seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
18. Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation . In Hebrew it is, ‘And being, he shall be,’ etc. But the copulative ought to be resolved into the causal adverb. “Copulativa in causalem resolvenda est.” — Vatablus in Poli Syn.
The messengers from heaven had now despatched one part of their business, which was an errand of grace to Abraham and Sarah, and which they delivered first; but now they have before them work of another nature. Sodom is to be destroyed, and they must do it, Gen 19:13. Note, As with the Lord there is mercy, so he is the God to whom vengeance belongs.
Commenting on Genesis 18:16-22
Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation,.... Which was fulfilled in the nation of Israel, so called, not so much for the largeness of the place they dwelt in, and the number of its inhabitants, as for the law of God that was given them, and the worship of God kept up among them; on account of which there was no...