Three Visitors

¹The LORD appeared to him by the plains of Mamre as he sat in the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. ²He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. As soon as he saw them, he rushed from the tent entrance to greet them and bowed low to the ground. ³He said, "My LORD, if I have found favor with you, please do not pass by your servant." ⁴"Please, let some water be brought so you can wash your feet, and then rest under the tree." ⁵"Let me bring some food so you can refresh yourselves. After that, you can continue on your way, since you have come to your servant." They replied, "Go ahead and do as you have said." ⁶Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quickly, get three measures of fine flour, knead it, and make cakes on the hearth." ⁷Then Abraham ran to the herd, chose a young, tender calf, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. ⁸He brought curds, milk, and the prepared calf and placed it all before them. He stood near them under the tree while they ate. ⁹They asked him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" He answered, "She is inside the tent." ¹⁰He said, "I will surely come back to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. ¹¹Abraham and Sarah were both very old by now, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. ¹²So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, "Now that I am worn out and my husband is old, will I really experience this joy?" ¹³The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Can I really give birth when I am so old?'" ¹⁴"Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son." ¹⁵Sarah denied it because she was afraid, saying, "I did not laugh." But he said, "No, you did laugh."