Vayeira - 3rd Portion

Join me as we learn hit us for today, the third day of Tuesday parshas Vayeira, chapter 19, verse 1. And the two angels were walking slowly and they finally arose arrived at Sodom but Arab in the evening. And Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom. And he prostrated himself on the ground. What is the what happened here? If you look to something interesting in the difference that when they come to Avram they're called men. When they come to a Lot they're called angels. Why is that? We also see that the two angels came. Why two? So shnei Rashi says echod l'hashchis S'dom, one was to destroy Sodom, v'echod l'hatzil es Lot, and one to save Lot. For who I say that's the same angel sh'baleg ha'apis es Avram that came to heal Avram. Because every single angel already completed his mission and had a certain mission. This one completed his mission and saving and healing are part of the same mission. V'hashlishi sh'baleg ha'vaser es Sarah, the third one that came to tell Sarah that she was going to have a child, k'ivan chalas shlichuso, he already did his job, v'nistalek lo, so he went and left and did not take part in the destruction of Sodom. Hamalachim, angels, why over here does he call them angels? Kor'am anashim, and by Avram he called them men. K'shehayso sh'chinah imem, because when Avram went and by Avram when the sh'chinah was with him, kor'am anashim, he called them men. Meaning, because the divine presence was there and the malachim and the angels in the presence of the divine Shekinah are insignificant to can be considered as angels because the Shekinah the divine presence is even greater than them. So, therefore in relative to the Shekinah, they were considered men. The another explanation of why the change of language that he was great coming there all the time actually kind of so by him they were like men. So, therefore he calls them men it's a light but by light who wasn't accustomed to having angels. It was a something that his level was much lower than Abraham. He calls them angels but in the evening Did it take them that long to get from Hebron to Sodom? Is it that far from Hebron to Sodom? They left the middle of the day. What took so long? They're angels of mercy. And they were waiting they were waiting and waiting and waiting to see maybe Abraham will be able to find a reason some defense on them and some merit that they should not be destroyed. So, they were delaying their mission until maybe something would happen. Lot was sitting at the gateway of Sodom. It says It doesn't say it with a verb but it says he was sitting meaning only say I am it was that day that they just made him. It wasn't that it was all the time that day they made him a They appointed him a judge on them. and Lot saw Meaning even though Lot was not the greatest righteous person. though Lot was in the city of Sodom and he was influenced by the people of the city of Sodom. But what he learned in the house of Abraham he never forgot and he learned that you always have to honor guest and therefore he went to welcome these individuals that he saw coming into Sodom. By Yuma, and they said to light, He said, Lot said to the angels, "Now my masters, now my lords, please turn aside and come to my home. Come to your servant's home. Rest over, wash your feet, you'll get up you'll go and continue on your way. When they responded, "No, we'll spend our night in the square instead." In the street. Rashi explains and says as follows, What is the word no? He may not means now. Atom, you are doing it are important to me. Now that you came, I have the opportunity to have you and to serve you. Please. Another explanation is, you may not now you got to be careful from the evil people around there. Surely I can they should not realize that you're guest. Therefore, I'm giving you advice. Therefore, I give you something to do that you should be careful and come over to my home. So do not why does he tell them go is to the side? Take like a side road. Do a side street. So therefore, they will not bring attention and people should they should recognize that you're coming there. Therefore, he says come, but he uses doesn't say come in the word boyu, but he says come to the side. Meaning take the side entrance or take the side road and nobody should recognize where you're there. And rest over and wash your feet. Why does he say first sleep over and then wash your feet? It makes sense that a person first goes to sleep and then they shower and then they wash? And even more so, first to wash themselves. What's going on over here? He was afraid of the people of Sodom. This is what Lot said to himself. If if the people of Sodom are going to come to me and tell me take out your guest, they'll see that they washed their feet. They'll accuse me. These people are here for two, three days. They didn't tell you you didn't tell us. Therefore, he said, rather let them come into my house with dirty feet. So, you need to commission like this to look like they just came. Therefore, he tells them, first rest over and then afterwards wash yourself. But they tell him and they refuse. But by Abraham, they right away said, "We're going to come over. We're going to come over." We can we learn over here we learn respect that if it's a small fellow that a very important person if it's a regular individual, you can say no, you don't want to bother them. But when it comes to an important person telling you something or offering you to come, you should never refuse. As we learned yesterday, key can have many different languages, many different interpretations. Key and only because so in this case as well, key is telling them we're not going going to your house, but we're going to stay in the middle of the street. Verse three. He told me eight. He pleaded with them very strongly. And they turned his way. When they came to his house, he asked them to make for them a meal party, a feast of masses offer of a year came. And he baked masses for them and they ate. Verse three, Rashi. By your sewer love. Why does it tell us it already says that they're coming to his house? Why does he say by your sewer love? It must have that side base it to tell us that they came through the sideways. Masses offer, why did he make masses? Because as we mentioned, when did the angels come to our from's home? This was just the next day or the later on in the day. So therefore it was Pesach. Verse four. Tell them you should go home. They had not yet gone to sleep. For I am sure I hear in the people of the city and chase them with the people of Sodom now Sodom and Gomorrah is gathered around the home. Surrounded the home in our of our sake and from young and old. Call her on me casa. All the people from every quarter. Verse four, Rashi. Tell them you should go with the ancient of your ancient time. Why does he have to tell us again the people of the city the people of Sodom? Catch me dress up dress up dress up. This is the way it's explained in braces rather. Tell them you should go with the ancient of your ancient time before they even had a time to really down. The people of the city were already speaking about meaning they were talking about the the the angels were talking about it. So you say they were asking Lloyd from a home. What is going on with these people here? For him and he tells them rule show you most of them are evil. I don't know while they're still sitting and talking and chatting about the people of Sodom. And it came to fruition what they were talking about. The ancient of Sodom and the people of Sodom surrounded the house for Gabriel you can see what happened. That's the matter. Well the truth is you should make it the simple interpretation is the ancient of your the people of of city which is the people of Sodom. Ancient they were Russia, they were terrible people. the Sodom and Gomorrah. They surrounded the home. And because since these evil people were the people of Sodom and because of their evil they were known, the people of Sodom are the evil people. It was well known that the people of Sodom were evil and sinful. What does this mean? All the people. From edge to edge. All the people. Nobody stopped. Every single person participated. Meaning that they were all terrible people. Everybody was part of this. Nobody stopped them. Nobody protested. They didn't even have one righteous person amongst them. Verse five. And they called out to Lot. Where are the men that came to you tonight? Take them out. Bring them out to us so so we can know them. What does it mean we can know them? Rashi explains this was not just knowing them. They a in a cruel way, in an intimate way to sin with them. Like whenever he uses the terminology of intimacy that a person didn't know the man, the person wasn't intimate with them. The Torah now continues with verse eight. I'm sorry, verse six. Lot went out to them. Lot went out to them and he posted himself by the door. And the door closed behind them. And he said to them, I beg you my brothers, do not commit such wrong. Verse eight. Behold I have two daughters who have never known a man. They've never been with a man. I see them and I will bring them out to you and do as you please with them. But only to these men. Do not do anything shelter of my roof. I'm sorry, verse 8. These came home. Do me this favor that they came. Do this favor for me. Because these people came to protect to be with me in my home, so therefore I have an obligation to care for them. The Targum translates The Targum shall share with us. Meaning he explains the word see under my roof, but he also means under that I have to occupy myself with them, to deal with them, to serve them, to be there for them. Verse 9. And they said to them Get out of the way. Get out of the way. We're not interested in your daughters. And they said this guy came as a sojourner. And he became now a judge. I thought not of him. And now we will deal even worse with you than with them. They pressed hard against the man, against Lot. Very much so, they tried to break the door down. So Rashi explains in verse 9. Meaning they told him get over here. Come to the side, but he was distancing himself. Anytime you find the word it means means distance. Throw it far that he would throw the incense that we see in the book of Numbers. You know how to throw it from here and further. Get come, meaning don't go far away, come close. And this is a way of getting angry and screaming at them. And screaming at him. We don't trust you and not afraid of you. But they will find some place else the same terminology. Come close but don't touch him. Surely they will come. He must stand in my way or he moved to the side before me. The issue of I will be able to sit next to you. So too in our case when he's talking about our your trying to protect your guest. That you brought into your house. How do you have the guts? How do you have the nerve to be able to bring guest into your home? And I shall continue to say is you see over here it says twice and they said. Why does it say twice? Because there's two responses what they're giving to Lot. Lot said number one that he was going to give them the daughters. And number two that he said they came to stay by me. So first of all they say he said about the daughters told him get out come over here. We're not like. We're not interested in your daughters. And this that he said I'll show you the very fact that he was protecting his guest and saying they came to stay by me. The only way this is when they got angry and they started saying the one guy comes the ball logger. This is a journey he's a stranger. You came from a foreign place and you come to sit here from another side of the river. If you speak to us and you became over all of a sudden like a judge you start rebuking us that you can have guest. You're telling us what to do and you're not listening to the customs of the place. means the door. He I say this little bit of that is like the hinge, the place where the lock is to be able to open up the door which was there to be able to unlock it that they should be able to get in. I used to call him an awesome. So the angels that came, they the men said I used to call him an awesome as you Adam. The men they people So the men stretched out their hands by a view of slate on the brought load back into the home the sadella saguru and they lock the door. Pasuk 11 verse 11 verse and the people that were outside the home at the entrance of the home he could be sent very miraculously were struck with blindness because they were God all from young and old by you them to a passage and therefore they tried in vain to find the door. Verse number 11 Rashi Pesach There's the actual door which is called Dallas Pesach that's the opening that you enter and go out from. What is this is a plague of blindness which doesn't allow them see clearly what was going on. Because what is this telling us the young guys were the ones that started the evil transgressions therefore where did the punishment could start with the young ones as well. Now the angels start telling a lot to get ready to leave the city. The people told lot as follows who else do you have here? A son-in-law your sons your daughters whatever you have in the city I would say when I am walking you got to take out of here. I'd be looking for shooters on micro the simple interpretation of the verses me as you like me as it's well suited related [clears throat] to you puts me when he said she advised besides your wife and daughters that are at home anybody else. I'd say when I'm walking, you got to take them out. What about her? What is your son's been able to say her? The neighbor the children of your daughters. And it's sweet ace. That are married that may be in the city that don't live in your home with my dress the mattress gives another interpretation. I'd meaning me after I send the guys being that the people of the city act so terribly. Do you even have an excuse to excuse such type of behavior and again I lay him. She call the whole night was trying to find and defend the people to be able to remove the terrible decree and say they're not so bad and trying to find some type of excuses is look what these people are going to do. inside. Tell me what else you have here. What else the words what can you say for these individuals? Look what you have here. With this Lot had two married daughters and therefore he went to tell them what was going to happen. Why is it telling them why do you why do you have to tell them to take out because she said she said she said we're destroying this place because God has because they have before we came very great God sent us to destroy it. Therefore Lot then went after after they told Lot what they're planning to do so Lot went to his married daughters to tell them he spoke to his sons in law. Like even I said the people that married his daughters and his daughters' fiancés, tell them and all of them, let's get out of this place. Because God is destroying the city. Like he thought he could bring the household out. And it was like a joke in the eyes of his son-in-law. His son-in-law had two daughters that were living there. He had two daughters that were living there. He had two daughters married in a two daughters that were married in the city. Like Lot, he said, "The people that married these two daughters that were living at home, tell them and all of them, these two daughters that were at home were engaged, had fiancés that were not living in the home, and therefore he went to tell them as well. Verse 15. And as dawn was breaking, the angels urged Lot saying, "Come, come, take your wife and your two daughters that are here, and your two daughters that are here, before you are here, before you are you'll be obliterated in the in account of the city's sinfulness." Rashi 15. What is the word "yitzu"? Like the Targum, which means he pushed them. He said, "Let's go. We got to get out." He was hurrying them up. And him, too, he said, "The ones that were here, those that are here in the home." Lot Lot said to him, "To save them." God said, "Yes, there's a lot of measure here." However, the saying shall make her out of this. This is the simple interpretation according to the verse. The word "tisafi" comes from the word destruction, to be destroyed. They are called "they also might be killed." Same color there, the whole entire generation would be killed. But Targum, as the Targum says, they shall all be destroyed. Verse 15. Verse 16, I'm sorry. Verse 16. And she lingered. The angels told them to go. And the men grabbed her by the hand. She was lingering. She wanted to take all her stuff. And he had his stay in the hand of took his hand. And he had his stay in the hand of his wife. And he had his stay in the hand of his with daughters. With the compassion that Hashem had on him. He took him out. And he placed them and he led them because they are outside the city. Why was he lingering? And interestingly enough, if you look at the trope, the cantillation that's on only very few times they have this cantillation which is called the shalsheles. It's a zigzag going back and forth and this is always used when there was hesitation. You find this here. You find it later for example when Joseph was being seduced by the wife of Potiphar. Every time [snorts] there's a little hesitation or questioning you have this this long shalsheles because there was a hesitation. What was the hesitation? He lost his money. What [snorts] does it mean that he held them? One was there as a messenger to help them, to save them. And the other messenger left to turn over Sodom. Therefore he uses a singular terminology. It doesn't say and they said because only one of them was saving them. Verse 17. And he said it was while they were taking them out. And he said run for your life. Run for your life. Do not look back. And do not stop in any of the plain. Run towards the mountains. Run towards the hills. And be saved so you should not be obliterated with them. Rashi 17, he molly ton of Shaha. What does it mean on your soul? Was because Lot wanted to save all this money and all this stuff. So, therefore, the angel was telling him the Yaha lots of ashes. It's enough that your life is being saved. I'll talk is a moment. Don't worry about getting money. I'll tell me the correct answer. Don't look back. Why? Ah, to your sight of my country. Fully you sinned and you were evil just like them. And you should be punished with them. Only reason you're being saved is because of Abraham only in the on merit of Abraham at the neutral being saved. Ain't good. I therefore you don't have the right. You're not worthy enough. Lira is people running some to see how they're being punished. The other neutral and you're being saved. And therefore, do not look back or you will be destroyed with them. The whole lucky cur. What is the whole plane? This was the area of Kikar Yarden, the area of the Jordan, which Sodom was in its territory where Lot lived. I hurry him a little. Go towards the mountains, meaning to the mountain. It's love from Barack run towards Abraham creation of the heart that is in the mountain. She never thought that we learned previously in the verse that they had to move tomorrow that they moved to the mountain. The actual even in the time of Lot being saved, hiya Yasha of Shama from was still there. She never said it says at the market Michelle hire some only but he lay went to the place where his tent was there to begin with. But I have a lot of stuff of Yala from even though that it says later on that Abraham moved and he was in a lady memory. I don't have me a lot of money. Abraham had a lot of real estate. He had places all over the place. The name Shakira and it went all the way until Hebron. He molly ate. What does it mean to be saved? Lotion has Schlotter. The way you should be able to get out of it. Then if you run out of the territory, you'll be able to be saved and therefore you will not be consumed with the city. The same call Lot call him Lot of Shama Mikra. Anytime you see the word Hamlota in the verse, it means Ashmutzir in Old French. We can Hamalata Zacher to be saved Shinishmat the Uber Minarecham. For example, as the fetus comes out of the womb. Kitsipir Nimlatta or as a bird slips, moves, and continues with the Yochlu Malit Matsa Ashmit Matsa Shinishmat also they weren't able to the idolatry were not able to carry the waste uh that was with them and they therefore it they they had to get rid of it. All different terminology terminologies in the verse where he uses the word Hamalata. Verse 18, Vayomer Lehem and Lot said to them Al Na Adonai, oh God no. Verse 19 Hinei Na Matsa Hinei Na Matsa Avdecha Verse 18 Rashi Al Na Rabbaynu Omri Hashem Zekaydesh that this is God's name wasn't referring to the Malach Shalay Nemar Balach Nafshi because he says afterwards that I should be saved Limisha Yishbi Od El to give life and to take away life. Targum says Bibon Kanashem he was asking as a request from God. Al Na Al Temru please Elightly [snorts] Malit Harah please don't tell me to run to the mountain. Na Lashim Bakasha the word Na means please don't force me to go to the mountain. Verse 19, Hinei Na Matsa Avdecha Hen Baynecha your servant has found favor in your eyes Vataktil and you were bounding kindness as I should have seen somebody that you did with me Lachi Nafshi to save my life. Vanoshli Yochli Malit Harah but I cannot go towards the mountains. I can't escape towards the mountains. Pinte Bakani Ara Lest the evil cling to me for Mati and I will die. What does he mean by this? Rashi says as follows. Text number nine verse 19. What does it mean that the the evil will cling to me? And he explains. Lot was concerned. God saw the actions my actions of the actions of the people of the city. I was considered a righteous person. Therefore I was worthy of being saved. The problem is now that when I'm going to come to Avram who's a righteous person and me I then will look like a bad guy. So therefore I don't want to go there. Until now when I'm by the bad guys I look like a good guy but when I'm by the good guys I'm going to look like a bad guy. We see a similar thing. Where it's so far this little Leo. With a similar thing they said to Elijah. Did you come to me to mention my sins? I was considered righteous amongst them. Now you're coming to me considered evil person. That means when I'm amongst evil people I'm great but now that you come to me Elijah. I look like a bad person. What is then the angel respond? He may not hear this grave. Therefore. Please I'm sorry that Lot tells the angel please there's a town called Bella. It's very close by I should be able to run there. He meets are. And I and I can escape there. It's smaller. It is less. there. I leave me to here it is smaller. It's a naughty. and I can survive. Rashi I ear has ice cream. Cream of a Yeshiva sir, meaning that there people haven't settled here yet. It's new. It's a new settlement. Therefore, the anger of Hashem may not be against it that much. They haven't seen that much. What does it mean how close? It mean there have flood. It's only from the generation of that flood. Shouldn't you spell going on that people split all over and they were building new cities and this was one of them. Each person was settling in their places. This was in the city in that year that Peleg died. We shall that kind of from that time until the storm was destroyed. Noon base channel was about 52 years. Peleg may Peleg died when I have was 48 years old. Now I have when storm was being turned over and destroyed that one was 99 comes out was only 52 years old. Rashi continues. How is it possible that Peleg lead us through rage test channel? That Peleg should live for 209 years after room. After you give birth to room. Same as him. If you're going to count the amount of time Islam and base is 32 years when it was And from until it was born Islam and is another 30 years. You have 30 plus 30 is 62. Base. And until and from until it was born. 29. You have 91. And then from when it was born until it was born is another 70 years. I am so much you left with now 161. So you have that means from when Avram was born was 161 years until Ru. Then I add another 48 years of Avram's life. So you have now 209 years of Peleg after Ru was born. That year was the year when everything split up was the year they built the tower and everything happened. When Stein was destroyed they have Avram was 99 years old because that's when the angels came to him it was right after his circumcision. What do we see from here? What's Rashi's point? That means that means from the generation of the people that built the tower and God split them all over the world until now until the destruction of Sodom was only 52 years. The after Sheva saw and Sheva delayed in people getting settled here. After Sheva saw one year. We should remember let me run away there please not 51 years. What we're seeing from over here is that Sodom was only 51 years old and how terrible the people became in 51 years. I live in and has very few sins. Therefore you can leave me there Sheva and I'll be able to live there. This is the Medrish. The simple interpretation means it's a very small city. I know Sheva very few people. To leave it in you don't have to kill the people there. You can leave it and I will be able to survive there as well. This concludes the third Torah reading of Parshas Vayeira.