Hospitality, laughter and intercession

“And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;” Naming Mamre keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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 number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:” The line’s distinctive content terms include feet, fetched, little. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress…” Naming Abraham keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under…” The line’s distinctive content terms include butter, calf, dressed. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.” Naming Sarah and Abraham keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.” Naming Nay and Sarah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.” Naming Abraham and Sodom keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;” Naming Because and Gomorrah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include altogether, know. Its relationship to verses 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.” Naming Abraham and Sodom keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their…” The number fifty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:” Naming Abraham keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.” Naming Abraham keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.