The Sodomites Struck Blind and Lot Warns His Sons-in-Law

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 84:5

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

Another interpretation: it teaches that they tilted the house upon [the mob]. He [the angel] said to him [Lot]: if you wish to take them in [as guests], take them into your own portion [for the rest of the house is now ours to destroy]. "And they said, This one came to sojourn, and he would surely play the judge" (Genesis 19:9): the law that the earlier ones ruled, you come to pervert? Rabbi Nechemiah in the name of Rav Bibi: thus the men of Sodom stipulated among themselves, that any stranger who comes here, they would abuse him and seize his money. "And the men who were at the entrance of the house they struck with blindness, both small and great" (Genesis 19:11). Whoever began the transgression first, from him the punishment began; therefore they were struck with blindness from small to great. And like it: "Her belly shall swell and her thigh shall fall away" (Numbers 5:27), the limb that began the transgression first, from it the punishment began. And like it: "And He blotted out every living thing" (Genesis 7:23), whoever began the transgression, from him the punishment began. And like it: "And I will smite every firstborn in the land of Egypt" (Exodus, the plague of the firstborn). And like it: "And I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his host" (Exodus 14:17). And like it: "You shall surely smite the inhabitants of that city" (Deuteronomy 13:16). "And they wearied themselves to find the entrance" (Genesis 19:11): they grew exhausted, as in the verse, "And Egypt grew weary" (Exodus, regarding the plagues). "For we are about to destroy" (Genesis 19:13). Rabbi Levi in the name of Rabbi Nachman: the ministering angels, because they revealed the secret of the Holy One, blessed be He [saying "we destroy" as if by their own power], were banished from their precinct one hundred and thirty-eight years. Rabbi Chama bar Chanina said: because they grew proud and said, "For we are about to destroy." "And Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters" (Genesis 19:14): he had four daughters, two married and two betrothed. It does not write "who had married" but "who were to marry." "And he seemed as one who jests in the eyes of his sons-in-law." They said to him: fool, the harps and viols are playing in the city, and the city is to be overturned?

Themes

Divine PunishmentDestructionAngels

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