📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 25

יְרִידָה שְׁלִישִׁית שֶׁיָּרַד לִסְדֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֵרְדָה נָּא וְאֶרְאֶה״. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״דָּבָר גָּדוֹל שֶׁאֲנִי עָתִיד לַעֲשׂוֹת, אֵינִי מַגִּיד לְאַבְרָהָם אוֹהֲבִי?״ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַה' אָמַר הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִי מֵאַבְרָהָם״. רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בֶּן דּוֹסָא אוֹמֵר: נִגְלָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּשְׁלֹשָׁה מַלְאָכִים עַל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּשָּׂא אֶת עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה שְׁלֹשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים״. הִתְחִיל מְבַשֵּׂר אוֹתוֹ עַל הֵרָיוֹן שָׂרָה אִשְׁתּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שׁוֹב אָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ כָּעֵת חַיָּה״. וְאַחַר כָּךְ הִגִּיד לוֹ אֶת מַעֲשֵׂה סְדֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר ה' זַעֲקַת סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה״ וְכוּ'.

THE SIN OF SODOM THE third descent which He descended || was at Sodom, as it is said, "I will go down now and see" (Gen. 18:21). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Shall I not tell My friend Abraham an important matter which I will do in My world in the future, as it is said, "And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do?" (Gen. 18:17). Rabbi Chanina, son of Dosa, said: The Holy One, blessed be He, was revealed, and three angels (appeared) unto our father Abraham, as it is said, "And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men" (Gen. 18:2). He began to inform him about the conception of the womb by Sarah his wife, as it is said, "I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round" (Gen. 18:10). Afterwards He told (him) about the doom of Sodom, as it is said, "And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great" (Gen. 18:20).

מִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁרוֹצֶה לְדַבֵּר עִם חֲבֵרוֹ דָּבָר שֶׁהוּא לוֹ גְּנַאי, מַתְחִיל בְּדָבָר טוֹב וְגוֹמֵר בְּדָבָר רַע שֶׁאֵינוֹ לְרָצוֹן לוֹ. מִנַּיִן אָנוּ לְמֵדִין? מֵהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנִּגְלָה עַל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ. הִתְחִיל מְבַשֵּׂר אוֹתוֹ עַל הֵרָיוֹן אִשְׁתּוֹ שָׂרָה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ הִגִּיד אֶת מַעֲשֵׂה סְדוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר ה' זַעֲקַת סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה״. הִתְחִיל מְבַקֵּשׁ וּמִתְחַנֵּן לְפָנָיו: ״רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים, כְּמוֹת רָשָׁע כֵּן מוֹת צַדִּיק? הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה צַדִּיק עִם רָשָׁע?״ אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״אַבְרָהָם, בִּזְכוּת צַדִּיק אֶסְלַח לִסְדוֹם״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אִם אֶמְצָא בִסְדֹם חֲמִשִּׁים צַדִּיקִם, אֶסְלַח לָהּ עַל כָּל עֲוֹנוֹתֶיהָ״.

Hence thou mayest learn: Everyone, who wishes to tell his companion a matter which is a disgrace to him, begins with a good word and concludes with the evil matter which is unpleasant to him. Whence do we learn this? From the Holy One, blessed be He, for when He was revealed to our father Abraham, He began to announce to him (the good news) concerning the conception by Sarah his wife. Afterwards He told him about the fate of Sodom, as it is said, "And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great" (ibid.). (Abraham) began to ask for compassion before Him on behalf of Lot, the son of his brother. He spake before Him: Sovereign of all worlds ! Like the death of the wicked shall the death of the || righteous be? (As it is said), "Wilt thou consume the righteous with the wicked?" (Gen. 18:23). The Holy One, blessed be He, answered him: Abraham ! By the merit of the righteous (one) will I forgive Sodom. "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous" (Gen. 18:26), then will I forgive it all its sins.

מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ: אִם חֲמִשִּׁים בָּעוֹלָם – בְּצִדְקָתָם הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד. הִתְחִיל מְבַקֵּשׁ וּמִתְחַנֵּן לְפָנָיו עַד שֶׁבָּא לַעֲשָׂרָה. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ: עֲשָׂרָה צַדִּיקִים בַּמָּקוֹם – בְּצִדְקָתָם הַמָּקוֹם נִצּוֹל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לֹא אַשְׁחִית בַּעֲבוּר הָעֲשָׂרָה״.

Hence they said: If there be fifty righteous in the world, the world exists through their righteousness. (Abraham) arose and began to beseech (God), and made supplication before Him until he brought (the number down to) ten. Hence (the sages said): (When there are) ten people in a place, the place is delivered by their righteousness, as it is said, "And he said, I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten" (Gen. 18:32).

רַבִּי זְעִירָא אוֹמֵר: עֲשִׁירֵי שַׁלְוָה הָיוּ אַנְשֵׁי סְדוֹם מִן הָאָרֶץ הַטְּמֵאָה הַטּוֹבָה וְהַשְּׁמֵנָה שֶׁהָיוּ יוֹשְׁבִים עָלֶיהָ, שֶׁכָּל שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לָעוֹלָם הָיוּ מוֹצִיאִין מִמֶּנָּה. זָהָב הָיוּ מוֹצִיאִין מִמֶּנּוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְעַפְרוֹת זָהָב לוֹ״. כֶּסֶף הָיוּ מוֹצִיאִין מִמֶּנָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי יֵשׁ לַכֶּסֶף מוֹצָא״. אֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת הָיוּ מוֹצִיאִין מִמֶּנָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״מְקוֹם סַפִּיר אֲבָנֶיהָ״. לֶחֶם הָיוּ מוֹצִיאִין מִמֶּנָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֶרֶץ מִמֶּנָּה יֵצֵא לָחֶם״. וְלֹא בָטְחוּ בְּצֵל יוֹצְרָם אֶלָּא עַל רֹב עָשְׁרָם, וְהָעֹשֶׁר דּוֹחֶה אֶת בְּעָלָיו מִיִּרְאַת שָׁמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַבֹּטְחִים עַל חֵילָם״.

Rabbi Ẓe'era said: The men of Sodom were the wealthy men of prosperity, on account of the good and fruitful land whereon they dwelt. For every need which the world requires, they obtained therefrom. They procured gold therefrom, as it is said, "And it had dust of gold" (Job 28:6). What is the meaning (of the text), "And it had dust of gold"? At the hour when one of them wished to buy a vegetable, he would say to his servant, Go and purchase for me (for the value of) an assar. He went and bought (it), and found beneath it heaps of gold; thus it is written, "And it had dust of gold" (ibid.). They obtained silver therefrom, as it is said, "Surely there is a mine for silver" (Job 28:1). They procured precious stones and pearls thence, as it is said, || "The stones thereof are the place of sapphires" (Job 28:6). They obtained bread therefrom, as it is said, "As for the earth, out of it cometh bread" (Job 28:5). But they did not trust in the shadow of their Creator, but (they trusted) in the multitude of their wealth, for wealth thrusts aside its owners from the fear of Heaven, as it is said, "They that trust in their wealth" (Ps. 49:6).

רַבִּי נְתַנְאֵל אוֹמֵר: אַנְשֵׁי סְדֹם לֹא חָסוּ עַל כְּבוֹד קוֹנָם לִשְׁבֹּר אֹכֶל לָאוֹרֵחַ וְלַגֵּר, אֶלָּא סָבְבוּ אֶת כָּל הָאִילָנוֹת לְמַעְלָה מִפֵּרוֹתֵיהֶם כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ מְסוּרִין אֲפִלּוּ לְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״נָתִיב לֹא יְדָעוֹ עָיִט״.

Rabbi Nathaniel said: The men of Sodom had no consideration for the honour of their Owner by (not) distributing food to the wayfarer and the stranger, but they (even) fenced in all the trees on top above their fruit so that they should not be seized; (not) even by the bird of heaven, as it is said, "That path no bird of prey knoweth" (Job 28:7).

רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קָרְחָה אוֹמֵר: הֵקִימוּ עֲלֵיהֶם שׁוֹפְטִים, שׁוֹפְטֵי שֶׁקֶר, וְכָל אוֹרֵחַ וְגֵר שֶׁהָיוּ נִכְנָסִים לִסְדוֹם הָיוּ עוֹשְׁקִים אוֹתָם בְּדִינִים וְלוֹקְחִים מִמֶּנּוּ הַמָּעוֹת וּמוֹצִיאִין אוֹתָם עֲרוּמִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְאֶת הַגֵּר עָשְׁקוּ בְּלֹא מִשְׁפָּט״.

Rabbi Joshua, son of Ḳorchah, said: They appointed over themselves judges who were lying judges, and they oppressed every wayfarer and stranger who entered Sodom by their perverse judgment, and they sent them forth naked, as it is said, "They have oppressed the stranger without judgment" (Ezek. 22:29).

וְהָיוּ יוֹשְׁבִין בֶּטַח שַׁאֲנָן וְשָׁלֵו בְּלִי פַּחַד מִלְחָמָה מִכָּל סְבִיבוֹתֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בָּתֵּיהֶם שָׁלוֹם מִפָּחַד״. וְהָיוּ שְׂבֵעִים בְּכָל תְּבוּאוֹת הָאָרֶץ וְלֹא הֶחֱזִיקוּ יָדָם בְּפַת לֹא לְעָנִי וְלֹא לְאֶבְיוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הִנֵּה זֶה הָיָה עֲוֹן סְדֹם אֲחוֹתֵךְ גָּאוֹן שִׂבְעַת לֶחֶם״ וְכוּ'.

They were dwelling in security without care and at ease, without the fear of war from all their surroundings, as it is said, "Their houses are safe from fear" (Job 21:9). They were sated with all the produce of the earth, but they did not strengthen with the loaf of bread either the hand of the needy or of the poor, as it is said, "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom; pride, fulness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy" (Ezek. 16:49). ||

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: הִכְרִיזוּ בִּסְדוֹם, ״כָּל מִי שֶׁהוּא מַחֲזִיק בְּפַת לֶחֶם עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן יִשָּׂרֵף בָּאֵשׁ״. פְּלִיטַת, בִּתּוֹ שֶׁל לוֹט, הָיְתָה נְשׂוּאָה לְאֶחָד מִגְּדוֹלֵי הָעִיר, וְרָאֲתָה עָנִי אֶחָד מְדַקְדֵּק בִּרְחוֹב הָעִיר, וְעָגְמָה נַפְשָׁהּ עָלָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״עָגְמָה נַפְשִׁי לָאֶבְיוֹן״. מֶה עָשְׂתָה? בְּכָל יוֹם הָיְתָה יוֹצֵאת לִשְׁאֹב, הָיְתָה נוֹתֶנֶת בַּכַּד שֶׁלָּהּ מִכָּל מְזוֹן בֵּיתָהּ וּמַאֲכֶלֶת לְאוֹתוֹ עָנִי. אָמְרוּ אַנְשֵׁי סְדוֹם: ״הֶעָנִי הַזֶּה מֵאַיִן הוּא חַי״? וּכְשֶׁיָּדְעוּ בַּדָּבָר, הוֹצִיאוּ אוֹתָהּ לְהִשָּׂרֵף. אָמְרָה: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, עֲשֵׂה מִשְׁפָּטִי וְדִינִי מֵאַנְשֵׁי סְדוֹם״. וְעָלְתָה צַעֲקָתָהּ לִפְנֵי כִּסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד. בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״אֵרְדָה נָּא וְאֶרְאֶה אִם כְּצַעֲקַת הַנַּעֲרָה הַזֹּאת עָשׂוּ אַנְשֵׁי סְדוֹם, אֶהְפֹךְ יְסוֹדוֹתֶיהָ לְמַעְלָה וּפָנֶיהָ לְמַטָּה״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֵרְדָה נָּא וְאֶרְאֶה הַכְּצַעֲקָתָהּ הַבָּאָה אֵלַי עָשׂוּ כָּלָה״. ״הַכְּצַעֲקָתָם״ אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא ״הַכְּצַעֲקָתָהּ״.

Rabbi Jehudah said: They made a proclamation in Sodom (saying): Everyone who strengthens the hand of the poor or the needy with a loaf of bread shall be burnt by fire. Peleṭith, daughter of Lot, was wedded to one of the magnates of Sodom. She saw a certain very poor man in the street of the city, and her soul was grieved on his account, as it is said, "Was not my soul grieved for the needy?" (Job 30:25). What did she do? Every day when she went out to draw water she put in her bucket all sorts of provisions from her home, and she fed that poor man. The men of Sodom said: How does this poor man live? When they ascertained the facts, they brought her forth to be burnt with fire. She said: Sovereign of all worlds ! Maintain my right and my cause (at the hands of) the men of Sodom. And her cry ascended before the Throne of Glory. In that hour the Holy One, blessed be He, said: "I will now descend, and I will see" (Gen. 18:21) whether the men of Sodom have done according to the cry of this young woman, I will turn her foundations upwards, and the surface thereof shall be turned downwards, as it is said, "I will now descend, and I will see whether they have done altogether according to her cry, which is come unto me" (ibid.). "According to their cry" is not written here (in the text), only "According to her cry."

וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (משלי יג, כ): ״הוֹלֵךְ אֶת חֲכָמִים יֶחְכָּם״. לְמָה הוּא דוֹמֶה? לְאָדָם שֶׁהוּא נִכְנָס לְבֵית הַמֶּרְקָחִים, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא לָקַח וְלֹא נָתַן, רֵיחַ טוֹב לָקַח וְיָצָא. כָּךְ כָּל מִי שֶׁהוּא מְהַלֵּךְ עִם הַצַּדִּיקִים, לוֹקֵחַ מִדַּרְכֵיהֶם וּמִמַּעֲשֵׂיהֶם הַטּוֹבִים. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: ״וְרֹעֶה כְסִילִים יֵרוֹעַ״.

And thus the text says, "He who walketh with wise men shall be wise: but the companion of fools shall be broken" (Prov. 13:20). || "He who walketh with wise men shall be wise." To what is this like? To one who enters a perfumer's shop, although he neither takes anything nor gives anything, nevertheless he absorbs a good scent, and goes away (therewith). Likewise everyone who walks with the righteous acquires some of their good ways and deeds. Therefore it is said, "He who walketh with wise men shall be wise." "But the companion of fools shall be broken" (ibid.). To what is this comparable? To a man who enters a tannery, although he neither takes or gives anything, nevertheless he has absorbed a foul odour. Likewise he who walks with the wicked acquires some of their evil ways and deeds, that is according to what is written, "But the companion of fools shall be broken" (ibid.).

דָּבָר אַחֵר: ״הוֹלֵךְ אֶת חֲכָמִים יֶחְכָּם״ – זֶה לוֹט, שֶׁהָיָה הוֹלֵךְ עִם אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, וְלָמַד מִדְּרָכָיו וּמִמַּעֲשָׂיו הַטּוֹבִים. אָמְרוּ: מָה עָשָׂה אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם? עָשָׂה בֵּיתוֹ בֵּית קִבּוּל לְחָרָן, וְכָל מִי שֶׁהוּא נִכְנָס וְיָצָא הָיָה מְקַבְּלוֹ וּמַאֲכִילוֹ וּמַשְׁקֵהוּ, וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶם: ״אִמְרוּ, אֶחָד הוּא אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם בָּעוֹלָם״. וּכְשֶׁבָּא לוֹט, כָּךְ הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהִכְרִיזוּ בִּסְדוֹם: ״כָּל מִי שֶׁהוּא מַחֲזִיק בְּיָדוֹ בְּפַת לֶחֶם לְעָנִי וּלְאֶבְיוֹן יִשָּׂרֵף בָּאֵשׁ״, וְהָיָה מִתְיָרֵא מֵאַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר מֵעֲשׂוֹת יוֹם, וַיַּעַשׂ לַיְלָה. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיָּבֹאוּ שְׁנֵי הַמַּלְאָכִים סְדֹמָה בָּעֶרֶב, וְלוֹט יֹשֵׁב בְּשַׁעַר סְדֹם״. וְלָמָּה הָיָה יוֹשֵׁב בְּשַׁעַר סְדֹם? אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיָה מִתְיָרֵא מֵאַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר מֵעֲשׂוֹת יוֹמָם. וְרָאָה שְׁנֵי הַמַּלְאָכִים מְהַלְּכִים בִּרְחוֹב הָעִיר, וְהָיָה סָבוּר שֶׁהֵם אוֹרְחֵי הָאָרֶץ, וְרָץ לִקְרָאתָם. אָמַר לָהֶם: ״בּוֹאוּ וְלִינוּ בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתִי וְאִכְלוּ וּשְׁתוּ, לְכוּ לְדַרְכְּכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם״. וְלֹא קִבְּלוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים עֲלֵיהֶם, וְהֶחֱזִיק בְּיָדָם שֶׁלֹּא בִרְצוֹנָם לְתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּפְצַר בָּם מְאֹד״.

Another explanation: "He who walketh with wise men shall be wise" (ibid.). This refers to Lot, who walked with our father Abraham, and learned of his good deeds and ways. They said: What did our father Abraham do? He made for himself a house opposite to Haran, and he received everyone who entered into or went out from Haran, and he gave him to eat and to drink. He said to them: Say ye, The God of Abraham is the only one in the universe. || When Lot came to Sodom he did likewise. When they made proclamation in Sodom: All who strengthen the hand of the poor or needy with a loaf of bread shall be burnt by fire, he was afraid of the men of the city, (and did not venture) to do so by day, but he did it by night, as it is said, "And the two angels came to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom" (Gen. 19:1). Why did Lot sit in the gate of Sodom? Because he was afraid of the men of the city, (and did not venture) to act (charitably) by day, but he did so by night. He saw the two angels walking in the street of the city, and he thought that they were wayfarers in the land, and he ran to meet them. He said to them: Come and lodge ye overnight in my house, eat and drink, and ye shall go your way in peace. But the men would not accept this for themselves, and he took them by the hand against their will, and brought them inside his house, as it is said, "And he urged them greatly" (Gen. 19:8).

רָאָה אוֹתָם אֶחָד מֵאַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר וְרָץ וְהִגִּיד לְכָל אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר, וְנִקְבְּצוּ כֻּלָּם אֶל פֶּתַח הַבַּיִת לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּמִנְהָגָם מִשְׁכַּב זָכוּר כַּנָּשִׁים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּקְרְאוּ אֶל לוֹט וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ״. וּמֶה עָשָׂה לוֹט? כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנָּתַן מֹשֶׁה נַפְשׁוֹ תַּחַת הָעָם, כָּךְ נָתַן לוֹ אֶת שְׁתֵּי בְּנוֹתָיו תַּחַת שְׁנֵי הַמַּלְאָכִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הִנֵּה לִי שְׁתֵּי בָנוֹת״, וְלֹא קִבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר. מֶה עָשׂוּ לָהֶם הַמַּלְאָכִים? הִכּוּ אוֹתָם בְּעִוָּרוֹן עַד שֶׁעָלָה עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁהֶחֱזִיק לוֹט בִּידֵיהֶם שֶׁל הַמַּלְאָכִים וְהִכְנִיסָם לְתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, כָּךְ הֶחֱזִיקוּ בְּיָדוֹ וּבְיַד אִשְׁתּוֹ וּבְיַד שְׁתֵּי בְנוֹתָיו וְהוֹצִיאוּ אוֹתָם מִחוּץ לָעִיר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּתְמַהְמָהּ וַיַּחֲזִיקוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים״. אָמְרוּ לָהֶם: ״אַל תַּבִּיטוּ לַאֲחוֹרֵיכֶם, שֶׁהֲרֵי יָרְדָה שְׁכִינָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהַמְטִיר עַל סְדֹם וְעַל עֲמֹרָה גָּפְרִית וָאֵשׁ״. עִירִית אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל לוֹט נִכְמְרוּ רַחֲמֶיהָ עַל בְּנוֹתֶיהָ הַנְּשׂוּאוֹת, וְהִבִּיטָה לַאֲחָרֶיהָ לִרְאוֹת אִם הוֹלְכוֹת אַחֲרֶיהָ אִם לֹא, וְרָאֲתָה אַחֲרֶיהָ הַשְּׁכִינָה וְנַעֲשֵׂית נְצִיב מֶלַח, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתַּבֵּט אִשְׁתּוֹ מֵאַחֲרָיו וַתְּהִי נְצִיב מֶלַח״.

A certain young man of the people of that city saw them, and he ran and told all the men of that city, and they all gathered together at the door of the house to do according to their wont, even deeds of sodomy, as it is said, "And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, || Where are the men who came to thee to-night? bring them forth unto us that we may know them" (Gen. 19:5). What did Lot do? Just as Moses gave his life for the people, so Lot gave up his two daughters instead of the two angels, as it is said, "Behold, now, I have two daughters" (Gen. 19:8). But the men would not agree (and did not accept them). What did the angels do to them? They smote them with blindness until the dawn of the (next) morning. All were treated with (measure for) measure. Just as he had taken them by the hand without their will and taken them into his house, so they took hold of his hand, and the hand of his wife, and the hand of his two daughters, and took them outside the city, as it is said, "But he lingered; and the men laid hold upon his hand" (Gen. 19:16). And they said to them: Do not look behind you, for verily the Shekhinah of the Holy One, blessed be He, has descended in order to rain upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire. The pity of 'Edith the wife of Lot was stirred for her daughters, who were married in Sodom, and she looked back behind her to see if they were coming after her or not. And she saw behind the Shekhinah, and she became a pillar of salt, as it is said, "And his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt" (Gen. 19:26).