Saadia's Tafsir on Bereshit 18 (Parashat Vayera)

Bereshit 18:1

וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְהוָה בְּאֵלֹנֵי מַמְרֵא וְהוּא יֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח-הָאֹהֶל כְּחֹם הַיּוֹם

. .

And God appeared to him in the plain of Mamre; and he was sitting at the door of the tent in the heat of the day.

Bereshit 18:2

וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה שְׁלֹשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים נִצָּבִים עָלָיו וַיַּרְא וַיָּרָץ לִקְרָאתָם מִפֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ אָרְצָה

. . . . .

And he lifted up his eyes and saw — and behold, three men were standing before him. And when he saw them, he came to meet them from the door of the tent, and bowed down upon the earth.

Bereshit 18:3

וַיֹּאמַר אֲדֹנָי אִם-נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ--אַל-נָא תַעֲבֹר מֵעַל עַבְדֶּךָ

. .

And he said: 'O ally of God! If I have found favor with you, do not pass by your servant.

Bereshit 18:4

יֻקַּח-נָא מְעַט-מַיִם וְרַחֲצוּ רַגְלֵיכֶם וְהִשָּׁעֲנוּ תַּחַת הָעֵץ

. .

Let a little water be brought to you; and wash your feet; and lean under the tree.

Bereshit 18:5

וְאֶקְחָה פַת-לֶחֶם וְסַעֲדוּ לִבְּכֶם אַחַר תַּעֲבֹרוּ--כִּי-עַל-כֵּן עֲבַרְתֶּם עַל-עַבְדְּכֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ כֵּן תַּעֲשֶׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ

. . .

And I shall bring a piece of food, and stay your hearts; after that you may go on — for it is on this account that you have passed by your servant.' They said: 'Do as you have spoken.'

Bereshit 18:6

וַיְמַהֵר אַבְרָהָם הָאֹהֱלָה אֶל-שָׂרָה וַיֹּאמֶר מַהֲרִי שְׁלֹשׁ סְאִים קֶמַח סֹלֶת--לוּשִׁי וַעֲשִׂי עֻגוֹת

. . .

And Abraham hastened to the tent, to Sarah, and said: 'Make haste — three measures of fine flour; knead it and make it into cake-bread.'

Bereshit 18:7

וְאֶל-הַבָּקָר רָץ אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח בֶּן-בָּקָר רַךְ וָטוֹב וַיִּתֵּן אֶל-הַנַּעַר וַיְמַהֵר לַעֲשׂוֹת אֹתוֹ

. . .

And to the cattle Abraham hastened; and he took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the youth; and he urged him to prepare it.

Bereshit 18:8

וַיִּקַּח חֶמְאָה וְחָלָב וּבֶן-הַבָּקָר אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה וַיִּתֵּן לִפְנֵיהֶם וְהוּא-עֹמֵד עֲלֵיהֶם תַּחַת הָעֵץ וַיֹּאכֵלוּ

. . . .

And he took butter and milk, and the calf which he had prepared; and he set them before them; and he was standing before them under the tree; and they ate.

Bereshit 18:9

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו אַיֵּה שָׂרָה אִשְׁתֶּךָ וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה בָאֹהֶל

. .

And they said to him: 'Where is Sarah your wife?' And he said: 'Behold, she is in the tent.'

Bereshit 18:10

וַיֹּאמֶר שׁוֹב אָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ כָּעֵת חַיָּה וְהִנֵּה-בֵן לְשָׂרָה אִשְׁתֶּךָ וְשָׂרָה שֹׁמַעַת פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וְהוּא אַחֲרָיו

. . . .

He said: 'I shall return to you at this time of the coming year; and there shall be a son for Sarah your wife.' And Sarah was listening at the door of the tent, and it was behind her.

Bereshit 18:11

וְאַבְרָהָם וְשָׂרָה זְקֵנִים בָּאִים בַּיָּמִים חָדַל לִהְיוֹת לְשָׂרָה אֹרַח כַּנָּשִׁים

. . .

And Abraham and Sarah had grown old, advanced in years; and it had ceased to be for Sarah the way of women.

Bereshit 18:12

וַתִּצְחַק שָׂרָה בְּקִרְבָּהּ לֵאמֹר אַחֲרֵי בְלֹתִי הָיְתָה-לִּי עֶדְנָה וַאדֹנִי זָקֵן

. .

And Sarah laughed within herself, saying: 'After I have grown worn, shall I have splendor? And my lord is old.'

Bereshit 18:13

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-אַבְרָהָם לָמָּה זֶּה צָחֲקָה שָׂרָה לֵאמֹר הַאַף אֻמְנָם אֵלֵד--וַאֲנִי זָקַנְתִּי

. . .

And God said to Abraham: 'Why did Sarah laugh, saying, "Verily, shall I bear when I have grown old?"

Bereshit 18:14

הֲיִפָּלֵא מֵיְהוָה דָּבָר לַמּוֹעֵד אָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ כָּעֵת חַיָּה--וּלְשָׂרָה בֵן

. . .

Is any matter hidden from God? At the appointed time I shall return to you at this time of the coming year — and Sarah shall have a son.'

Bereshit 18:15

וַתְּכַחֵשׁ שָׂרָה לֵאמֹר לֹא צָחַקְתִּי כִּי יָרֵאָה וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא כִּי צָחָקְתְּ

. .

And Sarah denied, saying: 'I did not laugh' — for she was afraid. He said: 'No — but you did laugh.'

Bereshit 18:16

וַיָּקֻמוּ מִשָּׁם הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיַּשְׁקִפוּ עַל-פְּנֵי סְדֹם וְאַבְרָהָם--הֹלֵךְ עִמָּם לְשַׁלְּחָם

. .

Then the men rose from there, and looked out toward Sodom; and Abraham was going with them to escort them.

Bereshit 18:17

וַיהוָה אָמָר הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִי מֵאַבְרָהָם אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי עֹשֶׂה

. .

And God said: 'Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing —

Bereshit 18:18

וְאַבְרָהָם--הָיוֹ יִהְיֶה לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל וְעָצוּם וְנִבְרְכוּ-בוֹ--כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ

. . ]] . .

And Abraham — there shall come from him a great and mighty nation; and in him shall be blessed all the nations of the earth.

Bereshit 18:19

כִּי יְדַעְתִּיו לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֶּה אֶת-בָּנָיו וְאֶת-בֵּיתוֹ אַחֲרָיו וְשָׁמְרוּ דֶּרֶךְ יְהוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט--לְמַעַן הָבִיא יְהוָה עַל-אַבְרָהָם אֵת אֲשֶׁר-דִּבֶּר עָלָיו

. . . . .

And I know him — that he shall command his sons and his household after him, that they shall keep the way of God, to do righteousness and judgment — that God may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken concerning him.'

Bereshit 18:20

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה זַעֲקַת סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה כִּי-רָבָּה וְחַטָּאתָם--כִּי כָבְדָה מְאֹד

. .

And God said: 'The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah has grown great; and their sin has grown exceedingly great.

Bereshit 18:21

אֵרְדָה-נָּא וְאֶרְאֶה הַכְּצַעֲקָתָהּ הַבָּאָה אֵלַי עָשׂוּ כָּלָה וְאִם-לֹא אֵדָעָה

.

I shall send down a directed command, and I shall see: whether they have wholly done as their cry which has come to me — or not.'

Bereshit 18:22

וַיִּפְנוּ מִשָּׁם הָאֲנָשִׁים וַיֵּלְכוּ סְדֹמָה וְאַבְרָהָם--עוֹדֶנּוּ עֹמֵד לִפְנֵי יְהוָה

. .

Then the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom; and Abraham was still standing — praying — before God.

Bereshit 18:23

וַיִּגַּשׁ אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמַר הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה צַדִּיק עִם-רָשָׁע

. .

And Abraham drew near, and said: 'Will You verily sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

Bereshit 18:24

אוּלַי יֵשׁ חֲמִשִּׁים צַדִּיקִם בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר הַאַף תִּסְפֶּה וְלֹא-תִשָּׂא לַמָּקוֹם לְמַעַן חֲמִשִּׁים הַצַּדִּיקִם אֲשֶׁר בְּקִרְבָּהּ

. .

Perhaps there are fifty righteous within the city — will You verily sweep them away, and not pardon the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in its midst?'

Bereshit 18:25

חָלִלָה לְּךָ מֵעֲשֹׂת כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה לְהָמִית צַדִּיק עִם-רָשָׁע וְהָיָה כַצַּדִּיק כָּרָשָׁע חָלִלָה לָּךְ--הֲשֹׁפֵט כָּל-הָאָרֶץ לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה מִשְׁפָּט

. . . . . .

Far be it from You — to do a thing of this kind — to destroy the righteous with the wicked, and that the righteous should be as the wicked! Far be it from You! Shall the Judge of all the world not deal justly?'

Bereshit 18:26

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אִם-אֶמְצָא בִסְדֹם חֲמִשִּׁים צַדִּיקִם בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר--וְנָשָׂאתִי לְכָל-הַמָּקוֹם בַּעֲבוּרָם

. .

God said: 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, I shall pardon all the dwellers of the place on their account.'

Bereshit 18:27

וַיַּעַן אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמַר הִנֵּה-נָא הוֹאַלְתִּי לְדַבֵּר אֶל-אֲדֹנָי וְאָנֹכִי עָפָר וָאֵפֶר

. .

And Abraham answered, and said: 'Behold, I have insistently spoken before God — and I am dust or ashes.

Bereshit 18:28

אוּלַי יַחְסְרוּן חֲמִשִּׁים הַצַּדִּיקִם חֲמִשָּׁה--הֲתַשְׁחִית בַּחֲמִשָּׁה אֶת-כָּל-הָעִיר וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אַשְׁחִית אִם-אֶמְצָא שָׁם אַרְבָּעִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה

. . . .

Perhaps the fifty righteous shall lack five — will You destroy all the city because of the five?' He said: 'I shall not destroy them, if I find there forty-five.'

Bereshit 18:29

וַיֹּסֶף עוֹד לְדַבֵּר אֵלָיו וַיֹּאמַר אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם אַרְבָּעִים וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אֶעֱשֶׂה בַּעֲבוּר הָאַרְבָּעִים

. . .

And he repeated his speaking to Him, and said: 'Perhaps there shall be found there forty.' He said: 'I shall not do it, on account of the forty.'

Bereshit 18:30

וַיֹּאמֶר אַל-נָא יִחַר לַאדֹנָי וַאֲדַבֵּרָה--אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם שְׁלֹשִׁים וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אֶעֱשֶׂה אִם-אֶמְצָא שָׁם שְׁלֹשִׁים

. . . .

He said: 'Let it not be hard before God for me to speak; perhaps there shall be found there thirty.' He said: 'I shall not do it, if I find there thirty.'

Bereshit 18:31

וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה-נָא הוֹאַלְתִּי לְדַבֵּר אֶל-אֲדֹנָי--אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם עֶשְׂרִים וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אַשְׁחִית בַּעֲבוּר הָעֶשְׂרִים

. . . .

He said: 'Behold, I have insistently spoken before God; perhaps there shall be found there twenty.' He said: 'I shall not destroy them, on account of the twenty.'

Bereshit 18:32

וַיֹּאמֶר אַל-נָא יִחַר לַאדֹנָי וַאֲדַבְּרָה אַךְ-הַפַּעַם--אוּלַי יִמָּצְאוּן שָׁם עֲשָׂרָה וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא אַשְׁחִית בַּעֲבוּר הָעֲשָׂרָה

. . . .

He said: 'Let it not be hard before God — and I shall speak this one time only; perhaps there shall be found there ten.' He said: 'I shall not destroy them, on account of the ten.'

Bereshit 18:33

וַיֵּלֶךְ יְהוָה--כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּלָּה לְדַבֵּר אֶל-אַבְרָהָם וְאַבְרָהָם שָׁב לִמְקֹמוֹ

. .

And the light of God ascended, when He had finished speaking with him; and Abraham returned to his place.