Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 82:17

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 82:17

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

Rabbi Elazar said: From the blessing of the righteous you learn the curse of the wicked, as it is said, "For I have known him, that he may command" and so on (Genesis 18:19), and it is written, "And the LORD said, The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah" (Genesis 18:20). And from the curse of the wicked you learn the blessing of the righteous, as it is said, "And the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners" (Genesis 13:13), and it is written, "And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him" and so on (Genesis 13:14). Why did He reveal it to him? Because Abraham was musing in his heart over the generation of the flood: is it possible that there were no righteous men among them on whose merit the Holy One, blessed be He, might have forgiven them? Know this for yourself, that even concerning Sodom he said, "Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?" (Genesis 18:23). Why? "Far be it from You" (Genesis 18:25), said twice - in this world and in the world to come.

Themes

Divine JusticeAbrahamRighteousness

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