Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/103



BRAHAM went  part  of  the  way  with  the  strangers,  who were going  to  Sodom. As they  journeyed  along  together, the Lord  said  to  Abraham:  “The  cry  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrha is multiplied,  and  their  sin  is  become  exceedingly  grievous.”  He told  him  that  He  would  destroy  the  two  cities. Abraham was struck with  fear;  for,  although  the  men  amongst  whom  he  lived were wicked,  he  loved  them  as  neighbours. At last,  drawing  near to the  Lord,  he  said: “Wilt  Thou  destroy  the  just  with  the wicked? If there  be  fifty  just  men  in  the  city,  shall  they  perish withal? and wilt  Thou  not  spare  that  place  for  the  sake  of  the fifty just,  if  they  be  therein?”  The  Lord  replied:  “If  I find  in Sodom  fifty  just  men  within  the  city,  I will  spare  the  whole  place for their  sake.”  And  Abraham  said:  “Seeing  I have  once  begun, I will  speak  again  to  my  Lord,  whereas  I am  but  dust  and  ashes. If there  be  five  less  than  fifty  just  persons  in  the  city,  wilt  Thou destroy it?”  And  the  Lord  said  to  Abraham:  “I  will  not  destroy it, if  I find  five  and  forty.”  Abraham  continued  to  plead  in  this manner, till  at  last  the  Lord  said  to  him:  “I  will  not  destroy  it for  the  sake  of  ten.”  Then  the  Lord  disappeared,  and  Abraham returned to  his  tent.

The ten  just  men  were  not  found  in  Sodom,  and  the  two angels were  sent  to  destroy  it. They reached  Sodom  in  the evening, and  found  Lot  sitting  at  the  gate  of  the  city. Lot invited them  into  his  house,  and  the  angels  said  to  him:  “Arise, get you  out  of  this  place,  for  the  Lord  will  destroy  it. Lot went that  night  to  two  young  men  who  were  to  marry  his  daughters, and told  them  to  arise  and  go  forth,  for  the  Lord  would  destroy the city. But they  thought  that  he  spoke  in  jest. At the  first