Washing feet before coming inside: Avraham vs. Lot

Question

When the angels came to visit Avraham, he asked them (Bereishis 18:4) to "Bathe your feet, and recline under the tree". Rashi explains:

He thought that they were Arabs, who prostrate themselves to the dust of their feet, and he was strict not to allow any idolatry into his house. But Lot, who was not strict, mentioned lodging before washing, as it is said (below 19:2): “and lodge and bathe your feet.”

However, when explaining the discrepancy in the story by Lot, Rashi (19:2) provides an alternative explanation:

Now is it customary for people to first stay overnight and afterwards to wash? Moreover, Abraham said to them first, “and wash your feet!” But so did Lot say (i.e., he reasoned), “If, when the people of Sodom come, they will see that they have already washed their feet, they will invent false accusations against me and say, ‘Two or three days have already passed since they came to your house, and you did not let us know!’” Therefore, he said, “It is better that they remain here with the dust on their feet, so that they should appear as though they had just arrived now.” Therefore he said, “Stay overnight” first and afterwards, “wash.”

From the second explanation it seems Lot might have been concerned about idolator but there was an overriding concern that he would be incriminated for having guests. Why does Rashi switch explanations which seem even to contradict each other?

[Furthermore, from Rashi by Lot it seems like the regular manner is to wash first, so why does he even question/explain Avraham's behavior? And why by Avraham does he question the discrepancy between him and Lot; a question we would not yet have until we learn what happened by Lot?]

Answer 1

I see no contradiction.

Both Avrohom and Lot were intrinsically against idolatry. Avrohom therefore insisted on washing the feet before coming in.

The Sodomites were most likely to exact a penalty on Lot for entertaining guests. So there was a danger in washing the guests’ feet. If their feet were still dirty it would seem like they had only now arrived.

Lot compromised on washing in the face of this danger because his attitude to idolatry was weaker than Avrohom’s. Under the same circumstances Avrohom would have insisted on the guests washing their feet.

Answer 2

@Michoel: regarding your first question: If I understand correctly, your're asking the following:

The first Rashi says that Lot was 'not particular' about idolatry, however the second Rashi implies that Lot was particular about this, just that danger that it could bring caused him to change from his usual behavior.

Well, I have to agree with @Avrohom Yitzchok - I see no contradiction necessarily. In the first Rashi that says that Lot was not particular about idolatry - this is probably only when compared to Avraham's level of strictness.

Regarding your second question:

from Rashi by Lot it seems like the regular manner is to wash first, so why does he even question/explain Avraham's behavior?

Well, it makes sense that it would be customary for guests to wash their feet, but why must the Torah tell us this detail in particular (as opposed to hundreds of other details / interactions that may have taken place at the time)?? ... It's to teach us something! ... That Avraham was strict not to allow any idolatry into his house.

Answer 3

It would seem from the Sifsei Chachomim that in the case of Avrohom he saw the angels as Arabs and was duly concerned about their idolatry but Lot did not see the angels as Arabs and so was less concerned about them as idolaters.

The Sifsei Chachomim writes:

However, Lot, who was not particular, invited them to lodge before... Rashi is answering the question: Why is it written differently here than it is concerning Lot? Here it mentions washing before lodging, but about Lot (19:2) it mentions lodging first. Perforce, [the washing was] because of idolatry, about which Avraham was particular, and Lot was not. Thus Rashi offers this explanation. Question: Perhaps Lot, too, was particular—and he mentioned lodging first because they did not appear to him as Arabs? (Nachalas Yaakov)

This idea is further buttressed by the Midrash. The Midrash in Bereishis Rabbah 50:2 notes that although Avraham ordinarily possessed the ability to discern angels, this time round they appeared as men, and to Lot who was not accustomed to seeing them, they appeared as angels

אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי אַבְרָהָם שֶׁהָיָה כֹּחוֹ יָפֶה נִדְמוּ לוֹ בִּדְמוּת אֲנָשִׁים, אֲבָל לוֹט עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהָיָה כֹּחוֹ רַע נִדְמוּ לוֹ בִּדְמוּת מַלְאָכִים.

Rabbi Tanchuma said in the name of Rabbi Levi - Avraham, who had the beautiful strength (of normally seeing angels), their form appeared as men, but Lot who lacked this strength, their form appeared as angels.