What is the significance of the word "va'Yashkifu" (as opposed to 'va'Yir'u' or 'va'Yabitu'?
Rashi, Hadar Zekenim, Moshav Zekenim and Seforno: 'Hashkafah' always has negative connotations. 1
Seforno: The Seforno adds, the inhabitants of Sedom were the antithesis of Avraham, who was the very embodiment of Chesed. 2
The sole exception being in Parshas Ki Savo (Devarim 26:15), which discusses Matanos Aniyim, which has the power to transform Midas ha'Din into Midas Rachamim.
As the Pasuk in Yechezkel (16:49), among the detriments of Sedom, describes them as "refusing to support the poor and the destitute."
Since when do angels need to be accompanied?
Rashi and Seforno: Avraham still believed them to be men. 1
What is the significance of the last phrase in the Pasuk, "and Avraham was walking with them to send them off"?
Seforno: It was because Avraham was performing the Mitzvah of accompanying his guests that HaSh-m informed him of His intentions to destroy Sedom, so that he could perform another Mitzvah (of Chesed). 1
Moshav Zekenim: Because Avraham himself accompanied his guests, HaSh-m Himself led Bnei Yisrael in the Midbar.
In keeping with the Mishnah in Pirkei Avos (4:2), 'One Mitzvah leads to another.' It also demonstrates the difference between Avraham (who typically was busy with an act of Chesed, while Sedom was the very antithesis of Chesed. Refer to 18:16:1:2. Moreover, it highlights the greatness of Avraham Avinu, who prayed for people who were not only wicked, but who were the very antithesis of all that he stood for.
Which angels departed?
Rashbam and Targum Yonasan: The two 'junior' angels (Refa'el and Gavriel) now left for Sedom; Micha'el (the senior of the three) was still talking with Avraham. 1
Presumably, he is the angel conveying HaSh-m's words to Avraham up to Shelishi. According to Targum Yonasan, he then ascended back to Heaven.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "Any instance of the verb 'Hashkafah' in Scripture means looking negatively." Why is this so?"
Gur Aryeh: The same root also means 'beating,' e.g. the lintel upon which the door beats (Mashkof - Shemos 12:22). 1 Hashkafah means beating down upon an object with one's vision.
Also, "beaten by the east wind (Shekufos Kadim)"(Bereishis 41:6).
Rashi writes: "'To send them off' - to escort them; [Avraham] thought that they were [human] guests." We already know this, for Avraham prepared for them an entire feast!
Gur Aryeh: I might have thought that after they informed them that Sarah would bear a child, Avraham would have realized that they were really angels. How else would they be privy to that information? Rashi therefore tells us that they still appeared to Avraham to be [human] guests.
