Vayeira 18:16 · EXTRA

Supplementary classical material; Torah Temimah lists no citation under this passuk.

The Complete Passuk

וַיָּקֻ֤מוּ מִשָּׁם֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים וַיַּשְׁקִ֖פוּ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י סְדֹ֑ם וְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔ם הֹלֵ֥ךְ עִמָּ֖ם לְשַׁלְּחָֽם׃

The men rose from there and looked out toward Sedom, and Avraham walked with them to escort them.

Source Citation

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text

וַיַּשְׁקִפוּ. כָּל הַשְׁקָפָה שֶׁבַּמִּקְרָא לְרָעָה חוּץ מֵהַשְׁקִיפָה מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשְׁךָ, שֶׁגָּדוֹל כֹּחַ מַתְּנוֹת עֲנִיִּים שֶׁהוֹפֵךְ מִדַּת הַדִּין לְרַחֲמִים. לְשַׁלְּחָם – לְלַוּוֹתָם, שֶׁסָּבוּר שֶׁהֵם אוֹרְחִים.

English: “And they looked out.” Every instance of “looking out” (hashkafah) in Scripture denotes looking for evil, except “Look forth from Your holy habitation,” because the power of gifts to the poor is so great that it turns the attribute of judgment into mercy. “To escort them” — he thought they were ordinary travellers.

On the daf / in context: Rashi notes the negative valence of the verb when the angels gaze toward Sedom, and simultaneously highlights Avraham’s hospitality in accompanying guests on their way.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Rashi) — not a formal named middah of the 13. Lexical consistency of “hashkafah” and the practice of escorting guests are both derived from the wording.

What Is Learned

The gaze toward Sedom already signals impending judgment; at the same time Avraham models the mitzvah of accompanying guests, believing them to be ordinary wayfarers.