Later, the Lord again appeared to Abraham. Abraham was living near the oak trees of Mamre. One day, at the hottest part of the day, Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent.
So Abram moved his tents. He went to live near Mamre’s big trees. This was near the city of Hebron. At that place Abram built an altar [78] for worshiping the Lord.
One of the men that was not captured went to Abram the Hebrew and told him what happened. Abram was camped near the trees of Mamre the Amorite. Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner had made an agreement to help each other. [83] And they had also signed an agreement to help Abram.
After all these things happened, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. [84] God said, “Abram, don’t be afraid. I will defend you. And I will give you a great reward.”
Then Moses said to God, “But the people of Israel will not believe me when I tell them that you sent me. They will say, ‘The Lord [30] did not appear to you.’”
Stephen answered, “My Jewish fathers and brothers, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to Abraham, our ancestor. Abraham was in Mesopotamia. This was before he lived in Haran.
Abraham lived in that country that God promised to give him. Abraham lived there like a visitor who did not belong. Abraham did this because he had faith. Abraham lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob. Isaac and Jacob also received that same promise from God.
When Joshua was near Jericho he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him. The man had a sword in his hand. Joshua went to the man and asked, “Are you a friend to our people, or are you one of our enemies?”