1 Now the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, 3 and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by. 4 “Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; 5 and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant.” And they said, “So do, as you have said.” Genesis 18:1–5 (NASB95)

1 God appeared to him near the oak of Mamre while he was sitting at the door of his tent during midday. 2 Upon looking up, he saw with his eyes, and look, three men had stood over him, and upon seeing them, he ran up from the doorway of his tent to meet them and he bowed down to the earth, 3 and he said, “Lord, if perhaps I have found favor before you, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let water now be taken, and wash your feet, and rest under the tree. 5 And I will take bread, and you will eat, and after this you will go on your journey, on which account you turned aside to your servant.” And he said, “Do so, just as you have said.” Genesis 18:1–5 (LES2)

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it and make bread cakes.” 7 Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it. 8 He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate. Genesis 18:6–8 (NASB95)

6 And Abraham hurried to the tent to Sarah and said to her, “Hurry and mix three measures of the finest wheaten flour and make loaves baked in the ashes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the cattle and took a tender and fair little calf, and he gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it. 8 He took butter and milk and the little calf that he prepared and set it before them, and they ate. He himself stood beside them under the tree. Genesis 18:6–8 (LES2)

9 Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” 10 He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. 12 Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” 13 And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ 14 “Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” Genesis 18:9–15 (NASB95) 

9 He said to him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” But he, replying, said, “Look, she is in the tent.” 10 He said, “When I return, I will come to you at the same time next year, and Sarah, your wife, will have a son.” Sarah heard this at the door of the tent, being behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in days. Menstruation had ceased for Sarah. 12 Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “Well, it has not yet happened to me up to now, and my lord is an old man.” 13 And the Lord said to Abraham, “Is it that Sarah laughed in herself, saying, ‘Then indeed, truly will I give birth? I have grown old.’ 14 Is the word impossible with God? I will return to you at this season, for the time, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And he said, “No, but you did laugh.” Genesis 18:9–15 (LES2)

Here we see some differences worth mentioning. Going with my opinion that the LXX is often a more literal rendering of the original Paleo-Hebrew text, it says that “menstruation had ceased” for her; whereas, the MT renders it more delicately as “Sarah was past childbearing.”

In verse 12, the MT records Sarah asking, “After I am old, shall I have pleasure…?” The LXX differs by her saying something more natural and, to me, believable – “Well, it has not yet happened to me up to now…” 

In verse 14, the MT has the Lord asking, “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” which is a memorable saying for sure. The LXX records, “Is the word (Greek: rhema) impossible for God?” This is less poetic but is perhaps more authentic.

The rest of the passage agrees.

5 For the Lord GOD of hosts has a day of panic, subjugation and confusion In the valley of vision, A breaking down of walls And a crying to the mountain. Isaiah 22:5 (NASB95)

5 Because it is a day of trouble and destruction and trampling and misleading from the Lord Sabaoth in the valley of Zion. From small to great, they wander; they wander on the mountains. Isaiah 22:5 (LES2)

8 And He removed the defense of Judah. In that day you depended on the weapons of the house of the forest, 9 And you saw that the breaches In the wall of the city of David were many; And you collected the waters of the lower pool. 10 Then you counted the houses of Jerusalem And tore down houses to fortify the wall. 11 And you made a reservoir between the two walls For the waters of the old pool. But you did not depend on Him who made it, Nor did you take into consideration Him who planned it long ago. Isaiah 22:8–11 (NASB95)

8 And they will uncover the gates of Judah and on that day look into the choicest houses of the city. 9 And they will uncover the secrets of the houses of the citadel of David. And they saw that they were many, and that he turned back the water of the old reservoir into the city, 10 and that they tore down the houses of Jerusalem for a stronghold wall for the city. 11 And you made for yourselves water between the two walls, farther in than the old reservoir. And you did not look to the one who made it from the beginning or see the one who created it. Isaiah 22:8–11 (LES2)

12 Therefore in that day the Lord GOD of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing, To shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth. 13 Instead, there is gaiety and gladness, Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, Eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.” 14 But the LORD of hosts revealed Himself to me, “Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you Until you die,” says the Lord GOD of hosts. Isaiah 22:12–14 (NASB95)

12 And on that day the Lord, the Lord Sabaoth, called for weeping and lamentation and shaving and girding sackcloth. 13 But they acted with cheer and rejoicing, slaughtering calves and sacrificing sheep in order to eat meat and drink wine: “Let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” 14 And these things are revealed in the ears of the Lord Sabaoth, because this sin will not be forgiven you until you die. Isaiah 22:12–14 (LES2)

15 Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, “Come, go to this steward, To Shebna, who is in charge of the royal household, 16 ‘What right do you have here, And whom do you have here, That you have hewn a tomb for yourself here, You who hew a tomb on the height, You who carve a resting place for yourself in the rock? 17 ‘Behold, the LORD is about to hurl you headlong, O man. And He is about to grasp you firmly 18 And roll you tightly like a ball, To be cast into a vast country; There you will die And there your splendid chariots will be, You shame of your master’s house.’ 19 “I will depose you from your office, And I will pull you down from your station. Isaiah 22:15–19 (NASB95) 

15 This is what the Lord Sabaoth says: “Go into the priest’s chamber, to Shebna the treasurer, and say to him, 16 “Why are you here? And what is your business here, that you cut out here a tomb for yourself, and you made yourself a tomb at a high point, and you inscribed a tent for yourself on the rock?” 17 Look now, the Lord Sabaoth casts out and will rub out a man, and he will take away your robe and your esteemed crown, 18 and he will throw you into a great and immeasurable territory, and there you will die. And he will turn your fine chariot into dishonor; also your leader’s house. 19 And you will be removed from your stewardship and from your position. Isaiah 22:15–19 (LES2)

Here is where some more differences emerge. In verse 15, the MT says to go “to this steward, to Shebna,” but the LXX says “Go into the priest’s chamber, to Shebna.”

In verse 17, the MT omits that God says “he will take away your robe and your esteemed crown.”

20 “Then it will come about in that day, That I will summon My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, 21 And I will clothe him with your tunic And tie your sash securely about him. I will entrust him with your authority, And he will become a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22 “Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open. 23 “I will drive him like a peg in a firm place, And he will become a throne of glory to his father’s house. Isaiah 22:20–23 (NASB95)

20 And this will happen on that day: I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, 21 and I will clothe him with your robe, and I will give him your crown according to power, and your stewardship I will give into his hands, and he will be like a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to those who live in Judah. 22 And I will give the glory of David to him, and he will rule, and there will be no one who opposes him. And he will shut, and there will be no one to open. 23 And I will set him up as leader in a secure place, and he will become a throne of the glory of his father’s house. Isaiah 22:20–23 (LES2)

The MT says Eliakim will be given Shebna’s sash, but the LXX says it will be his crown. 

In verse 22, the MT says that God will set the “key of the house of David on his shoulder.” The LXX says “the glory of David will be given to him and there will be no one who opposes him.” The MT continues its key theme by saying instead “when he opens no one will shut.” Both agree that when he shuts, no one will open. Verse 23 concludes that he will become a throne of glory in his father’s house. 

Could this be anything other than a prophecy about Jesus the Messiah? It sounds very much like a passage in Revelation.

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: Revelation 3:7 (NASB95)

Interestingly, the Revelation verse agrees more closely with the MT.

24 “So they will hang on him all the glory of his father’s house, offspring and issue, all the least of vessels, from bowls to all the jars. 25 “In that day,” declares the LORD of hosts, “the peg driven in a firm place will give way; it will even break off and fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut off, for the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 22:24–25 (NASB95)

24 And every esteemed person in his father’s house, from small to great, will trust him, and they will be dependent on him 25 on that day. This is what the Lord Sabaoth says: “The person who has been firmly set in a secure place will be removed and will be taken away and fall, and the glory that was upon him will be utterly destroyed, for the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 22:24–25 (LES2)

The LXX says that all will “trust him,” just as those who believe in Jesus. The LXX continues that “they will be dependent on him on that day.” This again sounds like Jesus the believers’ relationship with Jesus. Verse 24 in the MT is rather unintelligible. 

Those who resisted the Lord will be removed, deposed, and fall, even as happened to Israel after their rejection of the Messiah, as prophesied by our Lord. (Matthew 21:43)

1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. 4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight. Genesis 16:1–4 (NASB95)

1 Sarai, the wife of Abram, had not borne children for him. She had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram, “Look, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in, therefore, to my maid, so you may have children from her.” Abram listened to her voice. 3 And Sarai, the wife of Abram, took Hagar, the Egyptian, her maid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. She gave her to Abram, her husband, as a wife for him. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived, and she saw that she was pregnant, and her mistress was dishonored before her. Genesis 16:1–4 (LES2)

5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me.” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence. Genesis 16:5–6 (NASB95)

5 Sarai said to Abram, “I am being wronged by you. I have given my maid into your bosom, but when she saw that she was pregnant, I was dishonored before her. May God judge between me and you.” 6 Abram said to Sarai, “Look, your maid is before you; you may use her however is pleasing to you.” And Sarai mistreated her, and she fled from her presence. Genesis 16:5–6 (LES2)

7 Now the angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” 9 Then the angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.” 10 Moreover, the angel of the LORD said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” 11 The angel of the LORD said to her further, “Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has given heed to your affliction. 12 “He will be a wild donkey of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone’s hand will be against him; And he will live to the east of all his brothers.” Genesis 16:7–12 (NASB95) 

7 And an angel of the Lord God found her at the spring of water in the wilderness, at the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Hagar, maid of Sarai, where are you coming from, and where are you going?” And she said, “I am escaping from the presence of Sarai, my mistress.” 9 And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and humble yourself under her hands.” 10 And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Increasing, I will increase your offspring, and it will not be countable because of the great number.” 11 And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Look, you are pregnant, and you will bear a son and call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has noticed your humiliation. 12 He will be a rustic person. His hands will be against all, and the hands of all will be against him, and he will dwell in opposition to all his brothers.” Genesis 16:7–12 (LES2)

Here we see some  differences beginning in verse 9. The MT has the angel instructing Hagar to “submit yourself to her (Sarai’s) authority.” The LXX says, “humble yourself under her hands.” It takes humility to willingly submit to authority, but it can be done without humility, too. 

In verse 11, the MT says that God has “given heed to your affliction,” meaning pain, misery, or frustration. The LXX says that God “has noticed your humiliation” or lowliness. A humble heart is of great value to the Lord.

Ishmael’s name means “God hears.”

In verse 12, the MT says Ishmael will be “a wild donkey of a man.” The LXX says that he will be a “rustic person,” which means rough or rude. 

The MT says he will “live to the east” of his brothers, but the LXX says he will dwell literally facing them.

13 Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees”; for she said, “Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him. Genesis 16:13–16 (NASB95) 

13 And Hagar called the name of the Lord who was speaking to her, “You are the God who watches over me”; because she said, “Because I even saw in person the one who appeared to me.” 14 On this account she called the well “Well where I saw in person.” Look, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 And Hagar brought forth a son for Abram, and Abram called the name of his son whom Hagar brought forth for him Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael for Abram. Genesis 16:13–16 (LES2)

The MT says God “sees,” but the LXX says he “watches over.” The question Hagar asks in verse 13 in the MT seems out of place with the name of God. The question in the LXX makes perfect sense. 

The LXX translates the meaning of the Hebrew name of the well for the sake of non-Hebrew speaking readers. 

The rest of the passage agrees. 

5 A throne will even be established in lovingkindness, And a judge will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of David; Moreover, he will seek justice And be prompt in righteousness. Isaiah 16:5 (NASB95)

5 And a throne will be restored with mercy, and he will sit on it with truth in David’s tent, judging and seeking a judgment and eagerly pursuing righteousness. Isaiah 16:5 (LES2)

The Greek word translated “restored” literally means to “be set right,” as a bone would be set. This obviously points to Christ in both the MT and LXX. 

The restoration of David’s tent is something understood by the early church to mean the New Covenant inclusion of Gentiles as part of God’s people, the church. James quoted the prophet Amos in Acts. This passage agrees with Isaiah’s words and provides a deeper understanding how the church interpreted them.

13 After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me. 14 “Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. 15 “With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, 16 ‘AFTER THESE THINGS I will return, AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT, 17 SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,’ 18 SAYS THE LORD, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO. Acts 15:13–18 (NASB95) 

It also hearkens back to a previous passage in Isaiah.

6 Because a child was born to us; a son was given to us whose leadership came upon his shoulder; and his name is called “Messenger of the Great Council,” for I will bring peace upon the rulers and health to him. 7 His leadership is great, and there is no boundary to his peace on the throne of David and his kingdom, to establish and take hold of it by justice and by righteousness, from now to eternity. The eagerness of the Lord Sabaoth will do these things. Isaiah 9:6–7 (LES2)