Three visitors at Mamre
Genesis 18:1-15
Abraham generously welcomed three visitors by the oaks of Mamre. One of them told him that Sarah would have a son. Sarah laughed, because she was already old; but God kept his promise, and Isaac was born. Genesis 18:1-15
The story, in plain words
On a very hot day, the Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre. Abraham was sitting at the entrance of his tent. Genesis 18:1
He looked up and saw three men standing near him. He ran to greet them and bowed down to the ground. Genesis 18:2
He asked them not to pass him by. He offered them water to wash their feet and shade to rest in. Genesis 18:3-4
Abraham asked Sarah to make bread. He himself chose a tender calf and served it to the visitors. Genesis 18:6-8 The visitors asked him where Sarah, his wife, was. Abraham…
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See the mapWhat the Bible says
Genesis 18:1-15
1And the Lord appeared to him in the vale of Mambre as he was sitting at the door of his tent, in the very heat of the day. 2And when he had lifted up his eyes, there appeared to him three men standing near him: and as soon as he saw them he ran to meet them from the door of his tent, and adored down to the ground. 3And he said: Lord, if I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away from thy servant: 4But I will fetch a little water, and wash ye your feet, and rest ye under the tree. 5And I will set a morsel of bread, and strengthen ye your heart, afterwards you shall pass on: for therefore are you come aside to your servant. And they said: Do as thou hast spoken. 6Abraham made haste into the tent to Sara, and said to her: Make haste, temper together three measures of flour, and make cakes upon the hearth. 7And he himself ran to the herd, and took from thence a calf very tender and very good, and gave it to a young man: who made haste and boiled it. 8He took also butter and milk, and the calf which he had boiled, and set before them: but he stood by them under the tree. 9And when they had eaten, they said to him: Where is Sara thy wife? He answered: Lo, she is in the tent. 10And he said to him: I will return and come to thee at this time, life accompanying and Sara thy wife shall have a son. Which when Sara heard, she laughed behind the door of the tent. 11Now they were both old, and far advanced in years, and it had ceased to be with Sara after the manner of women. 12And she laughed secretly, saying: After I am grown old and my lord is an old man, shall I give myself to pleasure? 13And the Lord said to Abraham: Why did Sara laugh, saying: Shall I who am an old woman bear a child indeed? 14Is there any thing hard to God? According to appointment I will return to thee at this same time, life accompanying, and Sara shall have a son. 15Sara denied, saying: I did not laugh: for she was afraid. But the Lord said, Nay: but thou didst laugh:
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
To talk about together
- Abraham welcomed strangers as if they were his best guests. What does that tell you about him?
- Sarah laughed because it seemed impossible to her. Is there something that seems impossible to you?
- For the child: how do you welcome someone who comes to your home?