The "Midrash ha-Ne'lam (The Midrash of the Concealed)" contrasted Abraham with Noah, noting that Noah did not shield his generation and did not pray for them as Abraham did for his. For as soon as God told Abraham in , “the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great,” immediately in , “Abraham drew near, and said.” Abraham countered God with more and more words until he implored that if just ten righteous people were found there, God would grant atonement to the generation for their sake. Abraham thought that there were ten in the city, counting Lot and his wife, his daughters and sons-in-law, and that is why he beseeched no further.