The Three Visitors

18 The Lord appeared to Abraham^(A) near the great trees of Mamre^(B) while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent^(C) in the heat of the day.

¹⁵ then the young woman’s father and mother shall bring to the town elders at the gate^(A) proof that she was a virgin.

⁷ However, if a man does not want to marry his brother’s wife,^(A) she shall go to the elders at the town gate^(B) and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to carry on his brother’s name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me.”^(C)

⁴ When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate^(A) and state their case before the elders^(B) of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them.

¹¹ Then the elders and all the people at the gate^(A) said, “We are witnesses.^(B) May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah,^(C) who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah^(D) and be famous in Bethlehem.^(E)

² He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate.^(A) Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.”

³⁵ The high places,^(A) however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate^(B) of the temple of the Lord.

¹⁰ When the officials^(A) of Judah heard about these things, they went up from the royal palace to the house of the Lord and took their places at the entrance of the New Gate^(B) of the Lord’s house.