Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/156

138 he saw an old, old man tottering along the road. Abraham ran to him, took him by the arm, and helped him to his There he washed the old man's feet, clothed him in fresh garments, and set a generous meal before him. But to his surprise, the old man uttered no blessing over the bread, nor spoke any word of thanks to the Giver of all for the good he had received. Indignantly Abraham asked, "Old man, why do you not thank God for these blessings?" The old man replied, "I do not worship your God, but I pray to the fire". Then in wrath Abraham seized the old man and thrust him from the tent. There he lay all through the long, dark, stormy night, groaning and suffering. At dawn he slowly took his departure. Suddenly Abraham heard God's voice, "Abraham, why didst thou treat this poor, old man thus ?" Abraham answered, "Because he would not worship Thee". But God replied, "Ile, too, is one of My children. I have borne with him for these one hundred years; couldst thou not have horne with him for a single night?"

So the wicked cities were destroyed by God in justice, for their wickedness and unwillingness to repent. Over their site, tradition tells, lies the Dead Sea, so salty that no living creature can exist in it, and no bird, it is said, ever flies across it. The land which once had been like the garden of the Lord is desolate now. So sin corrupts everything it touches.

And Lot, who had done God's will, escaped with his two daughters. Only his wife, who had disobeyed the angels' last command, was destroyed. And in time Lot's reward for his righteousness came. For among his descendants, as we shall learn later, were to be the great King David, and also, so the prophets and the rabbis told and many Jews still believe. the Messiah, who is at last to bring in the age when sin and sorrow and punishment shall be no more, but only