*1 Rashi points out based on the explicit verse Gn14-02
that SEDOM and AMORAH were really a metropolis
of 5 cities--SEDOM,AMORAH,ADMAH,TZEVOIM,BELA
However SEDOM (& AMORAH) were the heavily
populated centers while the other 3 were
resort villages. Furthermore, SEDOM was the
town center. So the entire collection was
called SEDOM (Similarly the HAWAIIAN Islands
consist of 8 Islands but we call them HAWAII
based on the main Island)
*2 It was reasonable that if
- 10 people
- 9 people
were in the city that God would spare them.
But if only
- 8 people
were in the city than God would not spare
them just as God did not spare the world
for the sake of 8 people in Noach's time
(Noach+his 3 sons+their 4 wives=8---but
God only spared Noach's family and not the
whole world)
*3 40 would justify saving 4 cities (10 @ city)
but not sparing the 5th city.
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