Lot at Sodom's Gate Learns Hospitality From Abraham

(Genesis 19:1:) "IN THE EVENING." What is the meaning of "in the evening"? That the Sodomites were dark like the night. Another interpretation: "ba-erev" ("in the evening") — for the evening (erev) of Sodom had come (ba). "And Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom" — for he had learned from the deeds of Abraham. What is written here concerning Abraham? "And he saw, and he ran to meet them from the door of the tent" (Genesis 18:2). Solomon said, "Train up a child in the way he should go" (Proverbs 22:6) — because Lot had grown up in Abraham's house, he took hold of his ways. "And he bowed down with his face to the ground" (Genesis 19:1) — just as Abraham had done, he brought them into his house. What is written? "Before they lay down, etc." (Genesis 19:4). "And they called unto Lot, etc." (Genesis 19:5). The angels began to be astonished, saying: The matter has reached us, and the affair is great; but, so as not to trouble you, [it is passed over]. In the end, what did they do? One of them rescued Lot, and one of them overturned Sodom. And lest you say He overturned it with one of His hands — no, but with a single finger, which is one of the five on the hand, as it is said, "He puts forth His hand against the flinty rock" (Job 28:9). In the world to come the Holy One, blessed be He, will heal it, and Israel will apportion it, and you [too], as it is said, "I will divide up Shechem, etc." (Psalms 60:8).