Knowing The Word in Genesis 18:16-21, God's Other Plan Regarding Sodom

A new section begins on Sodom. This is its structure:

A Abraham’s visitors look toward Sodom (18:16)

B Divine reflections on Abraham and Sodom (18:17-21)

C Abraham pleads for Sodom (18:22-33)

D Angels arrive in Sodom (19:1-3)

E Assault on Lot and his visitors (19:4-11)

F Destruction of Sodom announced (19:12-13)

E’ Lot’s sons-in-law reject his appeal (19:14)

D’ Departure from Sodom (19:15-16)

C’ Lot pleads for Zoar (19:17-22)

B’ Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed (19:23-26)

A’ Abraham looks toward Sodom (19:27-28)

Summary (19:29)

16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. [The men came for two reasons, and the second one is now revealed. They are looking out from the hills of Hebron over the Dead Sea to the plain of Sodom.] And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosen him [to create a God-fearing community], that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” [The second scene is a divine soliloquy unheard by Abraham that makes the reader wiser than Abraham. To whom is the Lord speaking? This speech reflects the one that preceded the flood in 6:5-13.] 20 Then the Lord said [so that Abraham can hear], “Because the outcry [like the blood of Able] against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave [compare with 6:5], 21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.” [Does God want Abraham to intercede, because the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah seems a foregone conclusion?]