Genesis 18:28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. - Free Bible Online

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