Chapter VIII

Abraham is sitting before his house-door under a green oak. He sees three men coming along, and goes toward them. He entreats them to rest awhile, that he may wash their feet, and bring them a morsel of bread. Abraham commands Sarah to make some cakes quickly, and tells his servant to seethe a tender kid. Abraham appears bare-headed before his guests. He casts a clean cloth on the green, and sets before them cakes, butter, milk, and pottage. God praises his friend’s feast, and after the meat is removed, He tells Abraham that Sarah shall bear him a son. Sarah, who is behind the door, laughs in unbelief. God tells Abraham that Sarah laughs at His words. Sarah denies that she laughed. Abraham’s guests set out towards Sodom, two miles from Mamre. The patriarch accompanies them. God determines to reveal to Abraham his secret purposes.