בראשית, פרק י״ט, פסוק ט״ו

As the night passed over Sodom, the grace period granted to Lot was rapidly running out. With the first light of dawn approaching, the threat of annihilation became immediate, demanding a swift and decisive rescue [רד״ק, ביאור ישר, מחוקקי יהודה]. The timing of this early morning rescue carries deep significance. One perspective suggests that the disaster was deliberately scheduled for sunrise to punish the people of Sodom at the exact moment they donned their crowns to worship the sun, their primary god [ספורנו]. Another view connects this early hour to Abraham, who had risen at dawn to pray; it was through the merit of his devotion that Lot was spared [שפתי כהן]. Furthermore, the approaching dawn highlights the patience of the heavenly messengers. They had held back the destruction throughout the entire night solely out of God's love for Abraham, waiting until the absolute final moment when a delay was no longer possible [רשב״ם, חזקוני, מלבי״ם].

At this critical juncture, the angels began to aggressively press Lot to leave. This intense rushing was necessary because Lot was hesitating, still attempting to salvage his wealth [מזרחי]. Although originally one messenger was assigned the task of saving and the other the task of destroying, both joined forces to push Lot out of the city. The agent of destruction simply could not begin his work as long as Lot remained inside [דברי דוד]. It is at this exact moment of action that the narrative shifts from calling them men to calling them angels, reflecting the reality that they were now actively executing their supernatural mission of both salvation and ruin [רד״ק].

The angels instructed Lot to take the two daughters who were physically present with him in the house. He was warned to be satisfied with saving them and to abandon any effort to search for his married daughters or the sons-in-law who had refused to believe his warnings [רד״ק, שד״ל, רש״ר הירש, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another approach suggests that their presence was a matter of loyalty; these were the daughters who believed in Lot and stayed by his side, in stark contrast to the sons-in-law who had mocked him [נתינה לגר]. Looking beyond the immediate physical reality, many commentators note that the specific phrasing used to describe the daughters as being found hints at a profound historical and spiritual secret. It suggests a precious discovery, foreshadowing that two vital figures would eventually descend from these young women: Ruth the Moabite and Naamah the Ammonite, the future matriarchs of the Davidic royal line [תורה תמימה, צפנת פענח, משכיל לדוד, חתם סופר].

Finally, the angels delivered a stark warning of absolute destruction, cautioning Lot that he would be swept away in the city's punishment if he did not hurry [רש״י, שד״ל, רלב״ג, ביאור ישר]. The message was clear and uncompromising: his rescue was the result of a miracle and God's sheer compassion, not something he had earned on his own merit. If he continued to hesitate, the window of grace would close, and he would perish alongside the rest of the city in its collective doom [מלבי״ם, אלשיך].