Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 18:7

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

7. fetched a calf ] We must remember that meat is rarely eaten by the tent-dwelling nomads. The killing of an animal for a repast indicated a desire to do special honour to a guest.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. Abraham ran unto the herd, andfetched a calfAnimal food is never provided, except forvisitors of a superior rank when a kid or lamb is killed. A calf isstill a higher stretch of hospitality, and it would probably becooked as is usually done when haste is requiredeither by roastingit whole or by cutting it up into small pieces and broiling them onskewers over the fire. It is always eaten along with boiled cornswimming in butter or melted fat, into which every morsel of meat,laid upon a piece of bread, is dipped, before being conveyed by thefingers to the mouth.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And Abraham ran unto the herd,…. While Sarah and her maids were kneading the dough and making the cakes:

and fetched a calf tender and good; a fine fat calf, which was reckoned very delicious food, and much in use with the ancients q and generally made a part in any grand entertainment, and was accounted fit for a king, see 1Sa 28:24:

and gave [it] unto a young man: one of his servants, to kill and dress as soon as possible; Jarchi says this was Ishmael, whom he trained up to such service:

and he hasted to dress it; the young man made all the haste he could to get it ready, according to the orders of Abraham.

q –Orpheus de lapidibus, ver. 63.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

7. A calf tender and good He selects the choicest of his young cattle, “the fatted calf,” (Luk 15:23; Luk 15:30,) the greatest luxury of the kind at his command .

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Gen 18:7 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 it.

Ver. 7. And gave it unto a young man. ] Here was a well-ordered family; every one knew his office, and did it. In every society, say the politicians, as in a well-tuned harp, the several strings must concur to make up a harmony.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

ran. Such speedy hospitality common in the East.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

Gen 19:3, Jdg 13:15, Jdg 13:16, Amo 6:4, Mal 1:14, Mat 22:4, Luk 15:23, Luk 15:27, Luk 15:30

Reciprocal: 1Sa 28:24 – a fat calf Luk 19:6 – he

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Gen 18:7. Abraham ran to the herd In the several particulars here mentioned, we have a lively picture of the hospitality, simplicity, benevolence, and liberality of these ancient patriarchs. How different was their manner of life from the refinement and modish formality of the higher classes in modern times!

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments