Vayeira 19:16 · EXTRA

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

The Complete Passuk

וַֽיִּתְמַהְמָ֓הּ ׀ וַיַּחֲזִ֨קוּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים בְּיָדוֹ֙ וּבְיַד־אִשְׁתּ֣וֹ וּבְיַד־שְׁתֵּ֣י בְנֹתָ֔יו בְּחֶמְלַ֥ת יְהֹוָ֖ה עָלָ֑יו וַיֹּצִאֻ֥הוּ וַיַּנִּחֻ֖הוּ מִח֥וּץ לָעִֽיר׃

But he delayed; so the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, in the Lord’s compassion for him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.

Source Citation

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text

וַיִּתְמַהְמָהּ. כְּדֵי לְהַצִּיל אֶת מָמוֹנוֹ. וַיַּחֲזִיקוּ — אֶחָד מֵהֶם הָיָה שָׁלִיחַ לְהַצִּילוֹ וַחֲבֵרוֹ לַהֲפֹךְ סְדוֹם, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר וַיֹּאמֶר הִמָּלֵט וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר וַיֹּאמְרוּ.

English: “But he delayed” — in order to save his property. “And they seized” — one of them was the agent to save him and his companion to overturn Sedom; therefore Scripture says “and he said, Escape,” not “and they said.”

On the daf / in context: Lot’s hesitation over property almost cost him his life; the angels’ distinct missions (rescue vs. destruction) explain the singular verb of command.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Rashi / Midrash) — not a formal named middah of the 13. Delay and singular speech are both interpreted from the wording.

What Is Learned

Attachment to property can endanger life; divine compassion nevertheless forces rescue even when the person himself delays.