Now YHWH was seen by him by the oaks of Mamre as he was sitting at the entrance to his tent at the heat of the day.
He lifted up his eyes and saw: here, three men standing over against him.
When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the entrance to his tent and bowed to the earth and said:
My lords, pray if I have found favor in your eyes, pray do not pass by your servant!
Pray let a little water be fetched, then wash your feet and recline under the tree; let me fetch (you) a bit a bread, that you may refresh your hearts, then afterwards you may pass on—for you have, after all, passed your servant’s way!
They said:
Do thus, as you have spoken.
Avraham hastened into his tent to Sara and said:
Make haste! Three measures of choice flour! Knead it, make bread-cakes!
Avraham ran to the oxen, he fetched a young ox, tender and fine, and gave it to a serving-lad, that he might hasten to make it ready; then he fetched cream and milk and the young ox that he had made ready, and placed it before them.
Now he stood over against them under the tree while they ate.
They said to him:
Where is Sara your wife?
He said:
Here in the tent.
Now he said:
I will return, yes, return to you when time revives, and Sara your wife will have a son!
Now Sara was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.
And Avraham and Sara were old, advanced in days, the way of women had ceased for Sara.
Sara laughed within herself, saying: After I became worn, is there to be pleasure for me? And my lord is old!
But YHWH said to Avraham: Now why does Sara laugh and say: Shall I really give birth, now that I am old?
Is anything beyond YHWH?
At that set-time I will return to you, when time revives, and Sara will have a son.
Sara pretended (otherwise), saying
No, I did not laugh.
For she was afraid.
But he said:
No, indeed you laughed.
—Genesis 18:1–15