(א) וַיֵּרָ֤א אֵלָיו֙ יהוה בְּאֵלֹנֵ֖י מַמְרֵ֑א וְה֛וּא יֹשֵׁ֥ב פֶּֽתַח־הָאֹ֖הֶל כְּחֹ֥ם הַיּֽוֹם׃(ב) וַיִּשָּׂ֤א עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא וְהִנֵּה֙ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה אֲנָשִׁ֔ים נִצָּבִ֖ים עָלָ֑יו וַיַּ֗רְא וַיָּ֤רׇץ לִקְרָאתָם֙ מִפֶּ֣תַח הָאֹ֔הֶל וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ אָֽרְצָה׃(ג) וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אדני אִם־נָ֨א מָצָ֤אתִי חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ אַל־נָ֥א תַעֲבֹ֖ר מֵעַ֥ל עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃(ד) יֻקַּֽח־נָ֣א מְעַט־מַ֔יִם וְרַחֲצ֖וּ רַגְלֵיכֶ֑ם וְהִֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּ תַּ֥חַת הָעֵֽץ׃(ה) וְאֶקְחָ֨ה פַת־לֶ֜חֶם וְסַעֲד֤וּ לִבְּכֶם֙ אַחַ֣ר תַּעֲבֹ֔רוּ כִּֽי־עַל־כֵּ֥ן עֲבַרְתֶּ֖ם עַֽל־עַבְדְּכֶ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כֵּ֥ן תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃(ו) וַיְמַהֵ֧ר אַבְרָהָ֛ם הָאֹ֖הֱלָה אֶל־שָׂרָ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מַהֲרִ֞י שְׁלֹ֤שׁ סְאִים֙ קֶ֣מַח סֹ֔לֶת ל֖וּשִׁי וַעֲשִׂ֥י עֻגֽוֹת׃(ז) וְאֶל־הַבָּקָ֖ר רָ֣ץ אַבְרָהָ֑ם וַיִּקַּ֨ח בֶּן־בָּקָ֜ר רַ֤ךְ וָטוֹב֙ וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אֶל־הַנַּ֔עַר וַיְמַהֵ֖ר לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת אֹתֽוֹ׃(ח) וַיִּקַּ֨ח חֶמְאָ֜ה וְחָלָ֗ב וּבֶן־הַבָּקָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וַיִּתֵּ֖ן לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם וְהֽוּא־עֹמֵ֧ד עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם תַּ֥חַת הָעֵ֖ץ וַיֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃
(1) יהוה appeared*appeared Or “initiated communication (with); made contact (with)”—without indicating a visual experience—as in 12.7; 17.1; 26.2, 24; 35.9–10; 48.3–4; and seven passages elsewhere in the Bible. to him by the terebinths of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot.(2) Looking up, he saw three figures*figures Lit. “participants whose involvement defines the depicted situation.” Or “agents [of the divine],” as the notice of the advent of divine communication in v. 1 (see previous note) implies an agency situation that casts these participants in their defining role as agents. Trad. “men.” Cf. Rashbam, Ramban; see further the Dictionary under ’ish; Agent. standing near him. Perceiving this, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them and, bowing to the ground,(3) he said, “My lords!*My lords Or “My lord,” referring either to the delegation’s apparent leader or to God. If it please you, do not go on past your servant.(4) Let a little water be brought; bathe your feet and recline under the tree.(5) And let me fetch a morsel of bread that you may refresh yourselves; then go on—seeing that you have come your servant’s way.” They replied, “Do as you have said.”(6) Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quick, three seahs of choice flour! Knead and make cakes!”(7) Then Abraham ran to the herd, took a calf, tender and choice, and gave it to a servant-boy, who hastened to prepare it.(8) He took curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared and set these before them; and he waited on them under the tree as they ate.
וירא אליו. לְבַקֵּר אֶת הַחוֹלֶה. אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר חֲנִינָא, יוֹם שְׁלִישִׁי לְמִילָתוֹ הָיָה, וּבָא הַקָּבָּ"ה וְשָׁאַל בִּשְׁלוֹמוֹ (בבא מציעא פ"ו):
וירא אליו AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM to visit the sick man. R. Hama the son of Hanina said: it was the third day after his circumcision and the Holy One, blessed be He, came and enquired after the state of his health (Bava Metzia 86b)
Radak
It is possible that this entire episode, through the end of the chapter when Avraham returns to his place, actually describes a prophetic vision. The whole dialogue reflects a single prophecy. The opening verse therefore informs us that Avraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent when this communication was conveyed to him.
Rashbam
How did the Lord appear to Avraham? By sending three men - who were really angels - to see him.
Ramban
The appearance of the Divine Presence was granted to Avraham as a way of honoring the patriarch. This is similar to a later incident, as we read, "Moshe and Aharon entered the Tent of Meeting; when they came out, they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord was revealed to all the people" (Lev. 9:23). As a reward for Israel's diligence in constructing the Tabernacle, they were given a glimpse at God's presence. Now in neither Avraham's nor Israel's case was the exposure to God meant as a an opportunity to issue some commandment or even to impart any sort of message. Rather, these revelations merely represented a reward to the individuals at having fulfilled a previous instruction. The people involved thereby understood that God was pleased with their efforts.