The Torah tells us that before G’d destroyed Sodom He said, “Shall I conceal from Avraham what I do, now that Avraham is surely to become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by him?…” Rashi cites Chazal who explain, “G’d had said, ‘It is not appropriate that I should destroy Sodom without informing Avraham. I have given him this land with its five metropolises. He has been declared the ‘father of all nations.’ Should I destroy the children without informing the father? Therefore I will inform him.” What was the value of G’d informing Avraham of His actions prior to destroying Sodom?
The Gemara in Tractate Nidarim cites an opinion that states that the reason the Jewish people were exiled to Egypt was because Avraham had not taken the opportunity to convert the people of Sodom to monotheism. After Avraham was victorious over the four mighty kings, the king of Sodom, who was initially taken captive with his people, had said to Avraham, “Give me the people and take the possessions for yourself.” Avraham the victor should have said to the king of Sodom, “Because you are the equivalent of my spoils, I will take the people.” The Gemara states, “If Avraham had taken the members of the Sodom community under his jurisdiction he would have brought them under the wings of the Divine Presence (converted them to monotheism).” Avraham passed on this opportunity. He had said to the king of Sodom, “I will not benefit from you as much as a thread or a bootstrap…”
Rabbi Yosef Kalatsky explains: ‘The consequence of Avraham not taking the people of Sodom, was that they had not only remained pagans, but they had descended to the depths of evil -as the verse states, “The men of Sodom were evil and sinned against G’d defiantly….” There was no other choice but to destroy this evil entity. It was because Avraham’s inaction, regarding Sodom, that the Jewish people were exiled to Egypt. Avraham had lived his entire life for Kiddush Hashem (Sanctification of G’d’s Name) in order to purge the world of paganism. However because of Avraham’s decision not to take the people of Sodom under his influence, the most extreme level of Chilul Hashem (Desecration of G’d’s Name) was brought about. This was the claim against Avraham. Avraham was pained that because of his inaction the people of Sodom would never be spiritually rehabilitated. If through his supplication he would be able to bring about a reprieve, which would allow them to live, there was a chance they would do teshuvah (repent). Thus, Avraham would be released from this very serious claim. G’d therefore gave Avraham the opportunity to pray on their behalf so that they should live in order to do teshuvah. Despite the fact that ultimately Avraham’s supplications were in vain regarding the people of Sodom, the fact that he took the initiative to the point of jeopardizing his own relationship with G’d, caused a level of correction within himself. When Avraham had spoken to G’d in defense of Sodom, he had spoken in a very direct manner which could have been interpreted as a disrespect. Thus, informing Avraham of the imminent destruction of Sodom was for the benefit of Avraham – to secure and advance his own spirituality. Prepared by: Devorah Abenhaim
