“The two angels came to Sodom in the evening and Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom; Lot saw them, and rose to meet them, and he prostrated himself with his face to the ground” (Genesis 19:1). “The two angels came to Sodom in the evening…” – “the ḥayot1A kind of angel. were darting to [ratzo] and fro like the appearance of a flash” (Ezekiel 1:14). Rabbi Aivu said: Ratzot2The usual form of the verb, meaning running or darting. is not written here, but rather, ratzo3Which can also mean to desire. – they had a desire to perform their mission.
“Like the appearance of a flash [habazak]” – Rabbi Yehuda in the name of Rabbi Simon in the name of Rabbi Levi bar Parta: Like one who scatters [bozek] olive pomace4Which ignites easily. in an oven. Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: [The ḥayot moved] as wind drives an [empty] wineskin. The Rabbis say: As wind drives the clouds. They [the angels] took their leave from Abraham at six hours and arrived in Sodom only in the evening?5Since they move so swiftly, they should have arrived there in a matter of seconds.
The explanation is that they were angels of mercy, and they were tarrying, in the belief that perhaps He might find some merit for them.6As a result of Abraham’s intercessions. When He did not find any merit for them – “the two angels came to Sodom in the evening.”