The Pillar Of Salt
Targum Jonathan on Genesis 19:26
Source & License
Adapted from Targum Jonathan (Targum Jonathan on Genesis 19:26)
Edition The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel, trans. J. W. Etheridge, London, 1862
License Public Domain (Public Domain) And his wife looked after the angel, to know what would be in the end of her father's house, for she was of the daughters of the Sedomaee; and because she sinned by salt (bemilcha) she was manifestly punished; behold, she was made a statue of salt.
Commentary Some say that Lot's wife, whose name was Edith, looked behind her to see if her daughters, who were married to men of Sodom, were coming after her or not. So too did she want to know what would be the end of her father's house. Instead, she saw God, who had descended in order to rain brimstone and fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah. And that is why she was turned into a pillar of salt. Others say that because she sinned with salt. Lot's wife was punished with salt. On the night that the angels visited Lot, Lot prepared a feast for them, as he had learned hospitality from Abraham, and he asked his wife to give them a little salt. She grew angry and said, "Do you want to introduce that evil practice of giving strangers salt?" Then she went to all of her neighbors asking for salt. In this way she alerted them to the presence of the guests, and precipitated the mob who demanded that Lot turn the angels over to them. Thus, because she sinned with salt, she was punished with salt. As for the pillar of salt, it still can be seen to this day. All day oxen lick it and it decreases until nothing remains but her feet. But in the morning the pillar of salt grows afresh. Those who see it are required to say the benediction to be pronounced on seeing Lot's wife, "Blessed be He who wrought miracles for our ancestors in this place." The transformation of Lot's wife into a pillar of salt is one of the most striking images in the Bible. There still exists a pillar of salt near the Dead Sea that is identified as Lot's wife. In the Mishnah this is said to be one of the places where a blessing should be said. Other places listed in the Talmud (B. Ber. 54a) include the place of the crossing of the Red Sea and the walls of Jericho that sank into the ground. Why was Lot's wife transformed into a pillar of salt? Of course, she did disobey the angel's command not to look back, but the real reason for her punishment seems to be because in doing so she saw God, who had descended to destroy the city.
