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VERSE: Gn19-01a

RASHIS COVERED: Gn19-01a Gn18-33b Gn20-15a

============ WERE THEY ANGELS OR PEOPLE =========================

BACKGROUND
----------
Gn18 thru Gn20 mentions 3 angels that came to
-- tell Abraham that Sarah was giving birth to a child
-- save Lot from Sedom and Amorah
-- Destroy sedom and Amorah

THE TEXT
--------
In some verses they are called PEOPLE while in other verses
they are called ANGELS. Why?

THE RASHI
---------
Rashi suggests a guideline.
-- Abraham was on the level of angels and hence the angels
   are called people
-- Lot was an ordinary person & hence the angels are called
   angels.
-- On those incidents when Lot was behaving with kindness
   towards guests and practicing the Abrahamitic traits of
   giving charity the angels are also called PEOPLE

THE LIST
--------
Here is a list of most of the verses where the Angels/People
are referred to.  The usage of PEOPLE vs ANGELS seems
consistent with the above mentioned principle in Rashi. Further
analysis however is necessary to make the principle work 100%
=================================================================
VERSE    CALLED  Verse discussing the Angels/People
=======  ======= ================================================
Gn18-02  PEOPLE  Abraham saw 3 PEOPLE standing by him
Gn18-16  PEOPLE  the PEOPLE left (Abraham)
Gn19-01  ANGELS  the 2 angels came to Lot
Gn19-10  PEOPLE  the PEOPLE struck with blindness the Sedomites
Gn19-12  PEOPLE  the PEOPLE asked Lot: Who else should we save
Gn19-15  ANGELS  when the dawn came the ANGELS urged him to leave
Gn19-16  PEOPLE  the PEOPLE grabbed Lot & sent him from the city
=================================================================

======================== ALIGNMENT OF # ANGELS MENTIONED ========
BACKGROUND
----------
Genesis 18-20 discusses
-- the prophecy of Sarah giving birth
-- The saving of Lot from the destruction of Sedom
-- The destruction of Sedom

THE TEXTS
---------
The Bible first speaks about THREE angels (Gn18)
Then it speaks about TWO angels (Gn19)
Then it hints at ONE angel.
Why?

THE RASHI
---------
There were 3 angels & there are 3 tasks.
So Rashi-is-Simple: Why not make a correspondence:
one angel per task. Rashi in fact says that we learn from
here that angels can do at most one task---each angel had
one task---when that task was done that angel left. Hence
the progression: 3 angels, 2 angels; one angel

THE LIST
--------
The list below shows the progression of 3,2,1 along with
the tasks accomplished*2
================================================================
VERSE      # Angels     Task accomplished
========== ============ ========================================
Gn18-09:10 3 angels     Prophecy that Sarah would give birth
Gn19-01:22 2 angels     Save Lot from Sedom & Amorah
Gn19-15:25 1/2 angels*1 Destruction of Sedom

NOTES
-----
*1 We have only touched on the broad outline. If one looks
   at individual verses one sees further support. For example
   Gn19-22 uses the singular indicating that only one angel
   was doing it. Here is the verse text
   -------------------------------------------------------
   hurry flee because I CANT destroy the city till you do
   -------------------------------------------------------

*2 Rashi mentions a 4th task -- the healing of Abraham. This
   however would contradict his thesis. Furthermore it is NOT
   MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE that Abraham was cured. Thus this
   comment of Rashi needs further analysis
=================================================================

=================== 2 Kings try and abduct Sarah ================

BACKGROUND
----------
* Twice in Abrahams life a King wanted to marry his wife Sarah.

* In each case Abraham claimed she was his sister (so that
  they shouldnt try and kill him to obtain Sarah).

* In both cases Sarahs true identity was discovered.

* In both cases Sarah was returned to Abraham

* But in one case the King expelled Abraham while in the other
  case Abraham was invited to stay in the land.

* Why? Read the footnotes below for an answer.
=================================================================
VERSE     PHRASE1                PHRASE2
========= =====================  ================================
Gn12-19   here is your wife      take her & leave
Gn20-15a  He returned his wife   & said MY LAND IS BEFORE YOU
Differs   *1                     *2

NOTES
-----
*1 These phrases are the same (In both cases Sarah was abducted
   by a King and in both cases (after appropriate warning)
   Sarah was returned to Abraham

*2 These phrases are different.
   -- PHAROH EXPELLED Abraham while
   -- AVIMELECH LET HIM STAY.

   Why the difference in treatment?

   Rashi explains that Pharoh reigned over Egypt which was known
   for its Lewdness (e.g. See Lv18-01:06 for a strong statement
   of this). Hence Abraham couldnt have stayed there.

   By contrast Avimelech reigned over a relatively civil
   nation (e.g. cf Gn20-08 which shows that the people were
   God fearing). Hence Avimelech invited him to stay in the land)
=================================================================

RASHI RULE USED: DOUBLE PARSHAS
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 11 Number 24


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