## Sforno on Genesis Chapter 19

###### Sforno on Genesis 19:1:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:1:1)

**וַיָּבֹאוּ שְׁנֵי הַמַּלְאָכִים סְדֹמָה בָּעֶרֶב.** אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִגִּיעוּ שָׁם בְּלִי אִחוּר, כְּאָמְרָם (ברכות ד:) גַּבְרִיאֵל בִּשְׁתַּיִם מִיכָאֵל בְּאַחַת, וְכֵן הוֹרָה לְמַעְלָה בְּאָמְרוֹ "וַיֵּלְכוּ סְדֹמָה" (בראשית יח:כב), מִכָּל מָקוֹם לֹא נִכְנְסוּ בִּסְדוֹם עַד הָעֶרֶב, שֶׁכְּבָר נִסְתַּתְּמוּ טַעֲנוֹת אַבְרָהָם הַמֵּלִיץ וְנִגְמַר הַדִּין.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויבאו שני המלאכים סדומה בערב, even though they arrived at that city without “time” having elapsed since they departed from Avraham, (compare Berachot 4 the angel Gavriel needing two steps, and the angel Michael only one step) they remained outside the city gates, invisible, not entering and appearing to Lot until evening. The same is true of 18,22 וילכו סדומה. Avraham had concluded his dialogue with G’d already some time previously.


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:1:2
[Sforno on Genesis 19:1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:1:2)

**וַיָּקָם לִקְרָאתָם.** פֶּן יָלִינוּ בָּרְחוֹב, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיָה אָז הַמִּנְהָג בִּשְׁאָר הֶעָרִים כְּשֶׁאֵין מַכְנִיס אוֹרְחִים, וְיַזִּיקוּ לָהֶם רִשְׁעֵי הָעִיר:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויקם לקראתם, in order to prevent them from spending the night in the street. This was customary also in cities other than Sodom when no one had offered shelter to unexpected strangers. In such instances there was always the danger that the strangers would be harmed by some of the residents of the city.


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:1:3
[Sforno on Genesis 19:1:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:1:3)

**וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ אַפַּיִם אָרְצָה.** כִּי הָיָה תָּאֳרָם נוֹרָא בְּלִי סָפֵק.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וישתחו אפים ארצה, they clearly looked sufficiently imposing to warrant being treated deferentially.


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:3:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:3:1)

**מִשְׁתֶּה.** קְבִיעוּת סְעוּדָה עַל הַיַּיִן, בִּהְיוֹת הַיַּיִן אָהוּב אֶצְלוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוֹכִיחַ סוֹפוֹ עַל תְּחִלָּתוֹ (בראשית יט:לג). אֲבָל אַבְרָהָם לֹא עָשָׂה מִשְׁתֶּה, זוּלָתִי "בְּיוֹם הִגָּמֵל אֶת יִצְחָק" (בראשית כא:ח) לִגְדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר שֶׁהָיוּ מֻרְגָּלִים בְּכָךְ בְּעֵת שִׂמְחָתָם, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (סוטה י): "קַמֵּי דְּשָׁתֵי חַמְרָא, חַמְרָא".

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**A feast.** Literally, “a drinking feast.” Lot offered them wine because he was fond of it himself.


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:8:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:8:1)

**אוֹצִיאָה נָּא אֶתְהֶן אֲלֵיכֶם.** חָשַׁב שֶׁיָּקוּמוּ לוֹקְחֵי בְנוֹתָיו, וְקָאם שָׁאוֹן בֵּינֵיהֶם (הושע י:יד).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אוציאה נא אתהן אליכן, he hoped that the fiancés of his daughters would come to their aid. (compare Hoseah 10,14 for the meaning of the author’s expression קאם שאון).


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:9:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:9:1)

**גֶּשׁ הָלְאָה.** מֵעַל הַפֶּתַח וְנִשְׁבֹּר **הַדֶּלֶת**:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
גש הלאה, “away from the door so that we can break it down;”


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:9:2
[Sforno on Genesis 19:9:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:9:2)

**הָאֶחָד בָּא לָגוּר.** הֲיֵשׁ גַּם אֶחָד שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה כָּךְ?

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
האחד בא לגור, “is there even a single man who can be audacious enough to get away with this?”


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:10:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:10:1)

**וְאֶת הַדֶּלֶת סָגָרוּ.** כְּדֵי שֶׁ**יִּלְאוּ לִמְצֹא הַפָּתַח**, וִיפַרְסְמוּ גֹּדֶל רִשְׁעָם:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**They wearied themselves.** They continued searching for the door even after they were stricken with blindness.


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:11:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:11:1)

**וַיִּלְאוּ לִמְצֹא הַפָּתַח.** אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָיוּ מֻכִּים **בַּסַּנְוֵרִים**, טָרְחוּ לִמְצֹא הַפֶּתַח כְּדֵי **לִשְׁבֹּר הַדֶּלֶת**, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (עירובין יט.): "רְשָׁעִים אֲפִלּוּ עוֹמְדִים בְּפִתְחוֹ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנֹּם אֵינָם חוֹזְרִים בִּתְשׁוּבָה".

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וילאו למצוא הפתח, even though they had already been smitten with blindness they did not therefore desist from their wicked intention. This is in line with the psychological insight of our sages in Eyruvin 19 that the wicked will not become penitents even when they stand at the gates of hell. [the Nazis persisting in the “final solution,” even while already defeated by the Russsians are the best example of this insight we know of. Ed.]


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:14:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:14:1)

**וַיֵּצֵא לוֹט.** אַחַר שֶׁנִּלְאוּ וְהָלְכוּ לָהֶם:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויצא לוט, after they had given up and they had dispersed.


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:15:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:15:1)

**וַיָּאִיצוּ.** כְּדֵי שֶׁתְּהֵא פּוּרְעָנוּתָם בִּזְרִיחַת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ אֱלֹהֵיהֶם הַגָּדוֹל, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ברכות ז.) בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַחַמָּה זוֹרַחַת וְכָל מַלְכֵי מִזְרָח וּמַעֲרָב מַנִּיחִין כִּתְרֵיהֶן עַל רָאשֵׁיהֶם וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים לַחַמָּה, מִיָּד כּוֹעֵס.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויאיצו, in order that their destruction should take place at the very moment the sun, their great god, would come forth. (compare Berachot 7)


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:16:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:16:1)

**בְּחֶמְלַת ה' עָלָיו.** אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבִּזְכוּת אַבְרָהָם הָיָה נִמְלָט, כְּאָמְרוֹ **וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת אַבְרָהָם וַיִּשְׁלַח אֶת לוֹט מִתּוֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָה**, הִנֵּה כֵּיוָן שֶׁהָיָה מְאַחֵר וּמִתְעַכֵּב אַחַר אַזְהָרַת הַמַּלְאָכִים, הָיָה רָאוּי לִהְיוֹת נִסְפֶּה, אֲבָל הָיְתָה הַחֶמְלָה עָלָיו, כִּי לֹא בְּמֶרֶד וְלֹא בְּמַעַל הָיָה עִכּוּבוֹ, אֶלָּא מִצַּד עַצְלָה וְנֶפֶשׁ נִבְהָלָה:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**For Ad-noy had pity.** Even though Lot was originally spared in Avraham’s merit, he would have been killed for tarrying if Hashem had not had pity on him.


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:17:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:17:1)

**אַל תַּבִּיט אַחֲרֶיךָ.** כִּי הָרָעָה תִּתְפַּשֵּׁט עָדֶיךָ כִּמְהַלֶּכֶת אַחֲרֶיךָ וְלֹא תַּזִּיקְךָ, אֲבָל אִם תִּתְעַכֵּב לְהַבִּיט תִּדְבַּק בְּךָ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁקָּרָה לְאִשְׁתּוֹ כְּאָמְרוֹ **וַתְּהִי נְצִיב מֶלַח**.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אל תביט אחריך, the evil would catch up with you as soon as you interrupt your march away from it. This is precisely what happened to his wife when she ignored the instructions and looked behind. (verse 26)


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:24:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:24:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:24:1)

**מֵאֵת ה' מִן הַשָּׁמָיִם.** לֹא שֶׁהֶעֱלָה נְשִׂיאִים מִקְצֵה הָאָרֶץ, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיִּתְהַלְּכוּ בָּאֲוִיר כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּקְרֶה בַּבְּרָקִים וְאַבְנֵי אֵשׁ בַּטֶּבַע.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
מאת ה' מן השמים, this was not a natural event such as a volcanic eruption, the ash, brimstone and lava afterwards descending on the surrounding earth. The source of this destruction did not originate in the bowels of the earth.


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:25:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:25:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:25:1)

**וַיַּהֲפֹךְ.** שֶׁנֶּהְפַּךְ הָאָרֶץ הַהִיא וְיוֹשְׁבֶיהָ לְטֶבַע גָּפְרִית וָאֵשׁ, כְּמוֹ ״הָפַךְ אֶת מֵימֵיהֶם לְדָם״ (תהלים קה:כט), וּבָהֶם נֶהְפַּךְ לְטֶבַע מֶלַח אוֹתוֹ הַטַּל שֶׁעָלָה קוֹדֶם הַזְּרִיחָה, כְּאָמְרוֹ ״גָּפְרִית וָמֶלַח שְׂרֵפָה כָל אַרְצָהּ״ (דברים כט:כב), כְּמִשְׁפַּט כָּל לַחוּת תָּפֵל מְעוֹרָב עִם חֲלָקִים שְׂרוּפִים:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויהפוך, the earth as well as its inhabitants underwent a total chemical transformation being turned into brimstone and fire, similar to what David means in Psalms 105,29 “He turned their waters into blood.” The dew that rose from the earth prior to sunrise turned into salt. Compare Deut. 29,22 גפרית ומלח שרפה כל ארצה, meaning that the moisture descended back onto earth but this time mixed with solid burned particles.


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:27:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:27:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:27:1)

**אֶל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר עָמַד שָׁם אֶת פְּנֵי ה'.** אֶל הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁלִּוָּה שָׁם הַמַּלְאָכִים, כִּי שָׁם הָיְתָה עָלָיו יַד ה', וְזֶה כִּי חָשַׁב לְבַקֵּשׁ עֲלֵיהֶם רַחֲמִים אַחֲרֵי שֶׁלֹּא מָצָא לָהֶם זְכוּת בַּדִּין.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אל המקום אשר עמד שם את פני ה, to the place to which he had accompanied the angels. This is where the punishing hand of G’d had first appeared to him. Since he had not been able to save the inhabitants of Sodom legally, he prepared to intercede for them by asking G’d s mercy for them.


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:28:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:28:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:28:1)

**וַיַּשְׁקֵף.** הַשְׁקָפַת אֵיבָה עַל רוֹב רִשְׁעָם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וישקף, a hostile kind of looking, motivated by their excess wickedness.


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:28:2
[Sforno on Genesis 19:28:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:28:2)

**וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה עָלָה קִיטוֹר הָאָרֶץ.** וּבְכֵן רָאָה שֶׁאֵין עוֹד לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עֲלֵיהֶם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
קיטור הארץ, when he saw the smoke he realised that it was too late to pray on behalf of these people.


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:29:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:29:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:29:1)

**מִתּוֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָה בַּהֲפוֹךְ אֶת הֶעָרִים.** בִּהְיוֹת שֶׁנִּמְלַט בִּזְכוּת אַבְרָהָם מִתּוֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָה, בְּעוֹד שֶׁהָיָה הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ הוֹפֵךְ אֶת הֶעָרִים קוֹדֶם שֶׁיָּצָא לוֹט מִכָּל הַכִּכָּר, וְלָזֶה לֹא הָיָה זוֹכֶה בְּשׁוּם פָּנִים אַחֲרֵי שֶׁלֹּא נִמְלַט קוֹדֶם הַתְחָלַת הַפּוּרְעָנוּת בְּעַצְלוּתוֹ, כְּאָמְרוֹ **וַיִּתְמַהְמָהּ**. לְפִיכָךְ יָרֵא לָשֶׁבֶת בְּצוֹעַר, כִּי חָשַׁב שֶׁהַהֲפֵכָה תַּמְתִּין גַּם לְצוֹעַר עַד שֶׁיִּמָּלֵט הוּא מִמֶּנָּה בִּזְכוּת אַבְרָהָם, וְשֶׁאַחֲרֵי צֵאתוֹ מִשָּׁם תִּתְפַּשֵּׁט הַהֲפֵכָה גַּם בְּצוֹעַר:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
מתוך ההפכה בהפוך את הערים, seeing that he had escaped by the merit of Avraham from the destruction of these cites, a process which had begun even before Lot had been outside the outer perimeters of the valley due to his laziness. (compare verse 16) As a result, he was afraid to settle in Tzoar thinking that its destruction had been delayed only on account of his having taken refuge there.


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:30:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:30:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:30:1)

**וַיֵּשֶׁב בָּהָר.** כִּי חָשַׁב שֶׁהַהֲפֵכָה תִּתְפַּשֵּׁט **בְּכָל הַכִּכָּר** עַד הָהָר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוֹרָה הַמַּלְאָךְ בְּאָמְרוֹ **הָהָרָה הִמָּלֵט**.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וישב בהר, because he thought that the entire valley would be destroyed, excluding the surrounding mountains.


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:31:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:31:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:31:1)

**אָבִינוּ זָקֵן.** וְלֹא יִתְאַמֵּץ לְהַרְחִיק נְדוֹד אֶל אֶרֶץ אַחֶרֶת:


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:31:2
[Sforno on Genesis 19:31:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:31:2)

**וְאִישׁ אֵין בָּאָרֶץ לָבוֹא עָלֵינוּ.** אֵין אִישׁ בָּזֶה הַגָּלִיל רָאוּי לָבוֹא עָלֵינוּ כְּדֶרֶךְ כָּל הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁהַמִּנְהָג הוּא שֶׁלֹּא תִּנָּשֵׂא הָאִשָּׁה אֶלָּא לֶהָגוּן לָהּ:


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:37:1
[Sforno on Genesis 19:37:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:37:1)

**וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ מוֹאָב... וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ בֶּן עַמִּי.** לְהוֹרוֹת שֶׁלֹּא נִתְעַבְּרוּ מֵאָדָם בִּלְתִּי הָגוּן:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ותקרא שמו מואב...ותקרא שמו בן עמי. They called the names of their children thus to show the world that the father was not someone who was an unworthy, sinful person. [from the point of view of Jewish law as it pertains to gentiles, a father may sleep with his daughter. Ed.]


###### Sforno on Genesis 19:37:2
[Sforno on Genesis 19:37:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/19:37:2)

**הוּא אֲבִי מוֹאָב. הוּא אֲבִי בְנֵי עַמּוֹן.** שֶׁיָּרְשׁוּ אֶרֶץ, כִּי מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיְתָה כַּוָּנַת הַנָּשִׁים רְצוּיָה, הָיָה זַרְעָם לִשְׁנֵי גּוֹיִם יוֹרְשֵׁי אַבְרָהָם בִּקְצָת, כְּאָמְרָם (משלי ג:ו) "בְּכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ דָעֵהוּ" אֲפִילוּ לִדְבַר עֲבֵרָה (נזיר כג).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
הוא אבי מואב...הוא אבי בני עמון, the ones who would in a short while inherit large parts of what would eventually be part of the land of Israel on the east bank of the Jordan river. Seeing that the intentions of both daughters in sleeping with their father had been honourable, they were rewarded with founding two nations, both from the same father. (Nazir 23) In a certain sense they had become heirs of Avraham to whom all the Canaanite lands had been promised. This reflects the statement in Proverbs 3,6 בכל דרכיך דעהו, “know (try to emulate) G’d in all your undertakings;” (even when involving an apparent sin. [based on Berachot 63. Ed.]