From the Creation to the Death of Isaac - Flavius Josephus

Chapter 11
God Overthrew the Nation of the Sodomites
1. About this time the Sodomites grew proud, on account of their riches
and great wealth; they became unjust towards men, and impious towards
God, insomuch that they did not call to mind the advantages they received
from him: they hated strangers, and abused themselves with Sodomitical
practices. God was therefore much displeased at them, and determined to
punish them for their pride, and to overthrow their city, and to lay waste their
country, until there should neither plant nor fruit grow out of it.
2. When God had thus resolved concerning the Sodomites, Abraham, as
he sat by the oak of Mambre, at the door of his tent, saw three angels; and
thinking them to be strangers, he rose up, and saluted them, and desired they
would accept of an entertainment, and abide with him; to which, when they
agreed, he ordered cakes of meal to be made presently; and when he had
slain a calf, he roasted it, and brought it to them, as they sat under the oak.
Now they made a show of eating; and besides, they asked him about his wife
Sarah, where she was; and when he said she was within, they said they
would come again hereafter, and find her become a mother. Upon which the
woman laughed, and said that it was impossible she should bear children,
since she was ninety years of age, and her husband was a hundred. Then they
concealed themselves no longer, but declared that they were angels of God;
and that one of them was sent to inform them about the child, and two of the
overthrow of Sodom.
3. When Abraham heard this, he was grieved for the Sodomites; and he
rose up, and besought God for them, and entreated him that he would not
destroy the righteous with the wicked. And when God had replied that there
was no good man among the Sodomites; for if there were but ten such man
38