1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing [them] rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, [even] the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where [are] the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as [is] good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
9 And they said, Stand back. And they said [again], This one [fellow] came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, [even] Lot, and came near to break the door.
10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.
11 And they smote the men that [were] at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring [them] out of this place:
13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.
14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
20 Behold now, this city [is] near to flee unto, and it [is] a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, ([is] it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.
21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.
22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD:
28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.
29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.
30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.
31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father [is] old, and [there is] not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:
32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, [and] lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
37 And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same [is] the father of the Moabites unto this day.
38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same [is] the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
Overview of Genesis 19
Genesis 19 narrates the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities known for their wickedness. The chapter highlights themes of hospitality, judgment, and divine mercy, as well as the consequences of sin. It also introduces Lot, Abraham’s nephew, who plays a crucial role in the events that unfold.
Key Characters
- Lot: Abraham’s nephew, who lives in Sodom.
- Angels: Two divine messengers sent to warn Lot and rescue him from the impending destruction.
- Men of Sodom: The inhabitants of Sodom, characterized by their immoral behavior.
- Mrs. Lot: Lot’s wife, who faces consequences for her disobedience.
Summary of Events
- Arrival of the Angels (Verses 1-3):
Two angels arrive in Sodom in the evening. Lot, seeing them, insists they stay at his home rather than in the streets. He prepares a feast for them, demonstrating his hospitality.
- Men of Sodom Demand the Angels (Verses 4-5):
All the men of Sodom surround Lot’s house and demand that he bring out the angels so they can abuse them. This scene illustrates the extreme depravity of the city’s inhabitants.
- Lot’s Plea (Verses 6-8):
Lot goes outside to confront the men, offering his daughters instead, which highlights the dire situation and Lot’s desperation to protect his guests.
- Angels Intervene (Verses 9-11):
The angels pull Lot back inside and strike the men of Sodom with blindness, preventing them from finding the door. This act demonstrates divine protection over Lot and his family.
- Warning of Destruction (Verses 12-14):
The angels inform Lot of the imminent destruction of the city and instruct him to gather his family and flee.
- Lot’s Hesitation (Verses 15-17):
Despite the urgency, Lot hesitates. The angels physically take him, his wife, and two daughters by the hand and lead them out of the city, emphasizing God’s mercy.
- Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Verses 24-25):
After Lot and his family escape, the Lord rains down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, completely destroying the cities and their inhabitants.
- Lot’s Wife Turns Back (Verses 26):
Lot’s wife looks back at the city despite the warning, and she is turned into a pillar of salt, symbolizing the consequences of disobedience.
- Aftermath (Verses 27-29):
Abraham observes the destruction from a distance, and God remembers Abraham’s plea for mercy, sparing Lot.
- Lot’s New Home (Verses 30-38):
Lot and his daughters take refuge in a cave. His daughters, believing they are the last survivors, devise a plan to continue their family line, leading to the birth of Moab and Ben-Ammi, ancestors of the Moabites and Ammonites.
Thematic Analysis
- Hospitality:
Lot’s insistence on hosting the angels reflects the cultural importance of hospitality in ancient times, contrasting sharply with the behavior of the Sodomites.
- Judgment and Mercy:
The chapter illustrates the dual themes of divine judgment against sin and God’s mercy in rescuing the righteous, as seen in Lot’s deliverance.
- Consequences of Sin:
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a stark warning about the consequences of unchecked immorality and rebellion against God.
- Obedience and Disobedience:
Lot’s wife’s fate underscores the importance of obedience to divine instructions, while Lot’s daughters’ actions raise questions about morality and desperation.
Conclusion
Genesis 19 serves as a powerful narrative about the themes of hospitality, divine judgment, and the complexities of human morality. It challenges readers to reflect on the nature of sin, the importance of obedience, and the mercy that can be found even in dire circumstances.
