The Lord appeared again unto Abraham and promised him that his seed
should become as numerous as the stars of the heavens. Abraham was old,
and Sarah was old, and they had no children; but Abraham believed the
Lord’s promise, and He reckoned it to him for righteousness.
Abraham sat in the door of his tent in the heat of the day. As he lifted
up his eyes, lo, three men stood over against him. Abraham ran to meet
them, bowed himself to the earth and said: My lord, pass not by thy
servant: let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest
yourselves under the tree and let me fetch a morsel of bread to
strengthen you; after that you shall pass on. And they said: So do, as
thou hast said. And Abraham ran unto the herd and had a good calf
dressed and prepared, and Sarah took fine meal and baked cakes. And he
took butter and milk and set before the men, and he stood by them under
the tree, while they did eat. Then one of them said: Where is Sarah your
wife? Abraham answered: She is in the tent. Then said he: In a year I
will return, and Sarah shall then have a son. Sarah heard this in the
tent and laughed; for she thought she was too old to have children. But
the one who was the Lord said: Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?
(Gen. 15:5, 6; 18:1-14.)