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 tree, and they did eat.
8. butter, and milk ] Butter ( em’ah, LXX ) is not what we should call butter, but rather “curds,” mentioned here and Jdg 5:25, as a cool and refreshing delicacy to be offered to a guest. It is called in the East leben. It is probably this which we find so often mentioned with honey, e.g. 2Sa 17:29; Isa 7:22. The milk ( lb) would be the fresh milk of sheep or goats.
they did eat ] The manifestation of the Deity is here, as in Gen 19:3, associated with a meal. Cf. Exo 24:11; Jdg 6:19-20. God’s Presence may bless the simplest duties of home life.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 8. And he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.] Nothing is more common in Hindostan than to see travellers and guests eating under the shade of trees. Feasts are scarcely ever held in houses. The house of a Hindoo serves for sleeping and cooking, and for shutting up the women; but is never considered as a sitting or dining room. – Ward.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The calf, to wit, the choicest parts of the calf.
He stood by them, to wait upon them, as the word standing is used, Neh 12:44; Jer 52:12.
They did eat; either seemingly, as the Scripture oft speaks of things according to appearance; or really, they received the meat into the bodies which they assumed, where it was consumed by a Divine power.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. milkA bowl of camel’s milkends the repast.
he stood by them under thetreeThe host himself, even though he has a number of servants,deems it a necessary act of politeness to stand while hisguests are at their food, and Abraham evidently did this before hewas aware of the real character of his visitors.
Ge18:9-15. REPROOF OFSARAH. An inquiry abouthis wife, so surprising in strangers, the subject of conversation,and the fulfilment of the fondly cherished promise within a specifiedtime, showed Abraham that he had been entertaining more than ordinarytravellers (Heb 13:2).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he took butter and milk,…. Jarchi says, it was the fat of the milk gathered from the top of it, he means cream, and is different both from butter and from milk: this was either Abraham himself, who took and brought these, as Sarah or her maidens might bring the cakes when baked; or else Abraham’s young man, since it follows:
and the calf which he had dressed; either the whole of it, or some principal parts of it, reckoned the finest and choicest; though by what follows it seems to be Abraham himself, who may be said to dress the calf, it being done by his orders:
and set [it] before them; a table being placed under the tree, he set, or ordered to be set, all those provisions before the three men, to feed upon, the cakes and butter, the milk and fatted calf:
and he stood by them under the tree; not only to bid them welcome, but to minister to them; nor will this seem strange, or that the above several things were chiefly done by Abraham and Sarah, when it is observed that the greatest personages in the eastern countries, in early times, used to perform such services, and still do to this day, as a late traveller r informs us:
“it is here (says he) no disgrace for persons of the highest character to busy themselves in what we should reckon menial employments; the greatest prince assists in the most laborious actions of husbandry; neither is he ashamed to fetch a lamb from his herd and kill it, while the princess his wife is impatient till she has prepared her fire and her kettle to seethe and dress it: the custom that still continues of walking either barefoot or with slippers requires the ancient compliment of bringing water upon the arrival of a stranger to wash his feet; and who is the person that presents himself first to do this office, and to give the “mar habbeh”, or welcome, but the master of the family himself? who always distinguishes himself by being the most officious; and, after his entertainment is prepared, accounts it a breach of respect to sit down with his guests, but stands up all the time and serves them.”
All which serves greatly to illustrate this passage; and the same learned author observes, that in this manner we find Achilles and Patroclus employed, as described by Homer s, in providing an entertainment:
and they did eat; or seemed to eat, as the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi; though as they assumed bodies so animated as to be capable of talking and walking, why not of eating and drinking? and there must have been a consumption of food some way or other, or Abraham would have known they had not eaten: we read of angels’ food, Ps 78:25; our English poet had a notion of angels eating, and represents Eve providing a repast for the angel, which he owns to be no ungrateful food t.
r Dr. Shaw’s Travels, p. 237, 238. Ed. 2. s Iliad. 9. ver. 205. t Milton’s Paradise Lost, B. 5. ver. 412, &c.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(8) Butter.Heb. curds, or curdled milk. Neither the Hebrews, Greeks, nor Romans knew how to make butter, and the word itself signifies cheese made of cows milk. This is less prized in the East than that made from the milk of sheep, or of goats, while camels milk is regarded by the Arabs as best for drinking. In a hot climate milk is more refreshing when slightly sour; but Abraham brought both fresh milk (probably from the camels) and sour milk (from the sheep), and this with the cakes and the calf made a stately repast. With noble courtesy he stood by them, and they did eat. The Targum of Jonathan and other Jewish authorities translate and they made show of eating, lest it should seem as though angels ate (Jdg. 13:16). There is the same mystery as regards our risen Lord (Luk. 24:43).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Butter “This is commonly clotted cream . The milk is chiefly that of the goat, which is very rich and sweet, rather sickening to an unpracticed taste . This kind of milk we found abundant in Palestine, and no other . ” Jacobus .
Stood by them As a reverent attendant and waiter, fully appreciating the honour of the occasion .
They did eat As truly as did the risen Lord . Luk 24:43. It was not because they needed food, but as, in our Lord’s case, to convince Abraham and Sarah of the reality of this divine visitation . See on Gen 18:2. “If the angels had assumed human bodies, though but for a time, there would have been nothing strange in their eating . In any case the food may have been consumed, miraculously or not; and the eating of it was a proof that the visit of the angels to Abraham was no mere vision, but a true manifestation of heavenly beings . ” Speaker’s Com .
Gen 18:8. He stood by them under the tree, &c. A token of greater respect could not be given, than for the hospitable master thus to minister to his celestial guests. The text says, they did eat, which must either imply that there were all the external appearances of eating, or rather, we may believe, that they who had assumed a human form, imitated also human actions. Calmet is of opinion, that the great heathen writers, who were continually borrowing ideas from the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament, derived their celebrated fable of Orion from this part of sacred history. Three Gods, they suppose, visited Orion’s father: they found him at the door of his hut: the old man (senex Hyreus, as he is called, like the old man of Ur) received them with the greatest hospitality: he was childless, and a son was promised him, in which part of the story some ridiculous fables are intermixed.
REFLECTIONS.We have here Abraham’s hospitality to three unknown strangers, though afterwards found to be celestial visitants in human forms.
1. His affectionate invitation of them. He sat in the tent-door, to welcome in the weary traveller: such labours of love became the father of the faithful. Note; A Christian’s heart is generous and hospitable. No sooner does the opportunity offer, than with profound respect and urgent entreaty, he entertains them in the heat of the day under the shade of a tree. Observe, (1.) Religion never teaches rudeness, but civility. (2.) A good man thinks it a favour done him, that he has it in his power to relieve the destitute.
2. The hearty welcome given them. Luxury of diet yet unknown (and how much better were it still unknown!) and pride of equipage make no part of Abraham’s entertainment. Himself and Sarah were not too great to serve: and one plain dish, beneath a tree, completes the banquet. Happy simplicity! where friendship unfeigned made hypocritical compliments useless, and plain abundance supplied those wants of hunger, which pampered appetite never knew. Note; (1.) True faith produces fervent charity: no fruits like those which grow on this tree. (2.) True nobility and greatness are ever most condescending.
And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
Here the speaker is expressly called Jehovah; so in Gen 18:17 and following verses.
Gen 18:8 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 tree, and they did eat.
Ver. 8. And they did eat. ] The angels, as they assumed human shapes, so they did truly eat, according to the present dispensation of the shape so assumed.
tree. See Gen 18:1.
eat. We do not understand this mystery. But we read of “angels’ food” (Psa 78:25); and that Christ ate after His resurrection (Luk 24:30, Luk 24:43. Act 10:41).
he took: Gen 19:3, Deu 32:14, Jdg 5:25
stood: Neh 12:44, Luk 12:37, Luk 17:8, Joh 12:2, Gal 5:13, Rev 3:20
and they: Gen 19:3, Jdg 13:15, Luk 24:30, Luk 24:43, Act 10:41
Reciprocal: 1Sa 28:24 – a fat calf
18:8 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 tree, and {e} they did eat.
(e) For as God gave them bodies for a time, so he gave them the abilities of them, to walk, to eat and drink, and such like.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes