Lot Hides the Angels and Sodom Falls by One Finger

(Gen. 19:5:) "And they called to Lot <and said to him: Where are the men>… that we may know them" — for they sought to ravish them. Rabbi Hiyya bar Abba said: From here you learn that they were steeped in lewdness. He said to them (Gen. 19:8): "Behold now, I have two daughters who have not known a man." This teaches that he sought to bring <the angels> into the midst of his house, but his wife would not allow him. What did he do? He concealed them within his own beam. (Gen. 19:11:) "And they wearied themselves to find the door." Once <the angels> saw that <the men of Sodom> were worthy of destruction, they too rescued Lot. What is written there? (Gen. 19:23-25): "The sun had risen over the earth… and the Lord rained upon Sodom… and He overturned those cities." Lest you say He overturned it with His five fingers — Rabbi Ayyevu said: With one of His fingers He overturned the cities of Sodom, as it is said (Job 28:9): "He put forth His hand upon the flint." In the world to come, when the Holy One, blessed be He, heals Israel, He heals her, as it is said (Hos. 2:17): "And I will give her her vineyards from there" — "her vineyards," these are the prophets. "And the valley of Achor for a door of hope" (ibid.) — the valley which I troubled (achor) in My wrath shall be for a door of hope. At that hour they recite song, as it is said (ibid.): "And she shall answer there as in the days of her youth." And "answer" (anah) means nothing but song, as it is said (Ps. 147:7): "Sing (enu) to the Lord with thanksgiving."