Who were the three MYSTERIOUS
strangers that visited Abraham?

Q. In Genesis 18, did Abraham know the three strangers that came to his tent or was he just being hospitable based on custom?

A. Let's take a look at the scriptures discussing the meeting in question.

"Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, "My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant." They said, "Do as you have said."

"So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes." And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate." (Genesis 18:1-8, NKJV throughout)

My off-the-cuff response would be that Abraham was being hospitable based on custom ---- but he may have also known one of them personally. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, page 24, has this comment for Genesis 18:2 :

"Abraham proved extraordinarily hospitable. He did everything for his guests that Oriental hospitality could suggest. His manner was all that could be asked."

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary by Zondervan, page 28, has this to say about verse 2 --

"he ran to meet them . . .When the visitor is an ordinary person, the host merely rises; but if of superior rank, the custom is to advance a little towards the stranger, and after a very low bow, turn and lead him to the tent, putting an arm round his waist, or tapping him on the shoulder as they go, to assure him of welcome."

In Genesis 18:1, the word "Lord" is Strong's Concordance #3068 Yehovah, generally pronounced as Jehovah. (Other pronunciations include Yahweh and Yahveh. The name is so sacred that orthodox Jews will not even attempt to pronounce it. Instead they usually use the term "Hashem" or "Adonai".)

We know from previous scriptures such as Genesis 12:1, 15:1, and 17:1 that Abraham had seen the "Lord" appearing to him as Yehovah. In John 8:53, in a dialogue between Jesus and the Jews, Jesus is asked the question,

"Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do you make yourself out to be?"

We note Christ's response to this question in verses 56-58:

"' . . . Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.' Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"

"Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.' " (John 8:56-58).

This indicates a high probability that JESUS was the Yehovah whom Abraham saw that day on the plains of Mamre in the heat of the day. In Genesis 18:3, the word "Lord" is the same word as in verse 1, but is plural, which would seem to indicate that Abraham could not determine that they were heavenly beings --- for they appeared as men. It wasn't until after the three had eaten, verses 9-15, that Abraham realized the true identity of his visitors and their purpose.

The account recorded in Genesis 18 testifies to the very high esteem that Abraham held in the eyes of God. That is why he is called "Abraham My friend" in Isaiah 41:8; why he is called God's "friend forever" in 2Chronicles 20:7; why in James 2:23 it states, " . . . he was called the friend of God". And, as an added twist, Abraham had been circumcised just THREE DAYS before meeting the three visitors!!