From the early Church Fathers to now.
2 Jewish · 2 Reformed · 1 Methodist
“Abram fell flat on his face.”
“ויפל אברם על פניו AND ABRAM FELL UPON HIS FACE through fear of the Shechinah, because before he was circumcised he did not have the strength to stand on his feet whilst the Holy Spirit stood over him; and it is to this that what is stated in the case of the heathen Balaam refers, (Numbers 24:4) “fallen down, yet with open eyes”. This is to be found in Baraitha of R. Eliezer (Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 29).”
“AND ABRAM FELL ON HIS FACE. The purpose of this expression was to direct his mind towards the prophecy. When the prophecy concerning the commandment of circumcision was completed, Abraham rose and stood. When the word from heaven came to him a second time, saying to him, As for Sarai thy wife, etc., he once again fell on his face to direct his mind towards the prophecy, and he also prayed concerning Ishmael. in line with the verses: And they fell upon their faces, and said, O G-d, the G-d of the spirits, etc.; That I may consume them in a moment. And they fell upon their faces., Verses 21-22.”
“And Abram fell on his face,.... At the sight of so glorious a Person that appeared to him, and in reverence of his majesty, and as sensible of his unworthiness of such a visit, and of having such favours bestowed upon him; and not because he was not as yet circumcised, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it; and so other Jewish (f) writers observe, that before he was circumcised he fell, when God spoke to him, but afterwards he sat and stood, Gen 18:1; but it may be observed, that not only uncircumcised persons, as Balaam, Num 22:31, in whom Jarchi instances, but circumcised ones, as Ezekiel, Eze 1:28, Joshua, Jos 5:14, and others, have fallen on their faces at a divine appearance: and God talked with him; after he was raised up, and was strengthened and encouraged to stand up before God, and hear what he had to say to him; for after this we read of his falling on his face again, Gen 17:17; which shows that he had been erect, after he first fell on his face: saying; as follows. (f) Jarchi in loc. Pirke Eliezer, ut supra. (c. 29.)”
“And Abram fell on his face - The eastern method of prostration was thus: the person first went down on his knees, and then lowered his head to his knees, and touched the earth with his forehead. A very painful posture, but significative of great humiliation and reverence.”
“Abram fell on his face--the attitude of profoundest reverence assumed by Eastern people. It consists in the prostrate body resting on the hands and knees, with the face bent till the forehead touches the ground. It is an expression of conscious humility and profound reverence.”
The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.