But I will fetch a little water, and wash ye your feet, and rest ye under the tree.

Let a little water, I pray you, be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

let, I pray thee, a little water be accepted, and wash your feet, and recline under the tree;

Let me get water for washing your feet, and take your rest under the tree:

Let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and recline yourselves under the tree.

But I will bring a little water, and you may wash your feet and rest under the tree.

Tollatur nunc parum aquae, et lavate pedes vestros, et considite sub arbore.

Let a little water - be fetched, and wash your feet, etc. - In these verses we find a delightful picture of primitive hospitality. In those ancient times shoes such as ours were not in use; and the foot was protected only by sandals or soles, which fastened round the foot with straps. It was therefore a great refreshment in so hot a country to get the feet washed at the end of a day's journey; and this is the first thing that Abraham proposes.
Rest yourselves under the tree - We have already heard of the oak grove of Mamre, Genesis 12:6, and this was the second requisite for the refreshment of a weary traveler, viz., rest in the shade.

Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and (c) wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
(c) For men used to go bare footed in those parts because of the heat.

Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet,.... Which was very refreshing to travellers in hot countries, who walked barefoot or in sandals; and this he proposes to be done by one of his servants, whose business it was, only desires they would give him leave to order it, 1-Samuel 25:41; and so it was usual in other countries, and in later times, for servants to fetch water to wash the hands and feet of guests (l):
and rest yourselves under the tree; before the tent door, under which doubtless were seats to sit down upon, where they might rest their weary limbs; it is very probable this was an oak tree, and which, and a turpentine tree the ancient writers speak of, continued unto the times of Constantine; see Gill on Genesis 13:18; and the Jewish writers say (m), that now near the city (Hebron), between the vineyards, are the oaks of Mamre, where is the house of Abraham our father, on whom be peace, and the tree under which the angels ate, and the stone on which he (Abraham) sat when he was circumcised.
(l) "----- dant manibus famuli lymphas." --Virgil. Aeneid. l. 1. (m) Cippi Hebr. p. 9. Ed. Hottinger.