יחזקאל, פרק ט״ז, פסוק מ״ט

The destruction of Sodom stands throughout history as the ultimate symbol of absolute wickedness. Yet, the root of its monumental failure lay entirely in how its citizens treated one another. The downfall of the city was triggered by a toxic combination of material wealth, absolute security, and complete social indifference, leading to institutionalized cruelty against the weak. This was the primary and exclusive crime that sealed their doom [מצודת דוד]. It was not a casual oversight or a simple mistake, but a deliberate and fully conscious choice. The people of Sodom established cruel laws and social norms that explicitly forbade giving aid to the poor and vulnerable [מלבי״ם]. They deliberately hoarded their resources, ensuring their wealth remained entirely in their own hands [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This extreme selfishness was especially glaring given the ideal conditions in which they lived. Their intense arrogance [מצודת ציון] was born directly from a life of total satisfaction and absolute safety. The commentators note that they had no valid excuse for denying charity. They were not withholding aid because of personal poverty, as they had a vast abundance of food. Likewise, they were not stockpiling resources out of a fear of war or a coming siege, because they lived in a state of profound and undisturbed peace [מלבי״ם]. The depth of their tranquility was absolute, characterized by an internal calm that resulted from a complete lack of outside threats or disruptions [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם].

From this peak of superiority and comfort, they utterly failed to support the poor or fulfill the basic duty of charity [מצודת ציון]. Despite possessing immense wealth and lacking any existential worries, they chose to take pride in their possessions rather than extend a helping hand to those who needed it most.