Insights Into Yesterday's First Reading
When interceding for Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham argues in terms of collective responsibility, as understood in ancient times in Israel: the entire people shared the same fate even though not all of them sinned, for the sin of some affected all. According to that way of looking at things, if there were enough just people in the city (Abraham did not dare go below ten) God would not have destroyed it. This way of thinking also shows how the salvation of many (even if they are sinners) can come through the faithfulness of a few, thereby preparing the way to see how the salvation of all mankind is brought about by the obedience of one man alone, Jesus Christ.
Gavigan, J., McCarthy, B., & McGovern, T. (Eds.). (1999). The Pentateuch (pp. 105–106). Dublin; New York: Four Courts Press; Scepter Publishers.