Genesis 18:16-33

Genesis 18:16-33

[16] And the men  rose up  from thence, and looked  toward  Sodom:  and Abraham  went  with them to bring them on the way.  [17] And the LORD  said,  Shall I hide  from Abraham  that thing which  I do;  [18] Seeing that Abraham  shall surely become a great  and mighty  nation,  of the earth  shall be blessed  in him? [19] For I know  him, that  he will command  his children  and his household  after him,  and they shall keep  the way  of the LORD,  to do  justice  and judgment;  that the LORD  may bring  upon Abraham  that which he hath spoken  [20] And the LORD  said,  Because the cry  of Sodom  and Gomorrah  is great,  and because their sin  is very  grievous;  [21] I will go down  now, and see  whether they have done  altogether  according to the cry  of it, which is come  unto me; and if not, I will know.  [22] turned their faces  toward Sodom:  but Abraham  stood  yet  before  the LORD.  [23] And Abraham  drew near,  and said,  Wilt thou also destroy  the righteous  with  the wicked?  [24] Peradventure there be  fifty  righteous  within  the city:  wilt thou also destroy  and not spare  the place  for  the fifty  righteous  that are therein?  [25] That be far  from thee to do  after this manner,  to slay  the righteous  with the wicked:  and that the righteous  should be as the wicked,  that be far  from thee: Shall not the Judge  of all the earth  do  right?  [26] And the LORD  said,  If I find  in Sodom  fifty  righteous  within  the city,  then I will spare  all the place  [27] And Abraham  answered  and said,  Behold now, I have taken upon me  to speak  unto the Lord,  which  am but dust  and ashes:  [28] Peradventure there shall lack  five  of the fifty  righteous:  wilt thou destroy  all the city  for lack of five?  And he said,  If I find  there forty  and five,  I will not destroy  [29] And he spake  unto him yet again,  and said,  Peradventure there shall be forty  found  there. And he said,  I will not do  it for forty's  [30] And he said  unto him, Oh  let not the Lord  be angry,  and I will speak:  Peradventure there shall thirty  be found  there. And he said,  I will not do  it, if I find  thirty  [31] And he said,  Behold now, I have taken upon me  to speak  unto the Lord:  Peradventure there shall be twenty  found  there. And he said,  I will not destroy  it for twenty's  [32] And he said,  Oh let not the Lord  be angry,  and I will speak  yet  but this once:  Peradventure ten  shall be found  there. And he said,  I will not destroy  it for ten's  [33] And the LORD  as soon as  he had left  communing  with Abraham:  returned  unto his place. 

What does Genesis 18:16-33 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

After God reviewed the reasons for sharing His plans for the destruction of Sodom with Abraham, He told the patriarch that He was about to investigate the wicked condition of that city. This news moved Abraham to ask God to be just in His dealings with the righteous there.
"A rhetorical question in each section-"Is anything too demanding for Yahweh?" [1]; "Shall not he who judges all the earth give right judgment?" [2]-sounds the major motif of each unit [3].... In both units it is some kind of noise that provokes Yahweh-Sarah"s laugh and Sodom"s groans." [4]