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Genesis 19:4 - Sedom's depravity surrounds Lot

Genesis 19:4 - בראשית 19:4

Hebrew Text

טֶרֶם יִשְׁכָּבוּ וְאַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר אַנְשֵׁי סְדֹם נָסַבּוּ עַל־הַבַּיִת מִנַּעַר וְעַד־זָקֵן כָּל־הָעָם מִקָּצֶה׃

English Translation

But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sedom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

Transliteration

Terem yishkavu ve'anshei ha'ir anshei Sdom nasvu al-habayit mina'ar ve'ad-zaken kol-ha'am mikatzeh.

Hebrew Leining Text

טֶ֘רֶם֮ יִשְׁכָּ֒בוּ֒ וְאַנְשֵׁ֨י הָעִ֜יר אַנְשֵׁ֤י סְדֹם֙ נָסַ֣בּוּ עַל־הַבַּ֔יִת מִנַּ֖עַר וְעַד־זָקֵ֑ן כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם מִקָּצֶֽה׃
טֶ֘רֶם֮ יִשְׁכָּ֒בוּ֒ וְאַנְשֵׁ֨י הָעִ֜יר אַנְשֵׁ֤י סְדֹם֙ נָסַ֣בּוּ עַל־הַבַּ֔יִת מִנַּ֖עַר וְעַד־זָקֵ֑ן כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם מִקָּצֶֽה׃

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Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

The verse (Bereshit 19:4) describes the wickedness of the people of Sedom as they surrounded Lot's house with the intent to harm his guests. This event highlights the depravity of Sedomite society, which was marked by cruelty, lack of hospitality, and moral corruption.

Rashi's Commentary

Rashi explains that the phrase "מִנַּעַר וְעַד־זָקֵן" ("both old and young") emphasizes that all segments of Sedom's population participated in this evil act—no one was innocent. Even the elderly, who should have known better, joined the youth in their wickedness. Rashi further notes that the term "כָּל־הָעָם מִקָּצֶה" ("all the people from every quarter") indicates that the entire city was united in their evil intentions, leaving no righteous individuals among them.

Midrashic Insights

The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 50:5) elaborates on the severity of Sedom's sins, stating that their cruelty extended beyond mere inhospitality—they actively sought to harm strangers. The Midrash compares their behavior to that of wild animals surrounding prey, emphasizing their complete moral decay. Additionally, the Talmud (Sanhedrin 109a) teaches that the people of Sedom had established laws forbidding kindness to outsiders, making their collective assault on Lot's house a systemic evil rather than an isolated incident.

Rambam's Perspective

Rambam (Hilchot De'ot 6:1) uses Sedom as an example of a society that institutionalized cruelty, teaching that their destruction was inevitable due to their refusal to uphold basic ethical standards. He contrasts this with the Torah's emphasis on chessed (kindness) and welcoming guests, as exemplified by Avraham.

Key Lessons

  • Collective Responsibility: The verse underscores how an entire society can become corrupted when evil is normalized.
  • Moral Leadership: The participation of the elderly highlights the danger when those who should guide instead follow wickedness.
  • Hospitality as a Virtue: Sedom's hatred of guests stands in stark contrast to Avraham's values, teaching the importance of kindness to strangers.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sanhedrin 109b
The verse is referenced in the context of discussing the sins of the people of Sodom and their collective punishment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Genesis 19:4 teach us about the people of Sodom?
A: Genesis 19:4 describes how the entire population of Sodom, from young to old, surrounded Lot's house with hostile intent. According to Rashi and the Midrash, this shows the extreme wickedness of Sodom—they were united in their cruelty and lack of hospitality, violating basic moral principles (Midrash Bereishit Rabbah 50:5).
Q: Why is the phrase 'from young to old' mentioned in Genesis 19:4?
A: The Torah emphasizes that 'from young to old' all the people of Sodom participated in surrounding Lot's house. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 109b) explains that this highlights the complete moral corruption of Sodom—even the youth were raised with wickedness, showing how deeply ingrained their evil ways were.
Q: What lesson can we learn from the actions of the Sodomites in Genesis 19:4?
A: The Rambam (Hilchot De'ot 6:1) teaches that Sodom's behavior represents the opposite of derech eretz (proper conduct). Their lack of hospitality and mob violence warn us of the dangers of societal corruption. We must actively pursue justice and kindness, unlike Sodom, which was destroyed for its cruelty (Pirkei Avot 5:10).
Q: How does Genesis 19:4 relate to the mitzvah of welcoming guests?
A: The men of Sodom surrounded Lot's house to harm his guests, directly opposing the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim (welcoming guests), which Avraham exemplified. The Talmud (Shabbat 127a) lists hospitality as a great mitzvah, and Sodom's hatred of strangers shows why their city deserved punishment (Rashi on Genesis 19:4).