Avraham's Prayer for Sedom/2/en

Avraham's Prayer for Sedom

Exegetical Approaches

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Even for Sinners

Avraham wanted all of the people in Sedom to be saved.  Commentators disagree, though, about for whom Avraham was actively praying:

For Both Righteous and Wicked

Avraham was praying for everyone in Sedom to be saved, both the righteous and the sinners.

Sources:R. Yosef Bekhor ShorBereshit 18:24,28About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, RambanBereshit 18:23About R. Moshe Nachmanides

"הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה צַדִּיק עִם רָשָׁע"

"הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה וְלֹא תִשָּׂא לַמָּקוֹם לְמַעַן חֲמִשִּׁים הַצַּדִּיקִם"

What does "לַמָּקוֹם" mean?

Relationship between verses 23-25

Collective Punishment

What happened at the end?

Was Avraham's Prayer Accepted?

Was Lot Righteous?

Why does Hashem tell Avraham about Sedom?

Specifically for the Wicked

Avraham was only praying for the sinners, being certain that Hashem would save the righteous even without his request.

Sources:R. S"R HirschBereshit 18:23-25About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch

"הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה צַדִּיק עִם רָשָׁע"

"הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה וְלֹא תִשָּׂא לַמָּקוֹם לְמַעַן חֲמִשִּׁים הַצַּדִּיקִם"

What does "לַמָּקוֹם" mean?

Relationship between verses 23-25

Collective Punishment

What happened at the end?

Was Avraham's Prayer Accepted?

Was Lot Righteous?

Why does Hashem tell Avraham about Sedom?

Only for the Righteous

Avraham was praying only for the righteous, that they should not die due to the rest of the people's sins.

Sources:SefornoBereshit 18:17Bereshit 18:24, 26About R. Ovadyah Seforno, BiurBereshit 18:23, 24, 26About the Biur, R. Y"S ReggioBereshit 18:18Bereshit 18:23, 24, 26About R. Yitzchak Shemuel Reggio

"הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה צַדִּיק עִם רָשָׁע"

"הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה וְלֹא תִשָּׂא לַמָּקוֹם לְמַעַן חֲמִשִּׁים הַצַּדִּיקִם"

What does "לַמָּקוֹם" mean?

Relationship between verses 23-25

Collective Punishment

What happened at the end?

Was Avraham's Prayer Accepted?

Was Lot Righteous?

Why does Hashem tell Avraham about Sedom?

For the Physical Location

Avraham was not praying for the people of Sedom, but rather asking that Hashem not destroy the land itself.

Sources:RadakBereshit 18:24About R. David Kimchi, Ma'asei HashemMa'asei Avot 17About R. Eliezer Ashkenazi

"הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה צַדִּיק עִם רָשָׁע"

"הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה וְלֹא תִשָּׂא לַמָּקוֹם לְמַעַן חֲמִשִּׁים הַצַּדִּיקִם"

What does "לַמָּקוֹם" mean?

Relationship between verses 23-25

Collective Punishment

What happened at the end?

Was Avraham's Prayer Accepted?

Was Lot Righteous?

Why does Hashem tell Avraham about Sedom?