Genesis of Justice - Gen 18 Abraham defends

THE GENESIS OF JUSTICE by Alan Dershowitz Torah Study

The Genesis of Justice - unit 4
Abraham Defends the Guilty

and Loses Schocken Bible Translation

Genesis 18:

17 Now YHWH had said to himself:
Shall I cover up from Avraham what I am about to do?
18 For Avraham is to become, yes, become a nation great and mighty (in number),
and all the nations of the earth will find blessing through him.
19 Indeed, I have known him,
in order that he may charge his sons and his household after him:
they shall keep the way of YHWH,
to do what is right and just,
in order that YHWH may bring upon Avraham what he spoke concerning him.
20 So YHWH said:
The outcry in Sedom and Amora—how great it is!
And their sin—how exceedingly heavily it weighs!

destruction: Some read “altogether (according to its cry).”

21 Now let me go down and see:
if they have done according to its cry that has come to me—
destruction!
And if not—
I wish to know.

but Avraham still stood in the presence of YHWH: Some manuscripts read “But YHWH still stood in the presence of Avraham.” The subject of the sentence has been reversed by scribes who were uncomfortable with the passage’s human portrayal of God.

22 The men turned from there and went toward Sedom,
but Avraham still stood in the presence of YHWH.
23 Avraham came close and said:
Will you really sweep away the innocent along with the guilty?
24 Perhaps there are fifty innocent within the city,
will you really sweep it away?
Will you not bear with the place because of the fifty innocent that are in its midst?

^{Heaven forbid: Lit. “May you have a curse,” an ironic turn of
phrase in this situation. like the innocent, like the guilty:
Or “innocent
and guilty alike.”}

25 Heaven forbid for you to do a thing like this,
to deal death to the innocent along with the guilty,
that it should come about: like the innocent, like the guilty,
Heaven forbid for you!
The judge of all the earth—will he not do what is just?

bear with: Or “bear the sin.”

26 YHWH said:
If I find in Sedom fifty innocent within the city,
I will bear with the whole place for their sake.

earth and ashes: Heb. afar va-efer, traditionally “dust and ashes.” The phrase, while common in English, is used in the Bible again only in Job (30:19, 42:6).

27 Avraham spoke up, and said:
Now pray, I have ventured to speak to my Lord,
and I am but earth and ashes:
28 Perhaps of the fifty innocent, five will be lacking—
will you bring ruin upon the whole city because of the five?
He said:
I will not bring ruin, if I find there forty-five.
29 But he continued to speak to him and said:
Perhaps there will be found there only forty!
He said:
I will not do it, for the sake of the forty.
30 But he said:
Pray let not my Lord be upset that I speak further:
Perhaps there will be found there only thirty!
He said:
I will not do it, if I find there thirty.
31 But he said:
Now pray, I have ventured to speak to my Lord:
Perhaps there will be found there only twenty!
He said:
I will not bring ruin, for the sake of the twenty.
32 But he said:
Pray let my Lord not be upset that I speak further just this one time:
Perhaps there will be found there only ten!
He said:
I will not bring ruin, for the sake of the ten.

YHWH went: See note on 17:22.

33 YHWH went, as soon as he had finished speaking to Avraham, and Avraham returned to his place.

The Schocken Bible
The Genesis of Justice