Annotations.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Here beginneth the fourth section of the Law, called of the first word Vajera, that is, And (the Lord) appeared. See Gen. 6. 9.
Vers. 1. appeared] or, was seene of him, meaning [unspec 1] Abraham. This vision was to renew the promise of Isaaks birth; and to acquaint Abraham with Gods purpose of destroying Sodom. And for us, to see how Abrahams faith wrought with his workes; and by workes, faith was made perfect, as Iam. 2. 22. the akes] that is, the oke-grove, or the plaine: see Gen. 13. 18. in the heat] that is, at ••oone: as the Greeke translateth it. At such time travellers wexe saint and hungry: heat also figureth afflictions, Mat. 13. 6. 21. Rev. 7. 16. the due time to shew forth works of grace, Mat. 25. 35.
Vers. 2. three men] so they seemed at first to A∣braham; [unspec 2] but he entertained Angels unawares, Heb. 13. 2. for one of these is called Iehovah, vers. 13. 14. 17. 20. 22. and Abraham after so acknowledged him as the Lord and Iudge of all the earth, ver. 25. 27. And this was Christ, Rom. 10 9. Iohn 5. 22. The other two were created Angels, Gen. 19. 1. The Hebrew Doctors here say; And behold three An∣gels were sent to Abraham our father: and they three were sent for three things, because it cannot be, that moe things then one should be sent by the hand of one of the high Angels. The first Angell was sent to shew glad∣tidings unto Abraham our father, that Sarah should beare Isaak. The second Angell was sent to deliver Let from the overthrow (of Sodom.) The third Angell was sent to overthrow Sodom and Gomorrha, Admah and Seboim: Thargum Ierusalemy on Gen. 18. before him] or, against him; thus occasioning Abraham to come unto them: who presently ran; and so pursu∣ed hospitality, as the Apostle speaketh, Rom. 12. 13.
Vers. 3. Lord] the Hebrew Adonai is written [unspec 3] with long A in the end, which is the usuall title of God, as is observed on Gen. 15. 2. The Greeke also translateth it absolutely Lord, and the Chaldee expresseth it by the letters of Iehovah; otherwise then in Gen. 19. 2. And Abraham in vers. 27. under this title, acknowledgeth him for God; opposing himselfe, as dust and ashes.
Vers. 4. leane ye downe] that is, rest ye; or as the [unspec 4] Greeke translateth, refresh your selves.
Vers. 5. sustaine ye] or uphold; that is, comfort or [unspec 5] strengthen your heart: the Greeke translateth it eat. Bread is compared to a staffe or stay, Esay 3. 1. for that it is the chiefe sustenance that upholds the life of man. So in Iudg. 19. 5. Psal. 104. 15.
Vers. 6. three peckes] or measures, each of them [unspec 6] was at least a pottle bigger then our English pecke, for three of them made an Ephah, or Bushel, (wher∣of see Exodus 16. 36.) The Hebrewes write that this their pecke, (which they call Seah, the Greeke Saton,) contained as much as 144 common hens egges. For their least measure is the quanti∣ty of an egge; sixe whereof doe make a measure called Log, or Pinte, (whereof see Lev. 14. 10.) and foure of them Logs make a Kab, (wherof see 2 Kin. 6. 25.) and sixe Kabs make this Seah or Pecke; three whereof Abraham prepareth here, for three mens dinner; which with other things doe manifest his liberality: contrary to Nabals, 1 Sam. 25. 11. Our Saviour also hath a Parable of three peckes of meale which a woman leavened, Mat. 13. 33. That which in Ruth 2. 17. is an Ephah (or Bushell) of barly; the Chaldee Paraphrase there calleth three Seahs (or peckes.) So also in Exod. 16. 36. flowery meale] that is, fine meale: Hebr. meale of flower. This, and the tender and good calfe, vers. 7. sheweth that Abra∣hams benevolence was of the best things that hee had. See the annotations on Gen. 4. 4.
Vers. 7. the herd] or, the beeves: as the Greeke [unspec 7] and Chaldee turne it. a calfe] Hebr. son of the herd, or beefe: so, sonnes of the flocke, for Lambes, Psal. 114. 4. sonne of the asse, for a foale, Gen. 49. 11.