Origin of the Mi•nᵊyânꞋ

Sᵊdom

Then the three a•nâsh•imꞋ got up and Avᵊrâ•hâmꞋ accompanied them to the top of a hill, where they gazed out toward Sᵊdom.

Then, again speaking through His ma•lâkhꞋ, ה' said, "Should I hide what I'm going to do from Avᵊrâ•hâmꞋ, seeing that Avᵊrâ•hâmꞋ is destined to become a great and mighty goy, and all of the goy•imꞋ of the land shall be blessed through him? For I have known him, that yᵊtzav•ëhꞋ his children and his household after him; so they will watchguard DërꞋëkh ה', to make tzᵊdâq•âhꞋ and mi•shᵊpâtꞋ so that ה' may bring upon Avᵊrâ•hâmꞋ what He has spoken.

Yet again speaking through His ma•lâkhꞋ, ה' said, "There is a screaming of Sᵊdom and Âmor•âꞋ, and it is loud, because their missteps are very severe. So I'll go down and see. If they're causing the screaming I hear then I will finish them. If not, then I'll know."

The two junior a•nâsh•imꞋ left for Sᵊdom, leaving Avᵊrâ•hâmꞋ standing with the ma•lâkhꞋ, ה'.

Negotiating For Lōt's Family

Spare A City For 50 Tza•diq•imꞋ?

Knowing that his nephew, Lōt and his family, had returned to live in Sᵊdom after being rescued from the Iranians after the war, Avᵊrâ•hâmꞋ approached him, venturing, "Will you put an end to the tza•diqꞋ with the wicked? Perhaps there are 50 tza•diq•imꞋ inside the city. Would you put an end to the city and not bear the place for the sake of 50 tza•diq•imꞋ in its innards? Doing such a thing would be degeneracy for you to put to death the tza•diqꞋ with the wicked! Like tza•diqꞋ, like wicked would be a degeneracy for you. Shall the Sho•pheitꞋ of all the land not do mi•shᵊpâtꞋ? So, speaking through His ma•lâkhꞋ, ה' said, "If I find in Sᵊdom 50 tza•diq•imꞋ within the city limits, then I will bear the whole place on their behalf."

Spare A City For 45 Tza•diq•imꞋ?

Then Avᵊrâ•hâmꞋ countered, "I've resolved² to say to a•don•âiꞋ – though I, myself, am dust and ash – perhaps there are five less tza•diq•imꞋ? Will you ruin the city because it lacked only five?"

"No," replied the ma•lâkhꞋ, "I will not ruin the city if there are only 45 tza•diq•imꞋ."

Spare A City For 40 Tza•diq•imꞋ?

Avᵊrâ•hâmꞋ pressed further, "Perhaps just 40 tza•diq•imꞋ will be found in the city?"

And the ma•lâkhꞋ answered, "For the sake of the 40 I will not ruin the city."

Spare A City For 30 Tza•diq•imꞋ?

"Please, may a•don•âiꞋ not be annoyed with me – , "Perhaps just 30 tza•diq•imꞋ will be found in the city?"

And the ma•lâkhꞋ answered, "For the sake of the 30 I will not ruin the city."

Spare A City For 20 Tza•diq•imꞋ?

"I've resolved² to say to a•don•âiꞋ – , "Perhaps just 20 tza•diq•imꞋ will be found in the city?"

And the ma•lâkhꞋ answered, "For the sake of the 20 I will not ruin the city."

Spare A City For 10 Tza•diq•imꞋ?

"Please, may a•don•âiꞋ not be annoyed with me – , "Perhaps just 10 tza•diq•imꞋ will be found in the city?"

And the ma•lâkhꞋ answered, "For the sake of the 10 I will not ruin the city."

With this, the ma•lâkhꞋ was finished talking with Avᵊrâ•hâmꞋ and departed for Sᵊdom. And Avᵊrâ•hâmꞋ returned home.