The Torah, in its infinite wisdom, gives us a glimpse into this very idea through the contrasting actions of Abraham and Lot. We find ourselves in Genesis chapter 19, where Lot encounters angelic visitors at the gate of Sodom. “Lot saw them, and rose to meet them…He said: Behold now my lords; [please turn aside].”
Now, let's unpack this a bit. Bereshit Rabbah, that magnificent collection of rabbinic interpretations of Genesis, delves into the motivations behind Lot's invitation. Rabbi Yudan suggests that Lot was essentially saying, "Even if I'm not worthy, please, make an exception." It seems the standard practice was that esteemed guests didn't lodge with those considered less than reputable. Rabbi Huna offers another perspective: Lot wanted the angels to take a roundabout way to his house, a secret route, so they wouldn't be seen coming to him.
There’s a clear parallel to Abraham’s hospitality in the previous chapter (Genesis 18). Both men offer washing of feet and lodging. But the order is different. Lot says, "To your servant’s house, stay the night, and wash your feet." Abraham, on the other hand, mentioned washing before staying the night. Why the switch?
The Rabbis, as always, have some fascinating insights. Bereshit Rabbah explains that Abraham was concerned about the "dirt of idol worship." He suspected his guests might be idolaters and wanted them to cleanse themselves before entering his home. Lot, however, apparently wasn't as concerned about such things. Or, perhaps, he had a different motive. Some say Lot wanted the angels to wash their feet after leaving, so the dust on their feet would conceal where they had stayed. Tricky, right?
The angels initially refuse Lot's offer, saying, “No; rather, we will spend the night in the street.” According to the Rabbis, this refusal highlights a social dynamic: one might refuse an invitation from someone of lower status, but not from someone of higher status. Remember, they didn’t refuse Abraham’s invitation.
But Lot persists. The text says, "He was intensely persistent [vayiftzar] towards them, and they turned aside to him, and entered his house." Vayiftzar – a word pregnant with meaning. The Rabbis interpret this persistence as him evoking anger [af] and anxiety [tzara] in them. It wasn't a gentle invitation, but a forceful urging. And note this detail: “They turned aside to him, and entered his house” – again supporting Rav Huna's idea that they took a concealed route to avoid being seen.
Once inside, Lot "prepared a feast for them; he baked unleavened bread, and they ate.” He’d clearly learned a thing or two from his time in Abraham's household about welcoming guests.
But the story doesn't end there. Rabbi Yitzchak shares a midrash about a quarrel [matzut] that arose over…salt! Lot asked his wife to provide salt for the guests, and she responded with disdain, "Do you seek to promulgate this despicable and evil custom here, as well?" She saw it as excessive pampering. And as the story famously goes, Lot's wife later becomes a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). Was this a consequence of her inhospitable attitude? The text certainly implies a connection.
So, what can we take away from this intricate comparison of Abraham and Lot? It's more than just a story about hospitality. It's about the motivations behind our actions, the subtle nuances of social interactions, and the potential consequences of our choices. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it, about the unseen complexities in even the simplest act of offering someone a place to rest their head.