Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
4. wash your feet ] Abraham’s offer of hospitable welcome is said to be a faithful representation of the reception of a traveller by an Eastern sheikh. Here we have its various aspects of (1) the courteous greeting; (2) the feet washing; (3) the repast and personal attendance by the host; (4) the escort on the road at departure.
The washing of the feet is necessary for comfort as well as cleanliness in the East where sandals are worn. Cf. Gen 19:2, Gen 24:32, Gen 43:24; Luk 7:44; Joh 13:14.
rest yourselves under the tree ] Abraham invites them to recline in the shade, while the meal is made ready. It does not necessarily indicate the posture at the meal. Judging from 1Sa 9:22 ; 1Sa 20:5, 1Ki 13:20, a sitting posture was usual among the Israelites. Probably we should understand that, in this scene, as in Gen 27:19, Jdg 19:6, those who ate were seated on the ground, the food being placed in front of them.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 4. Let a little water – be fetched, and wash your feet, c.] In these verses we find a delightful picture of primitive hospitality. In those ancient times shoes such as ours were not in use and the foot was protected only by sandals or soles, which fastened round the foot with straps. It was therefore a great refreshment in so hot a country to get the feet washed at the end of a day’s journey; and this is the first thing that Abraham proposes.
Rest yourselves under the tree] We have already heard of the oak grove of Mamre, Ge 12:6, and this was the second requisite for the refreshment of a weary traveller, viz., rest in the shade.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
A practice usual in those parts, Gen 19:2; 24:32; 43:24; Joh 13:4-5; 1Ti 5:10, because they used to travel either bare-footed, or only with sandals to cover and secure the bottom of their feet.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet,…. Which was very refreshing to travellers in hot countries, who walked barefoot or in sandals; and this he proposes to be done by one of his servants, whose business it was, only desires they would give him leave to order it, 1Sa 25:41; and so it was usual in other countries, and in later times, for servants to fetch water to wash the hands and feet of guests l:
and rest yourselves under the tree; before the tent door, under which doubtless were seats to sit down upon, where they might rest their weary limbs; it is very probable this was an oak tree, and which, and a turpentine tree the ancient writers speak of, continued unto the times of Constantine, [See comments on Ge 13:18]; and the Jewish writers say m, that now near the city (Hebron), between the vineyards, are the oaks of Mamre, where is the house of Abraham our father, on whom be peace, and the tree under which the angels ate, and the stone on which he (Abraham) sat when he was circumcised.
l “—– dant manibus famuli lymphas.” –Virgil. Aeneid. l. 1. m Cippi Hebr. p. 9. Ed. Hottinger.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(4) Wash your feet.This is the first necessity of Oriental hospitality (Jdg. 19:21), not merely because the feet, protected only by sandals, are soiled by the dirt of the roads, but because it cools the whole body, and allays the feverishness caused by the heat of travelling. Thus refreshed they are to rest, Heb., to lay themselves down, in the shade.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Wash your feet Ablutions of all kinds are very common in the East, and considered essential as safeguards against the leprosy . But feet washing was among the most common rites of hospitality . Comp . Gen 19:2; Gen 24:32; Jdg 19:21. The foot was usually protected only by a sandal, and after a journey over the heated roads or fields, the washing of the feet was peculiarly gratifying to the traveller.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 18:4. Wash your feet It was a custom to wash the feet of guests, deduced from the earliest times to the apostles’ days; see ch. Gen 19:2. Gen 24:32. Jdg 19:21. Hence St. Paul appoints widows to be chosen, 1Ti 5:10 if they have lodged strangers, if they have washed the saints’ feet. See Luk 7:44. John 13. This must have been a great refreshment in those hot countries, where men travelled barefooted or in sandals only. Rest yourselves under the tree, the oak, or shady grove of oaks, where Abraham’s tent was fixed. The heat of the country here again must be considered, which rendered such a shady situation most delightful. Hence that phrase in Scripture, of every man’s sitting under his own vine and his own fig-tree.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
Washing the feet in Eastern countries, was part of the courtesy shewn, to travellers. Hence 1Ti 5:10 ; Luk 7:44 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 18:4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
Ver. 4. And wash your feet. ] Fouled with going barefoot; as in these parts men used to do, because of the great heat.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
wash your feet. A common practice to this day; needed from use of sandals and bare feet; Compare Gen 24:32; Gen 43:24.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
wash your feet: In those ancient times, shoes such as ours, were not in use; and the foot was protected only with sandals or soles, fastened round the foot with straps. It was, therefore, not only necessary from motives of cleanliness, but also a very great refreshment, in so hot a country, to get the feet washed at the end of a day’s journey; and this is the first thing that Abraham proposes. Gen 19:2, Gen 24:32, Gen 43:24, 1Sa 25:41, Luk 7:44, Joh 13:5-15, 1Ti 5:10
tree: Rest in the shade was the second requisite for the refreshment of a weary traveller.
Reciprocal: Gen 24:25 – General Jdg 19:21 – they washed 2Sa 11:8 – wash 2Ki 3:11 – poured water Luk 7:38 – wash Act 16:15 – come Eph 3:20 – able
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
18:4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and {c} wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
(c) For men used to go bare footed in those parts because of the heat.