Genesis Chapter 18:17-33 Debate: The Destruction of Sodom and Gemorah

(17) Now the Lord had said: ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? (18) since Abraham will become a big and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. (19) For I have known him for the purpose that he will command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice; and for the purpose of the Lord bringing upon Abraham what He spoke about him.’ (20) And the Lord said: ‘The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah, how great it is, And there sin, how heavy it is. (21) I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.’

(22) And the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood before the LORD. (23) And Abraham drew near, and said: ‘Will You annihilate the virtuous with the wicked? (24) Maybe there are fifty virtuous people within the city. Will You also annihilate, and not sustain the place for the fifty virtuous that are in it? (25) Far be it from You to do a thing like this, to kill the virtuous with the wicked, and it will be the same for the virtuous and the wicked - far be it from you; will the judge of all the earth not do justly?’

(26) And the Lord said: ‘If I find in Sodom fifty virtuous people within the city, then I will sustain the whole place for their sake.’ (27) And Abraham answered and said: ‘Here, I have undertaken to speak to my Lord, and I'm dust and ashes. (28) Maybe the fifty virtuous people will be short by five. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?’ And He said: ‘I will not destroy it, if I find forty-five there.’ (29) And he went on again to speak to Him and said: ‘Maybe forty will be found there.’ And He said: ‘I will not do it for the sake of the forty’ (30) And he said: ‘Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and let me speak. Maybe there shall thirty be found there.’ And He said: ‘I will not do it, if I find thirty there.’ (31) And he said: ‘Here I've undertaken to speak to my Lord. Maybe twenty shall be found there.’ And He said: ‘I will not destroy it for sake of the twenty.’ (32) And he said: ‘May my Lord not be angry, and let me speak just this one time. Maybe ten willl be found there.’ And He said: ‘I will not destroy for the sake of the ten.’ (33) And the Lord went when He had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham went back to his place.