Matthew Henry on Genesis 18:23–end
Communion with God is kept up by the word and by prayer. In the word God speaks to us; in prayer we speak to him. God had revealed to Abraham his purposes concerning Sodom; now from this Abraham takes occasion to speak to God on Sodom's behalf. Note, God's word then does us good when it furnishes us with matter for prayer and excites us to it. When God has spoken to us, we must consider what we have to say to him upon it. Observe,
I. The solemnity of Abraham's address to God on this occasion: Abraham drew near, Gen 18:23. The expression intimates, 1. A holy concern: He engaged his heart to approach to God, Jer 30:21. "Shall Sodom be destroyed, and I not speak one good word for it?" 2. A holy…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 18:23
ABRAHAM'S INTERCESSION. (Gen 18:23-33)
Abraham drew near, and said, &c.--The scene described is full of interest and instruction--showing in an unmistakable manner the efficacy of prayer and intercession. (See also Pro 15:8; Jam 5:16). Abraham reasoned justly as to the rectitude of the divine procedure (Rom 3:5-6), and many guilty cities and nations have been spared on account of God's people (Mat 5:13; Mat 24:22).
Adam Clarke on Genesis 18:23
Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? - A form of speech similar to that in Gen 18:17, an invariable principle of justice, that the righteous shall not be punished for the crimes of the impious. And this Abraham lays down as the foundation of his supplications. Who can pray with any hope of success who cannot assign a reason to God and his conscience for the petitions he offers? The great sacrifice offered by Christ is an infinite reason why a penitent sinner should expect to find the mercy for which he pleads.
John Gill on Genesis 18:24
Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city,.... Within the Pentapolis, which consisted of five cities; and so ten righteous persons are supposed to be in each, as Jarchi observes, agreeably to the Targum of Jonathan;"perhaps there may be fifty righteous persons in the city who pray before thee, ten for every city, answerable to the five cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar:"
wilt thou also destroy, and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? here Abraham becomes an advocate and intercessor for all the inhabitants of the place, even the wicked, that they might not be destroyed, but spared and be delivered from impending ruin, for the sake of…
