{"commentary":{"id":"jamieson-fausset-brown","name":"Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary","website":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamieson-Fausset-Brown_Bible_Commentary","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/","licenseNotes":null,"licenseNotice":null,"englishName":"Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary","language":"eng","textDirection":"rtl","sha256":"db3d4c8b3c1f32ef9d1430a57392e02bda3a17aac1f9bbe398461de021a3cb13","availableFormats":["json"],"listOfBooksApiLink":"/api/c/jamieson-fausset-brown/books.json","listOfProfilesApiLink":"/api/c/jamieson-fausset-brown/profiles.json","numberOfBooks":66,"totalNumberOfChapters":1187,"totalNumberOfVerses":17056,"totalNumberOfProfiles":0,"languageName":"English","languageEnglishName":"English"},"book":{"id":"GEN","commentaryId":"jamieson-fausset-brown","name":"Genesis","commonName":"Genesis","introduction":"GENESIS, the book of the origin or production of all things, consists of two parts: the first, comprehended in the first through eleventh chapters, gives a general history; the second, contained in the subsequent chapters, gives a special history. The two parts are essentially connected; the one, which sets out with an account of the descent of the human race from a single pair, the introduction of sin into the world, and the announcement of the scheme of divine mercy for repairing the ruins of the fall, was necessary to pave the way for relating the other, namely, the call of Abraham, and the selection of his posterity for carrying out the gracious purpose of God. An evident unity of method, therefore, pervades this book, and the information contained in it was of the greatest importance to the Hebrew people, as without it they could not have understood the frequent references made in their law to the purposes and promises of God regarding themselves. The arguments that have been already adduced as establishing the Mosaic origin of the Pentateuch prove of course that Moses was the author of Genesis. The few passages on which the rationalists grounded their assertions that it was the composition of a later age have been successfully shown to warrant no such conclusion; the use of Egyptian words and the minute acquaintance with Egyptian life and manners, displayed in the history of Joseph, harmonize with the education of Moses, and whether he received his information by immediate revelation, from tradition, or from written documents, it comes to us as the authentic work of an author who wrote as he was inspired by the Holy Ghost (Pe2 1:21). \n \n\n\nNext: Genesis Chapter 1\n\n","order":1,"numberOfChapters":50,"sha256":"ec815a3918530d6e58baacb7273848b505bde282d2878c9c6d40c430ca66075d","firstChapterNumber":1,"firstChapterApiLink":"/api/c/jamieson-fausset-brown/GEN/1.json","firstChapterReference":{"commentaryId":"jamieson-fausset-brown","book":"GEN","chapter":1},"lastChapterNumber":50,"lastChapterApiLink":"/api/c/jamieson-fausset-brown/GEN/50.json","lastChapterReference":{"commentaryId":"jamieson-fausset-brown","book":"GEN","chapter":50},"totalNumberOfVerses":529},"chapter":{"number":18,"content":[{"type":"verse","number":2,"content":["lift up his eyes . . . and, lo, three men--Travellers in that quarter start at sunrise and continue till midday when they look out for some resting-place. \n \nhe ran to meet them--When the visitor is an ordinary person, the host merely rises; but if of superior rank, the custom is to advance a little towards the stranger, and after a very low bow, turn and lead him to the tent, putting an arm round his waist, or tapping him on the shoulder as they go, to assure him of welcome.\n \n"]},{"type":"verse","number":3,"content":["My Lord, if now I have found favor--The hospitalities offered are just of the kind that are necessary and most grateful, the refreshment of water, for feet exposed to dust and heat by the sandals, being still the first observed among the pastoral people of Hebron.\n \n"]},{"type":"verse","number":5,"content":["for therefore are ye come--No questions were asked. But Abraham knew their object by the course they took--approaching directly in front of the chief sheik's tent, which is always distinguishable from the rest and thus showing their wish to be his guests.\n \n"]},{"type":"verse","number":6,"content":["Abraham hastened . . . unto Sarah . . . make cakes upon the hearth--Bread is baked daily, no more than is required for family use, and always by the women, commonly the wife. It is a short process. Flour mixed with water is made into dough, and being rolled out into cakes, it is placed on the earthen floor, previously heated by a fire. The fire being removed, the cakes are laid on the ground, and being covered over with hot embers, are soon baked, and eaten the moment they are taken off.\n \n"]},{"type":"verse","number":7,"content":["Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf--Animal food is never provided, except for visitors of a superior rank when a kid or lamb is killed. A calf is still a higher stretch of hospitality, and it would probably be cooked as is usually done when haste is required--either by roasting it whole or by cutting it up into small pieces and broiling them on skewers over the fire. It is always eaten along with boiled corn swimming in butter or melted fat, into which every morsel of meat, laid upon a piece of bread, is dipped, before being conveyed by the fingers to the mouth.\n \n"]},{"type":"verse","number":8,"content":["milk--A bowl of camel's milk ends the repast. \n \nhe stood by them under the tree--The host himself, even though he has a number of servants, deems it a necessary act of politeness to stand while his guests are at their food, and Abraham evidently did this before he was aware of the real character of his visitors.\n \n"]},{"type":"verse","number":10,"content":["REPROOF OF SARAH. An inquiry about his wife, so surprising in strangers, the subject of conversation, and the fulfilment of the fondly cherished promise within a specified time, showed Abraham that he had been entertaining more than ordinary travellers (Heb 13:2). (Gen 18:9-15)\n \nSarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him--The women's apartment is in the back of the tent, divided by a thin partition from the men's.\n \n"]},{"type":"verse","number":12,"content":["Therefore Sarah laughed within herself--Long delay seems to have weakened faith. Sarah treated the announcement as incredible, and when taxed with the silent sneer, she added falsehood to distrust. It was an aggravated offense (Act 5:4), and nothing but grace saved her (Rom 9:18).\n \n"]},{"type":"verse","number":16,"content":["DISCLOSURE OF SODOM'S DOOM. (Gen 18:16-22)\n \nthe men rose . . . Abraham went with them--It is customary for a host to escort his guests a little way.\n \n"]},{"type":"verse","number":17,"content":["the Lord said, Shall I hide--The chief stranger, no other than the Lord, disclosed to Abraham the awful doom about to be inflicted on Sodom and the cities of the plain for their enormous wickedness.\n \n"]},{"type":"verse","number":21,"content":["I will go down . . . and see--language used after the manner of men. These cities were to be made examples to all future ages of God's severity; and therefore ample proof given that the judgment was neither rash nor excessive (Eze 18:23; Jer 18:7).\n \n"]},{"type":"verse","number":23,"content":["ABRAHAM'S INTERCESSION. (Gen 18:23-33)\n \nAbraham drew near, and said, &c.--The scene described is full of interest and instruction--showing in an unmistakable manner the efficacy of prayer and intercession. (See also Pro 15:8; Jam 5:16). Abraham reasoned justly as to the rectitude of the divine procedure (Rom 3:5-6), and many guilty cities and nations have been spared on account of God's people (Mat 5:13; Mat 24:22).\n \n"]},{"type":"verse","number":33,"content":["the Lord . . . left communing . . . and Abraham returned unto his place--Why did Abraham cease to carry his intercessions farther? Either because he fondly thought that he was now sure of the cities being preserved (Luk 13:9), or because the Lord restrained his mind from further intercession (Jer 7:16; Jer 11:14). But there were not ten \"righteous persons.\" There was only one, and he might without injustice have perished in the general overthrow (Ecc 9:2). But a difference is sometimes made, and on this occasion the grace of God was manifested in a signal manner for the sake of Abraham. What a blessing to be connected with a saint of God!\n \n\n\n\nNext: Genesis Chapter 19\n\n"]}],"introduction":"ENTERTAINMENT OF ANGELS. (Gen 18:1-8)\n \nthe Lord appeared--another manifestation of the divine presence, more familiar than any yet narrated; and more like that in the fulness of time, when the Word was made flesh. \n \nplains of Mamre--rather, terebinth or oak of Mamre; a tall-spreading tree or grove of trees. \n \nsat in the tent door--The tent itself being too close and sultry at noon, the shaded open front is usually resorted to for the air that may be stirring.\n \n"},"thisChapterLink":"/api/c/jamieson-fausset-brown/GEN/18.json","thisChapterReference":{"commentaryId":"jamieson-fausset-brown","book":"GEN","chapter":18},"nextChapterApiLink":"/api/c/jamieson-fausset-brown/GEN/19.json","nextChapterReference":{"commentaryId":"jamieson-fausset-brown","book":"GEN","chapter":19},"previousChapterApiLink":"/api/c/jamieson-fausset-brown/GEN/17.json","previousChapterReference":{"commentaryId":"jamieson-fausset-brown","book":"GEN","chapter":17},"numberOfVerses":13}