“He said: Behold now my lords; please turn aside to your servant’s house, stay the night, and wash your feet, and you can awaken early and go on your way. They said: No; rather, we will spend the night in the street” (Genesis 19:2). “Lot saw them, and rose to meet them…He said: Behold now my lords; [please turn aside]” – Rabbi Yudan and Rabbi Huna, Rabbi Yudan said: [Lot was saying:] “Please turn aside” – even if I am not worthy, diverge from the ordinary practice.17The ordinary practice is that men of high stature do not lodge in the houses of unworthy people.
Rabbi Huna said: [Lot was saying:] Take a circuitous route to me, so you will not be seen coming to me. “To your servant’s house, stay the night, and wash your feet” – Abraham mentioned washing [feet] before staying the night,18Genesis 18:4. but Lot mentioned staying the night before washing [feet]. The explanation is that Abraham was strict regarding the dirt of idol worship;19Abraham thought they were idolaters, and was concerned that some of the dirt on their feet had been picked up from an idolatrous shrine, therefore he requested that they wash their feet before entering his premises. therefore, he mentioned washing first.
Lot was not strict regarding the dirt of idol worship. But some say that this, too, he did with virtuous intent, so they would emerge, and they [the people of Sodom] would see dust on their feet,20Lot’s suggestion was that they wash their feet only after leaving his house, as they were about to resume their journey. and they would not say: ‘Where did they stay the night?’ “They said: No; rather, we will spend the night in the street” – one refuses [an offer from] an individual of low stature, but does not refuse an individual of higher status.21When Abraham invited them they did not refuse (Genesis 18:5).
“He was intensely persistent towards them, and they turned aside to him, and entered his house. He prepared a feast for them; he baked unleavened bread, and they ate” (Genesis 19:3). “He was intensely persistent [vayiftzar]22The noun form of this word is haftzara. towards them” – he evoked anger [af] and anxiety [tzara] in them. “They turned aside to him, and entered his house” – this supports what Rav Huna said, [that Lot said to them:] ‘Take a circuitous route to me, so you will not be seen coming to me.’
“He prepared a feast for them” – he had spent time in the house of our forefather Abraham, who would welcome passersby. [“He baked unleavened bread [matzot].”] Rabbi Yitzḥak said: A great quarrel [matzut] arose over the salt. He said to her [his wife]: ‘Give these guests a little salt.’ She said to him: ‘Do you seek to promulgate this despicable and evil custom here, as well?’23‘Not only do you offer them lodging, but you wish to pamper them as well?’ It was because of this that Lot’s wife later became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26).