Abraham and the Three Strangers
Genesis 18:1-16
1 And the Lord appeared to him in the plains of Mamre; and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2 And he lifted 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 to the ground, 3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, pass not away, I beseech you, from your servant; 4 Let a little water, I beseech you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; 5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and you comfort your hearts; after that you shall pass on; seeing that you are come to your servant. And they said, So do, as you have said. 6 And Abraham hurried to the tent to Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes. 7 And Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it to a young man; and he hurried to prepare it. 8 And 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, and they ate. 9 And they said to him, Where is Sarah your wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. 10 And he said, I will certainly return to you at this season; and, lo, Sarah your wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well advanced in age; and it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am 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 indeed bear a child, now that I am old? 14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return to you, at this season, and Sarah shall have a son. 15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, No; you did laugh. 16 And the men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
Used with permission of the Davka Corporation.
