Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
The visitors look toward Sodom as they leave, and the LORD speaks of Abraham's chosen place in His purposes and in the way of righteousness and justice. Against that backdrop, He announces the grave outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and says He will see whether it is so.
W16hen the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them off. 17And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 19For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.” 20Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous, 21I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”
After the others turn toward Sodom, Abraham remains before the LORD and asks whether the righteous will be swept away with the wicked. He appeals to the Judge of all the earth, and the LORD says He will spare the whole place for fifty righteous people.
22And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. 23Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there? 25Far be it from You to do such a thing — to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” 26So the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous ones within the city of Sodom, on their account I will spare the whole place.”
Speaking with humility, Abraham lowers the number from fifty to ten in a careful series of requests. Each time the LORD agrees to spare the city for the sake of the righteous found there, and the exchange ends with their parting.
27Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord— though I am but dust and ashes— 28suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?” 29Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?” 30Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?” 31And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?” 32Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?” 33When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned home.