Let's all just stop and think about a few weird things, because I would love it if someone could come up with answers!
Weird Situation One: Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, who can probably have whatever woman he wants, decides he wants to be with Sarah, an elderly woman. What's the deal? Why does he want to be with Sarah when she's so old?
Weird Situation Two: Avimelech, another king, decides he wants to have to Sarah... what is going on!! Wasn't Sarah old?
Weird Situation Three: Lot's wife turned into salt because she turned to look back at the destruction. She turned into salt???
I have, at least, an answer to the third weird situation. The midrash teaches us that Lot's wife sinned like all of the other people in the city, and she did not really merit to escape. When Lot first greeted his guests (angels or men?) he asked his wife to help him in being a courteous host, and she refused. She reluctantly agreed to fetch salt, but she got it from the neighbors and let them know that Lot was having guests over. Because she sinned through salt, her punishment was to become salt. Talk about bad karma.
Also, a fun fact about the pillar of salt that I am going to copy from this website: http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/lots-wife-midrash-and-aggadah
The pillar of salt was left by God as a memorial for all time (Yalkut Shimoni on Esth., para. 1056). Anyone who sees Lot’s wife is required to recite two blessings. The first, “Blessed be the One who remembers the righteous,” expresses thanksgiving and praise to God for having remembered Abraham, by the merit of whose righteousness He saved Lot and his wife from the upheaval; this blessing relates to the miracle that was performed for Lot. The second blessing, “Blessed be the true Judge” (that is recited upon hearing of someone’s death), is recited for the punishment visited on Lot’s wife (BT Berakhot 54a–b).
Weird Situation One: Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, who can probably have whatever woman he wants, decides he wants to be with Sarah, an elderly woman. What's the deal? Why does he want to be with Sarah when she's so old?
Weird Situation Two: Avimelech, another king, decides he wants to have to Sarah... what is going on!! Wasn't Sarah old?
Weird Situation Three: Lot's wife turned into salt because she turned to look back at the destruction. She turned into salt???
I have, at least, an answer to the third weird situation. The midrash teaches us that Lot's wife sinned like all of the other people in the city, and she did not really merit to escape. When Lot first greeted his guests (angels or men?) he asked his wife to help him in being a courteous host, and she refused. She reluctantly agreed to fetch salt, but she got it from the neighbors and let them know that Lot was having guests over. Because she sinned through salt, her punishment was to become salt. Talk about bad karma.
Also, a fun fact about the pillar of salt that I am going to copy from this website: http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/lots-wife-midrash-and-aggadah
The pillar of salt was left by God as a memorial for all time (Yalkut Shimoni on Esth., para. 1056). Anyone who sees Lot’s wife is required to recite two blessings. The first, “Blessed be the One who remembers the righteous,” expresses thanksgiving and praise to God for having remembered Abraham, by the merit of whose righteousness He saved Lot and his wife from the upheaval; this blessing relates to the miracle that was performed for Lot. The second blessing, “Blessed be the true Judge” (that is recited upon hearing of someone’s death), is recited for the punishment visited on Lot’s wife (BT Berakhot 54a–b).
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