Genesis 01

ESCAPE OF LOT AND THE DESTRCTION OF SODOM Chapter 18 TO 19: LOCATION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH:
From those two cities were the following towns or cities. Hebron; the home of Abraham, Jerusalem; the home of Melchizedek,
The sites of the two cities were generally thought by ancient writers to be located either in the North or South ends of the Dead Sea. Found at the south east corner of the Dead sea, five Oases by fresh water stream on a plain 500 feet above the level at the Dead Sea at a place called Bab-ed-Dra, the remains of a great fortified enclosure, possible a high place for religions festivals. This site was found during a joint expedition of the American School and Xenia Supernumerary in 1924 lead by Dr's. W. F. Albright and M. C. Kyle. At this location there were great quantities of potsherds, flints, and the remains of a period dating some where between 2500 B.C. and 2000 B.C. with evidence that the population ended abruptly about 2000 B.C. With evidence that the region was densely populated and prosperous would indicates that it must of been a very fertile place. Withe the population ceasing abruptly and ever since it has been a region of unmixed desolation seems to indicate that the dist rut of the people and area was destroyed by some great cataclysm which changed the soil and climate.
With most archaeologists agreeing with the opinion of Albright and Kyle that Sodom and Gomorrah were located on these Oases, further down the streams (14:10) and the sites are now covered by the dead Sea.
Slime (14:10) which melts and burns was a lustrous black petroleum product made up of bitumen, asphalt, and pitch. On both sides of the Dead Sea are vast beds of it, with it more abundant at the South med, and with great masses of it at the bottom. During earthquakes large quantities of it has risen to the surface.
Brimstone (19:24) under MT Usdom there is a stratum of salt 150 feet thick as stated by M.G. Kyle. He further stated that above it is a stratum of marl mingled with free Sulfur. God could of kindled the gases with a great explosion taking place. The Sulfur and the salt would of been thrown into the heavens red hot with it coming down or raining fire and brimstone from heaven.
At the South end of the Dead Sea are many pillars of Salt which bares the name of "Lot's Wife" The Biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah seems to come to life.
Jesus liken the time of his return to the days of the flood and the days of Sodom (Luke 17:26-32)
The Dead Sea was 10 miles wide by 40 miles long. Some places it in the North and reached 1000 feet deep. In the South end in most places is less than 10 dfeet and in no place is it deeper than 10 feet. What you have now as the south third of the Dead Sea was than a plain. The water level is highter npw because of silting up by the Jordan and other streams with no outlet than in Abraham's time.
Abraham was not the first born as some might think. (11:6) His father was 130 years old (11:26 , 32 . 12;4 Acts 7:2-4) Abraham was 75 when he entered Canaan, 80 when he rescued Lot and met Melchizedek, 86 when Ishmael was born, 99 when Sodom was destroyed, 100 when Isaac was born, 137 when Sarah died, 160 when Jacob was born, 175 when He died. When hie died it was 115 years before Jacob's migiation to Egypt.
IT HAD BEEN 400 YEARS SINCE THE FLOOD AND GOD HAD TO RAIN DOWN FIRE AND BRIMSTONE ON THEWE TWO CITIES TO REFRESH MEN'S MEMORIES AND TO WARM OF THE WRATH OF GOD. It is also many believe to be a token of the Gearth's final doom ( II Peter 2: 5-6 3:7 10)
Again Repeated to Abraham the Promise of a Son
Angels are entertained by Abraham. They foretell the birth of Isaac. Abraham's prayer for the men of Sodom.

KING JAMES BIBLE

And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

2And 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,

3And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

4Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

5And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

6And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.

7And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

8And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

9And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

10And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

11Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

12Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

13And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

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.

15Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

16And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

17And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

20And 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 they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

22And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

23And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

24Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that aretherein?

25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

26And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

27And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

28Peradventure 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.

29And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.

30And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.

32And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.

33And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

KING JAMES 1611

And the LORD appeared vnto him, in the plaines of Mamre: and he sate in the tent doore, in the heat of the day.

2And he lift vp his eyes and looked, and loe, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, hee ranne to meete them from the tent doore, and bowed himselfe toward the ground,

3And said, My Lord, If now I haue found fauour in thy sight, passe not away, I pray thee, frō thy seruant:

4Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feete, and rest your selues vnder the tree:

5And I will fetch a morsell of bread; and comfort ye your hearts, after that you shall passe on: for therefore are you come to your seruant. And they said; So doe, as thou hast said.

6And Abraham hastened into the tent, vnto Sarah, & said; Make ready quickly three measures of fine meale, knead it, and make cakes vpon the hearth.

7And Abraham ranne vnto the heard, and fetcht a calfe, tender and good, and gaue it vnto a yong man: and he hasted to dresse it.

8And he tooke butter, and milke, and the calfe which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them vnder the tree: and they did eate.

9 And they said vnto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

10And he said, I will certainly returne vnto thee according to the time of life; and loe, Sarah thy wife shall haue a sonne. And Sarah heard it in the tent doore, which was behind him.

11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age: and it ceased to be with Sarah after the maner of women.

12Therefore Sarah laughed within her selfe, saying, After I am waxed old, shall I haue pleasure, my lord being old also?

13And the LORD said vnto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying; Shall I of a surety beare a childe, which am old?

14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed will I returne vnto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall haue a sonne.

15Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not: for she was afraid. And he said, Nay, but thou diddest laugh.

16 And the men rose vp from thence, and looked toward Sodome: and Abraham went with them, to bring them on the way.

17And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I doe;

18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19 For I know him, that hee will command his children, and his household after him, and they shall keepe the way of the LORD, to doe iustice and iudgement, that the LORD may bring vpon Abraham, that which hee hath spoken of him.

20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodome and Gomorrah is great, and because their sinne is very grieuous:

21 I will goe downe now, and see whether they haue done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come vnto me: and if not, I will know.

22And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodome: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

23 And Abraham drew neere, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

24Peraduenture there be fifty righteous within the citie; wilt thou also destroy, and not spare the place for the fiftie righteous, that are therein?

25That be farre from thee, to do after this maner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be farre from thee: Shall not the Iudge of all the earth doe right?

26And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fiftie righteous, within the citie, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

27And Abraham answered, and said, Behold now, I haue taken vpon me to speake vnto the LORD, which am but dust and ashes.

28Peraduenture there shall lacke fiue of the fiftie righteous: wilt thou destroy all the citie for lacke of fiue? And he said, If I find there fourtie and fiue, I will not destroy it.

29And hee spake vnto him yet againe, and said, Peraduenture there shall be fourtie found there: and he said, I will not doe it for fourties sake.

30And he said vnto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speake: Peraduenture there shall thirtie bee found there. And he said, I will not doe it, if I find thirtie there.

31And he said, Behold now, I haue taken vpon mee to speake vnto the Lord: Peraduenture there shall bee twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenties sake.

32And hee saide, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speake yet but this once: Peraduenture ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for tennes sake.

33And the LORD went his way, assoone as hee had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned vnto his place.

Compare Verses to Verses

i == Gen 13:18 ; 14 :13

II == Gen 19:1 ; Heb 13:2 ; 1st Peter 4:9

IV == gen 19:2 ; 43:24 ; Lk 7:44

V == Gen 19:8 ; 33:10 ; Judg 6:18 ; 13:15 ; 19:5 ; Ps 104:15

VIII == 19:3

IX == Gen 24:67

X == Gen 17:19 , 21 ; 19:4 ; 21:2 ; 2nd Kings 4:16 ; Rom 9:9

XI == Gen 17:17 ; 31:35 ; Rom 4:19 ; Heb 11:11-12 , 19 ; Lk 1:18

XII == Luke 1:18 ; 1st Peter 3:6

XIV == Gen 17:21 ; 19:10 ; 2nd Kings 4:16 ; Jer 32:17 ; Jer 32:17 ; Zech 8:6 ; Matt 3:9 ; 19:26 ; Mk 10:27 ; Luke 1:37 ; Rom 9:9

XVI == Rom 15:24 ; 3re John 1:6

XVII == Ps 25:14 ; Amos 3:7 ; John 15:15

XVIII == Gen 12:3 ; 22:18 ; Acts 3:25 ; Rom 4:13 ; Gal 3:8

XIX == Deut 4:9-10 ; 6:7 ; Josh 24:15 ; Eph 6:4

XX == Gen 4:10 ; 19:13 ; James 5:4

XXI == Gen 11:5 ; Ex 3:8 ; Deut 8:2 ; 13:3 ; Josh 22:22 ; Luke 16:15 ; 2nd Cor 11:11

XXII == Gen 18:1 ; 19:1

XXIII == Num 16:22 ; 2nd Sam 24:17 ; Heb 10:22

XXIV == Jer 5:1

XXV == Job 8:3 , 20 ; 34:17 ; Ps 58:11 ; 94:2 ; Isa 3:10-11 ; Rom 3:6 ; Heb 12:23

XXVI == Jer 5:1 ; Ezek 22:30

XXVII == Gen 3:19 ; Job 4:19 ; Eccl 12:7 ; Luke 18:1 ; 1st Cor 15:47-48 ; 2nd Cor 5:1

THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE

1 The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot.

2 Looking up, he saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground,

3 he said: "Sir, if I may ask you this favor, please do not go on past your servant.

4 Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest yourselves under the tree.

5 Now that you have come this close to your servant, let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way." "Very well," they replied, "do as you have said."

6 Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah, "Quick, three seahs of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls."

7 He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.

8 Then he got some curds and milk, as well as the steer that had been prepared, and set these before them; and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.

9 "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There in the tent," he replied.

10 One of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son." Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, just behind him.

11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years, and Sarah had stopped having her womanly periods.

12 So Sarah laughed to herself and said, "Now that I am so withered and my husband is so old, am I still to have sexual pleasure?"

13 But the LORD said to Abraham: "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I really bear a child, old as I am?'

14 Is anything too marvelous for the LORD to do? At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son."

15 Because she was afraid, Sarah dissembled, saying, "I didn't laugh." But he said, "Yes you did."

16 The men set out from there and looked down toward Sodom; Abraham was walking with them, to see them on their way.

17 The LORD reflected: "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

18 now that he is to become a great and populous nation, and all the nations of the earth are to find blessing in him?

19 Indeed, I have singled him out that he may direct his sons and his posterity to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD may carry into effect for Abraham the promises he made about him."

20 Then the LORD said: "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave,

21 that I must go down and see whether or not their actions fully correspond to the cry against them that comes to me. I mean to find out."

22 While the two men walked on farther toward Sodom, the LORD remained standing before Abraham.

23 Then Abraham drew nearer to him and said: "Will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty?

24 Suppose there were fifty innocent people in the city; would you wipe out the place, rather than spare it for the sake of the fifty innocent people within it?

25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to make the innocent die with the guilty, so that the innocent and the guilty would be treated alike! Should not the judge of all the world act with justice?"

26 The LORD replied, "If I find fifty innocent people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."

27 Abraham spoke up again: "See how I am presuming to speak to my Lord, though I am but dust and ashes!

28 What if there are five less than fifty innocent people? Will you destroy the whole city because of those five?" "I will not destroy it," he answered, "if I find forty-five there."

29 But Abraham persisted, saying, "What if only forty are found there?" He replied, "I will forebear doing it for the sake of the forty."

30 Then he said, "Let not my Lord grow impatient if I go on. What if only thirty are found there?" He replied, "I will forebear doing it if I can find but thirty there."

31 Still he went on, "Since I have thus dared to speak to my Lord, what if there are no more than twenty?" "I will not destroy it," he answered, "for the sake of the twenty."

32 But he still persisted: "Please, let not my Lord grow angry if I speak up this last time. What if there are at least ten there?" "For the sake of those ten," he replied, "I will not destroy it."

33 The LORD departed as soon as he had finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned home.

COMMENTARIE

v 1. Mamre means strength or fatness. It is the name of one of the Amorite brothers confederate with Abram when they pursued Chedorlaomer, and this was his territory. Less than three months after the former appearance, the circumcisions are healed and Abraham is probably in the shade of the oaks and sitting outside his tent under the flap for a cool breeze. His tent would be different from the others.

V 2. One usually waits for his guests unless they are important, and he assumed they were important to be coming to the sheik's tent at the heat of the day. Two of the men were angels, the third,the pre incarnate Christ, though not recognized at first.

v 3-5. They accept his traditional hospitality for hot dusty feet, food and rest.

v 6-8. The bread would have been flat like pancakes and baked fresh daily. (My pioneer relatives had fresh biscuits at every meal.) This wasn’t like getting something out of the freezer and into the microwave, but an experienced servant would have the whole calf cooking over an open fire or pieces on skewers in relatively short time. The bread would be dipped in the butter, and probably curds along with the milk. Though he had servants, as perfect host, Abraham stood watching courteously as they ate.

v 9. The Lord knew Sarah was in her part of the tent but baited her interest as she listened, because she must hear the promise and conceive by faith, Heb. 11:11. It is probably at the stranger knowing Sarah’s name, that He is recognized as the Lord.

v 10. The gist is, Sarah will have a son in approximately nine months. See v 14.

v 11,12. Sarah was not laughing for joy at this point as some think. As Abraham earlier, she thought his age and her barren womb made reproduction ridiculous. With the circumcision and all, he had probably not even mentioned the earlier prediction.

v 13,14. The Lord knew her heart and her laughter of unbelief. It is with stern words that He repeats she will have a son according to the time of life (nine months).

v 15. She would not have been afraid if she had laughed for joy. In her human nature, now she lies to cover it up, but the Lord rebukes her with the truth.
V 16 to 33 Abraham and Jehovahv 16-19. With customary courtesy, Abraham walks a ways with his guests. God did not warn Abraham of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah because Lot was there. It was revealed because of Abraham’s faithfulness, even to bringing up his family properly. Ishmael may not have gone on to follow the Lord, but he always carried with him in the sign of circumcision, that he had been properly taught. We as believers will also have things revealed to us from the Word if we are faithful to God.

v 20-22. The Lord knew of the wickedness of those towns, but would give them an opportunity to demonstrate it, so they are without excuse when He judges.

I will go down: The Lord here accommodates his discourse to the way of speaking and acting amongst men; for he knoweth all things, and needeth not to go anywhere for information. Note here, that two of the three angels went away immediately for Sodom; whilst the third, who represented the Lord, remained with Abraham.

When the other two go on, Abraham gives a remarkable series of intercessory prayers.

v 23-26. Abraham drew near to God, James 4:8, but not boldly to the throne of grace, Heb, 4:16, He feels his way along as he lowers the number. A central theme of his pleading is that the Judge of the earth will do right and spare the righteous.

v 27-33. Abraham comes humbly and totally reverent. His prayer was definite and specific. He persevered in prayer. He is experiencing that a definite answer does not necessarily mean a final answer. He may have felt it was not God’s will to ask further, or he may have thought ten would cover all Lot’s family. Lot, his wife, two unmarried daughters, at least two, probably three married daughters and their husbands making ten, and maybe some servants. Lot, a righteous man with a poor testimony, 19:14.