It is very comfortable
to think of Sodom as a city of thugs and perverts. After all, was that not the reason why YHVH decided to destroy it?
However, when we
take a closer look at the Torah's presentation of these events, we see that Sodom was also a city with culture, and boasted
a society not very different from our own.
Let's see why YHVH
consultated with Abraham before destroying Sodom and how Abraham, as YHVH's 'chosen vessel', prayed to save her from certain
destruction.
TWO STORIES CONNECTED
1)The
news that Sarah will give birth to Isaac;
2)The story of Lot's
rescue from Sodom. The most obvious connection are the angels who were involved
in both stories. The same 'angel' who told Abraham about the birth of Isaac continued on to destroy Sodom. The question is:
why was it necessary for the same angels who were to destroy Sodom to first stop and inform Abraham of Isaac's birth?
Considering that each angel was assigned only one mission, why must all three travel together? Why did YHVH consult with Abraham before destroying Sodom, and how did it relate to Isaac?
"And
YHVH said: Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham is to become a great nation, and through him all
other nations will be blessed? For I have singled him out in order that
he will instruct his children and
their family afterward to keep the way of YHVH by doing what is just and right... in order that I shall bring upon Abraham
all that I have spoken about him." (Gen 18:17-19)
First of all, remember
YHVH's explicit reason for choosing Abraham (Gen 12:1-3) "I will make you a great nation. Through you all the nations of the earth will be blessed." After stating why
He chose Abraham (in vs 18) YHVH explained how this will happen, by Abraham teaching
his children and those children their children, etc. to do 'justice and judgement'. (in vs 19) Abraham was expected to initiate a family tradition to create a nation
that will be characterized by a "just and right" society - thus serving as YHVH's model nation. This pointed to the
lack of "holiness and justice" in Sodom.
Preventing Future
'Sodoms'
When YHVH's master plan for the nation of Abraham materializes, societies
such as Sodom could be saved, for there will be a 'model nation' from whom they can learn from. However, at that time, Sodom
was a 'lost cause' for it lacked a minimal number of "tzadikim - righteous" who could possibly influence the rest of the city.
This concept is reflected
in Abraham's petition that YHVH spare the doomed city. Abraham did not ask that YHVH simply save the "righteous" in Sodom. He asked
that the entire city be saved for
the sake of those "tzadikim"! (Gen 18:26) Why? Because hopefully those "righteous" will lead all the people in
Sodom towards repentence just as the nation of Abraham was destined to lead all mankind toward YHVH. But with less than ten,
there was little chance that such a small number could exert enough influence to bring change.
It was YHVH's hope
that Abraham's nation, by setting the proper example, will prevent the future emergence of similarly corrupt populations.
As Isaac was the son through whom this tradition will be transmitted, it was meaningful that the same angels assigned to destroy
Sodom must first 'plant the seeds' for the prevention of future 'Sodoms'.
Abraham tried
to save Sodom despite knowing the inevitable. His prayer/petition was his 'calling', the very purpose for which he was
selected. To be an example to his son Isaac and to all future generations (us included).
Abraham vs. Sodom
In the book of Genesis, Sodom represents the oposite of everything
for which Abraham stands. Lot's decision to leave Abraham and move to Sodom (Gen 13:1-18) reflected his preference not
to be dependent on YHVH and to distance himself from his uncle. "The men of Sodom were very wicked to YHVH" (Gen 13:13)
In contrast, Abraham
expressed his opposition to anything associated with Sodom, prefering to completely separate himself from anything originating
from that city. When rescuing Lot from the 'four kings' (Gen 14) Abraham refused to keep any property belonging to Sodom recovered
in that victory, although he rightfully deserved his 'fair share' of the spoils from the battle which he himself fought and
won.
"Abram
said to the King of Sodom: I swear to YHVH, ELOHIM Most High, Creator of heaven and earth: I will not take so much as a thread
or a shoe strap of what is yours, so you can not say it is I who made Abram rich."
(Gen 14:22-23)
These two events
- Lot's settlement in Sodom and Abraham's refusal to take a single item from there - as well as YHVH's statement concerning
Abraham's mission to teach "justice and righteousness" before destroying Sodom (Gen 18:19) all indicated that Sodom was a
society void of "justice and holiness"
No Guests Allowed!
Although "law" may be found in Sodom, "holiness" is most definitely
absent. "...they (his two guests)
had not lain down yet when the townspeople, the men of Sodom, gathered outside his house - from young to old - all the
people until the edge (of the city). And they protested (outside his house) and shouted: 'Where are those men who came to visit you this evening? Take them out of your house so we can know them."
(Gen
19:4-5)
The entire city joined in a protest demonstration againt 'hospitality' - taking in strange visitors! .
There was a strict
law in Sodom: no guests allowed!
Sodom
may have 'laws' but they were warped.
Justice And Judgement vs. Sodom
This explains why throughout the 'Prophets' Sodom is associated
with the absence of "justice and right judgement." Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel foresaw and forewarned the destruction of
Israel, by comparing the corrupt society in Israel to that of Sodom, and saw therein the reason for their own coming destruction.
"...Your
younger sister was Sodom...Did you not walk in her ways and practice her abominations? Why, you are more corrupt than they in all your ways... This was the sin of your sister
Sodom - she had plenty of bread and untroubled tranquillity, yet she did not support the poor
and the needy. In her haughtiness, they sinned before Me, so I removed them, as you saw..." (Eze 16:46-50) In
Jeremiah, the connection between the lack of justice and Sodom is even more explicit.
"Listen
to the word of YHVH - you who are like officers of Sodom, pay attention to the
teachings of our ELOHIM - you who are like the people of Gomorah. Why should I
accept your many offerings... Instead, learn to do good, devote yourself to justice, aid the wronged, uphold the rights of
the orphan, defend the cause of the widow...How has the faithful city, once filled with justice
and righteousness, now become a city of murderers..."
(Isa 1:10-24)
"Zion will be redeemed with judgement, and her converts with righteousness"
(Isa 1:27)
"YHVH had hoped to find justice, and found injustice,
to find righteousness and
instead found iniquity."
(Isa 5:7)
Perhaps the strongest
statement of this theme is found in the book of Jeremiah. In his powerful charge to the House of David, whose lineage stems
not only from Judah but also from Ruth the Moabite, a descendant of Lot, Jeremiah gives the precise expectation of the
Jewish king:
"Hear
the word of YHVH, King of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David... execute judgement
and righteousness... do not wrong a stranger, an orphan, and the widow..." (Jer 22 2-5)
Later, when Jeremiah
contrasts the corrupt king Jehoiakim with his righteous father Josiah, he admonishes:
"...
your father performed justice, and that made him content. He upheld the rights
of the poor and needy - is this not what it means to know Me, YHVH has said!
But you (Jehoiakim) - on your mind is only your ill-gotten gains..." (Jer 22: 13-17)
Finally, when Jeremiah
speaks of the ideal king who will bring the redemption, he emphasizes the very
same theme:
"A
time is coming - YHVH declares - when I will raise up a true branch of David's
line. He shall reign as king and prosper, and he will perform judgement and justice in the land. In his days, Judah shall be delivered and Israel shall dwell
secure..." (Jer 23:5-6)
The reason YHVH
chose the Kingdom of David was the same reason He chose Abraham. YHVH's designation of Abraham came not in reward for his exemplary behavior, but rather for a specific purpose:
to establish a model nation - characterized by justice and righteousness, that will bring all mankind closer to HIM. For this
very same reason, YHVH chose a 'royal family' to rule this nation - the House of David. They too were chosen in order to teach the nation the ways of holiness. Even without proper leadership, this charge remained Israel's
eternal goal, and the responsibility of every individual.
Jer 9:23-24 says:
"Thus says YHVH:
Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom;
Let not the strong man glory in
his strength;
Let not the rich man glory in his riches.
But only in this should one glory:
Let him be wise to know Me, for I YHVH act in the land with kindness, judgement , and righteousness - for it is this that I desire, says
YHVH."
Once again we
see that knowing YHVH means walking in His ways, living in holiness. Should everyone act in this manner, this goal will be accomplished.
'KNOWING HIM' - The Key Word
It is not by chance
that Jeremiah used the words 'know Me' in the context of following a lifestyle
of holiness.
"And they said to him: Go away - you have just recently come to dwell in
our city and now you judge us! Now we will deal with you worse than with
them..." (Gen 19:9)
What did Lot say
that prompted such a severe reaction? If he simply offered his daughters, why couldn't they just say: No, we prefer
the men. Instead, they threaten to be more evil with Lot than with his guests. Did this mean that they want to 'sleep'
with Lot as well?
One could suggest
that when Lot pleads: "My brothers, don't do such evil to my guests, here are my two daughters..."
(vs 6) he was not seriously offering his daughters at all. Rather, he made mention of them as part of a vehement condemnation
of the people. In a sarcastic manner, Lot was telling the crowd that he'd rather give over his daughters than his guests!
He had no intention whatsoever of giving them over to a mass mob. (how could two women 'appease' such a large crowd) He
was simply rebuking them, emphasizing how important it was that they should allow him to keep guests. It's as if he was saying,
"I'd sooner give you my daughters than my two guests". Lot did not bring his daughters
with him when he made his so-called 'offer.' In fact, he actually closed the door behind him (vs 6) when he went
to negotiate with the rioters. Had Lot really wanted to 'appease' them with his daughters, he would have taken them outside
with him! This was why the crowd becomes so angered by Lot's remarks. They were angry at his harsh rebuke of their 'no
guest' policy. They neither accepted nor rejected Lot's proposal. Instead they expressed their anger with Lot's rebuke:
"One
has just come to live by us and now he is judging us; now we will deal more harshly
with you than we planned to deal with them."
(Gen 19:8)
They seemed to be
saying: Hey, you're just a newcomer here in our town, and you already think you
can tell us what to do!? No way - we're gonna kick you out of town, together with your guests! Before we only wanted to expel
your guests from town, now we are going to expel you and your family as well!
What do people mean
by "you are judging us"? Apparently, there was something in Lot's statement that
suggested judgement; but is it only his request that they 'not be so mean' to his guests? (vs 7)
They possibly considered
Lot's sarcastic offer of his daughters instead of his guests as a moral judgment
of their 'no-guest' policy; a reprehension of their unethical social system. They
were angery because Lot had 'judged' their character. No one likes being told what to do, especially by 'newcomers', hence
their anger and threat toward Lot's remarks.