - The LORD said, "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,

21 - I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know."

22 - The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before The LORD.

23 - Abraham came near, and said, "Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?

24 - What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it?

25 - Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn't the Judge of all the earth do right?"

26 - The LORD said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake."

27 - Abraham answered, "See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, although I am dust and ashes.

28 - What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?"He said, "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there."

29 - He spoke to him yet again, and said, "What if there are forty found there?"He said, "I will not do it for the forty's sake."

30 - He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?"He said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."

31 - He said, "See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?"He said, "I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake."

32 - He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?"He said, "I will not destroy it for the ten's sake."

33 - The LORD went his way, as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

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Genesis 18 Images and Notes

Brief Summary: Abraham entertains three strangers and one of them is the LORD Himself, the LORD promises that Sarah will have a son, Abraham will command those with him and his children to do justice and judgment, the LORD appears again to Abraham, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is revealed to Abraham by the LORD and Abraham intercedes for the city.

Genesis Chapter 18

Genesis 18:14 - Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Outline
The Three Visitors at Mamre (Genesis 18:1-8)
The LORD reveals They Will Bear a Son (Genesis 18:9-10)
Sarah Laughs and Denies Laughing (Genesis 18:11-15)
The LORD Reveals His Plans to Destroy Sodom (Genesis 18:16-21)
Abraham Intercedes for Sodom (Genesis 18:22-33)

Summary
1 Abraham entertaineth three angels one is the LORD
9 Sarah is reproved for laughing at the strange promise
17 The destruction of Sodom is revealed to Abraham
23 Abraham maketh intercession for the men thereof

Abraham's three visitors who came to him at Mamre, one of them was the LORD.

Painting by Raphael of Lot and His Daughters Fleeing from Sodom and Gomorrah

Topics for Bible Study
The Lord Appeared to Abraham
The Plains of Mamre
The Three Strangers
Abraham Bowed Himself Toward the Ground
Abraham Shows Hospitality
Washes Their Feet
Requests that they Rest Under a Tree
The Strangers Agree to Eat
Sarah Did Knead the Bread
Abraham Fetches Meat, Milk and Butter
The Strangers Did Eat
They Promised Abram a Son Through Sarah
They were Stricken in Years
Sarah Overhears and Laughs
Is any thing too hard for the LORD?
Sarah Denies Laughing
One of the Angels is the LORD
The Promises are Repeated Again
Sodom and Gomorrah Sins are Revealed to Abraham
Their Sin is Very Grievous
God Heard the Cry of Sodom and Gomorrah
Abraham Stood Against Them
Will You Destroy the Righteous with the Wicked?
Shall Not the Judge of All the Earth Do Right?
Abraham Intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah
Abraham Calls Him Adonai in his Intercession
Ancient Sodom and Gomorrah - Background Bible Study

Map of Sodom and Gomorrah

Map of the Supposed Locations of Sodom and Gomorrah

Historical Background
Abraham entertains three strangers and one of them is the LORD Himself, the LORD promises that Sarah will have a son, Abraham will command those with him and his children to do justice and judgment, the LORD appears again to Abraham, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is revealed to Abraham by the LORD and Abraham intercedes for the city.

Ancient Customs
Hospitality
Kneading Bread
Bowing toward the Ground
Washing the Feet
Tents
How Tents Were Made
Living in Tents

Geography
The Plains of Mamre
Sodom
Gomorrah

Maps
Map of the Giants and Early Inhabitants of Ancient Israel
Map of the Canaanite Nations
Map of the World of Abraham
Map of the Journeys of Abraham

The Dead Sea

Photo of the colorful shores of the Dead Sea

Quick Reference Map

Map of the Jordan River (Click to Enlarge)

The Old Testament

Genesis Resources

Creation
Adam and Eve
The Flood
The Tower of Babel
Abraham the First Hebrew
Isaac, Son of Promise
Jacob and the 12 Tribes
Joseph and Egypt

Bibliography Information

Free Bible Online - Picture Study Bible, King James Version. New York: American Bible Society: www.free-bible.com, 1995-2013. Bible History Picture Study Bible. Dec 22, 2024.

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