Genesis 19 Commentary

Two angels appear to Lot in Sodom. Lot urges them to spend the night in his house and he prepares a feast for them.

The men of Sodom surrounded Lot’s house and demanded the two men be handed over to them to be sexually assaulted. Lot went outside to plead with the men not to behave so wickedly.

Lot reminded the lustful mob that the two visitors were under his protection and offered his two virgin daughters to the men to appease them, and protect his guests. The crowd pressed Lot against the door trying to break inside. But the two visitors quickly grabbed Lot and shut the door.

The two angels caused the crowd of men to become blind, but they still try to find Lot’s doorway. Then the angels told Lot to gather his family and leave Sodom because it was going to be destroyed. Lot tried to convince his soon to be sons-in-law to leave, but they did not believe him.

The next morning, the two angels seized the hand of a halting Lot and insisted they flee Sodom. Lot escaped with his wife and two daughters. They were instructed to escape to the mountains and to not look back at the city.

Lot replies that the mountains are too far to escape and requests to flee to a small town where he will be safe.

The small town where Lot escaped was named Zoar. God destroyed the cities and the inhabitants, but Lot’s wife turned and looked back to see. She became a pillar of salt for her disobedience.

Abraham awoke and saw the destruction in the valley. God had remembered Abraham and saved Lot from the devastation.

Lot and his two daughters fled to a cave in the mountains. The oldest daughter devised a plan and gave Lot too much wine to drink. Then, she had sexual relations with him to preserve the family line. Lot did not know she was with him.

The next day, the older sister convinced the younger sister to do what she had done the night before. Again, Lot was given too much wine and the younger daughter had sexual relations with him. Lot was unaware of this event also.