This chapter takes us back to the wicked cities of the plains of Jor'dan, and to Lot and his family. During the years that had passed since Ab'ram saved the king of Sod'om and many of his people from conquest by the king of E'lam the city had fallen deeper and deeper into sin. Lot had chosen to remain in Sod'om, and his family had become entangled in the evils of this unrighteous city.
Having finished their mission to A'bra-ham and his wife, the three Angelic visitors started on the journey to Sod'om, accompanied for part of the way by A'bra-ham. Presently the leader of the group lingered in conversation with A'bra-ham, while the others continued the march towards Sod'om. The latter two Angels had been sent to Sod'om to announce its approaching destruction under the judgment of God. Remembering the faith of A'bra-ham and his kindly interest in Lot and his family, the Lord said "Shall I hide from A'bra-ham what I am going to do?" So close had been the relation between God and A'bra-ham that he was called "the friend of God." To such a friend the Lord was willing to reveal His purpose concerning the overthrow of a city in which there flourished the worst forms of immorality known in the history of the world.
The Lord therefore took His friend into full confidence, telling him that the time of judgment had come, and that the sins of Sod'om must be punished. A'bra-ham then offered an earnest prayer in the hope of sparing Sod'om. He said to the Lord: "If there can be found as many as fifty righteous people in the city, wilt thou spare it for the sake of these fifty?"
When the Lord agreed to spare the city if fifty righteous people could be found there, A'bra-ham pleaded: "Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five?" After the Lord agreed to this condition A'bra-ham succeeded in having the required number of righteous people reduced, first to forty, then to thirty, then to twenty, and finally to ten. Beyond this number A'bra-ham did not dare to go, but was content with the Lord's assurance that the city would not be destroyed if there could be found only ten who were righteous.
In spite of the heroic efforts of A'bra-ham to save the city, not even ten righteous people could be found, and the judgment of God was duly carried out.
The two Angels who had left A'bra-ham and the Lord in conversation went on into the city of Sod'om, walking through the city on a tour of observation, and trying to find at least ten good men and women. Instead of finding the good people whose presence would have saved the city from destruction, the Angels were forced to look upon the worst forms of wickedness and vice. No matter where they looked, they could find nothing but pride, luxury, and self-indulgence; everywhere the people gave themselves up to worldly pleasures and disgraceful conduct of the worst kind. Finally they came to the house of Lot and found him sitting at the gate of Sod'om, where he acted as a magistrate. True to the training which he had received from his uncle A'bra-ham, and mindful of the customs of hospitality, Lot rose up and greeted the strangers courteously. He welcomed them to his home, treated them with kindness, and made them a feast.
