Sforno on the Torah

ADONAI APPEARED TO HIM BY THE TEREBINTHS OF MAMRE. Because it was there that Avraham was circumcised at that time, and his whole household were circumcised with him, it was there that God, may He be blessed, showed His presence to His people in covenant, according to the practice of all those who enter covenants, as in (Deut. 19:9-11), "You are standing ... to enter into the covenant, and as in (II Kings 23:3), "He entered [the covenant] ... before Adonai ... and all the people entered into the covenant." And He appeared to Avraham, who was the most prepared for this vision. Similar is the matter of (Exod. 4:24), "Adonai encountered him" -- He did not appear there in order to talk with Moshe, but He made His presence appear in order to receive the covenant of his son, as He said (Gen. 17:11-12), "between Me and you throughout the generations." And perhaps it is because of this that there is a custom to set up a chair at the time and place of a circumcision.

(1) HE LIFTED HIS EYES [JPS: LOOKING BACK]. He intentionally looked. (2) STANDING OVER HIM. Facing him, as if waiting to speak with him when he could look after seeing the major sight. For those who wait to speak to a person are referred to as standing over him, as with (Gen. 45:1), "control himself before all those standing over him [JPS: his attendants]" and as with (Exod. 18:14), "all the people stand about you." (3) HE RAN TO GREET THEM. Before they would approach to speak with him. (4) FROM THE ENTRANCE OF THE TENT. He started from the tent entrance to run out of respect for them, because haste with respect to a matter shows its importance to the one who is hurrying, as with (Exod. 34:8), "Moses hastened to bow low to the ground in homage." (5) HE BOWED LOW TO THE GROUND. Because their appearance was frightening, as it says (Jud. 13:6), "he looked like an angel of God, very frightening," and he thought them messengers of some king.

DO NOT GO ON PAST. You, the head of the delegation, don't hurry past, as is the practice of every emissary, who hurries to bring back word to the one who sent him.

DO THAT. And do not delay us further, and thus he ran and said "Quick" (v.6).

(1) I WILL RETURN TO YOU. On the occasion of every circumcision from time to time. (2) WHICH WAS BEHIND HIM. The entrance where Sarah was, listening, was behind the angel, who was speaking. Thus, he did not address her, as Elisha had done (II Kings 4:15-16).

SARAH LAUGHED. Because she thought that what the angel said was only the blessing of a prophet, as with Elisha, and not a prophecy and a mission of God, may He be blessed. And she thought that this could not be achieved with old people through the blessing of any prophet, for indeed restoring youth after old age is like revival of the dead, which cannot occur without the command of God specifically or without a prayer obtaining grace from Him.

(1) BECAUSE SHE WAS AFRAID. To say, "I sinned," but she did repent mentally. (2) HE SAID "NO." Because he knew that (Num. 23:19) "God is not human to be capricious," and he did not believe her at all.