Lot and His Daughters: Part 4 The Three Strangers
While Abraham was sitting at the Oaks of Mamre, three strangers walked into his view. He immediately jumped up and requested they join him for a meal.
Who were these mysterious people?
Genesis 18 v 1-2
The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
Oaks of Mamre
These aren’t actually oaks but terebinth trees.
Terebinths are also known as turpentine trees. Its roasted fruit can be used to make a tea and its oil is used to make soap.
The resin can also be used to preserve wine. There is archaeological evidence from the time of Abraham which shows ancient Near East peoples were using it for this purpose.
Along with this, it is thought that these trees were either worshipped, facilitated pagan worship or denoted a sacred place.
Jacob buried idols beneath a terebinth tree. As these were sacred sites, maybe this was the appropriate place to bury them. Returning the idols back to the gods.
Genesis 35 v 4
So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem.
So maybe Abraham lived near these Oaks, as these were the sacred places, where he would encounter God.
Who are the Strangers?
The three strangers came and sat with Abraham. As the story unfolds, it is clear one of them is God. But how can this be, if anyone who sees God will die?
Exodus 3 v 20
But he added, "You cannot see my face, for no one can see me and live."
But then there was another time, where God sits and eats with people. In John 21, we see Jesus share a meal with His disciples.
Some may find what I write next as contentious, but I believe the three strangers are two angels accompanying the pre-incarnate Jesus, God Himself.
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