Берешит 18:26 Каббала: Sha'arei Orah

This is the meaning of the verse,⁷¹Genesis 18:26 “If in Sodom I will find fifty righteous people in the city, I then would spare the entire place on their account.” The same is true of the continuing verses, until if they reached ten righteous people in all five cities, they would have been spared from the judgement sentenced by the Upper Court. This is also the secret of what was said to Lot,⁷²Genesis 19:21 “Behold, I have granted you consideration even regarding this, that I not overturn the city about which you have spoken.” Nevertheless, Lot did not have the power to save Sodom in his merit, even though he lived there, being that Lot himself was only saved in the merit of Avraham, as taught on the verse,⁷³Genesis 19:17 “Do not look behind you,” meaning,⁷⁴Midrash Bereishit Rabba 50:11; Also see Rashi to Genesis 19:17 “Do not think that the city is fit to be saved on your merit, for you are not meritorious.” It is for this reason that the verse says,⁷⁵Genesis 19:17 “It was as they took them outside.” Always remember this very important principle throughout Torah, for “from it are the sources of life.”⁷⁶Proverbs 4:23