Old Testament Lore. Norman M. Chansky

defiled what is sacred just as a joke.”

      God Urged them to treat Creation with kindness sincere,

      But they just jabbed at strangers and provoked intense fear.

      God’s Commandments the Sodomites ignored,

      No matter the Mercy with which they were Implored.

      God Judged it best Sodom to Raze.

      To rid the world of its hurtful ways.

      Was such a verdict just and right?

      God Dispatched Heralds to Sodom before the fall of night.

      They stayed with Lot, Abraham’s kin,

      Who, though better than most, was not without sin.

      They Sought proof that Sodom should be saved.

      But what They found, instead, was a community depraved.

      The saddened Envoys Found no reason to believe

      That the people of Sodom deserved a Reprieve.

      In fact the people of Sodom set out snares

      Against anyone whose ways were different from theirs.

      They banged at Lot’s door to kill the Envoys God Sent,

      But Lot drove them away to thwart their ill intent.

      With heavy heart, God Decided the fate

      Of the city of evil and exporter of hate.

      God Thought the matter over. It was carefully reviewed.

      Then Told Abraham how Sodom would be Subdued.

      “Abraham,” Reported God, “Sodom will burn.

      I must be Just but I must also be Stern.

      Let all peoples learn that God Despairs

      Of those who harm others of ways differ from theirs.”

      Abraham knew Sodom was a blight on the land

      But destruction would reduce Sodom city to mere sand.

      Why raze a city and kill both the good and the bad

      Abraham asked himself in a mood that was sad .

      Humbly Abraham asked if God really would Waste

      Those who are guilty as well as those who are chaste?

      He asked God if, perhaps, fifty righteous were found,

      Would Sodom still be burned down to the ground?

      God Replied, “if fifty righteous were found,

      Sodom would not burn to the ground.”

      “Were the number of righteous but forty-five,”