VERSE 1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom (~dos.-r[;v;B. bveyO jAlw> br,[,B' hm'dos. ~ykia'l.M;h; ynEv. WaboY"w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. bo go, enter + adj.m. dual constr. shenayim two + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. male-ak messenger, angel + proper noun Sodom + def.art.w/prep beth w/noun m.s.asbs. erebh evening + waw w/proper noun Lot + Qal part.m.s.abs. yashabh sit + prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. sha-ar gate + proper noun Sodom]).

When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground (hc'r>a' ~yIP;a; WxT;v.YIw: ~t'ar'q.li ~q'Y"w: jAl-ar>Y:w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. ra-ah see + proper noun Lot + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. qum rise + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr.w/3m.p.suff. qara encounter, meet + waw w/Hithpael impf.3m.s. shachah bow down + noun m. dual abs. aph nostril; "face" + noun f.s.abs. eretz earth, ground]).

VERSE 2 And he said, "Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant's house (~k,D>b.[; tyBe-la, an" WrWs yn:doa]-aN" hN<hi rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + interj hinneh behold + part na now + noun m.p.constr.w/1s.suff. adon lord, sir + Qal imper.m.p. sur turn aside + part na now + prep el to + noun m.s.constr. bayith house + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.p.suff. ebedh servant], and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way [~k,K.r>d;l. ~T,k.l;h.w: ~T,m.K;v.hiw> ~k,yleg>r; Wcx]r;w> Wnyliw> [waw w/Qal imper.m.p. lun lodge + waw w/Qal imper.m.p. rachats wash + noun f. dual constr.w/2m.p.suff. regel foot + waw w/Hiphil perf.2m.p. shakam rise early + waw w/Qal perf.2m.p. halak walk, go + prep lamedh w/noun both s.constr.w/2m.p.suff. derek way])."

They said however, "No, but we shall spend the night in the square (!ylin" bAxr>b' yKi aL{ Wrm.aYOw [waw w/Qal impf.3p. amar say + neg lo + part ki for + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. rechobh open place, "in the square" + Qal impf.1p. lun lodge])."

VERSE 3 Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house (AtyBe-la, WaboY"w: wyl'ae WrsuY"w: daom. ~B'-rc;p.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. patsar press, push + prep beth w/3m.p.suff. + adv me-odh much, strongly + waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. sur turn aside + prep el w/3m.s.suff. "to him" + waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. bo enter + prep el to + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. bayith house]; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate [WlkeaYOw: hp'a' tACm;W hT,v.mi ~h,l' f[;Y:w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. ashah make + prep lamedh w/3m.p.suff. "for them" + noun m.s.abs. misheteh banquet, drink + waw w/noun f.p.abs. matstsah unleavened bread + Qal perf.3m.s. aphah bake + waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. akal eat]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 1-3

1. The 4^th scene tells of the angels’ arrival in Sodom’s city gate.
2. It matches their departure from the gate (vv. 15-16).
3. The scene opens the comparison between the description of their arrival in Mamre and the hospitality Abraham provided (18:1-8).
4. First, it is observed that two "angels" came to Sodom.
5. The translation "angel" is appropriate here in light of what we have seen with regard to Abraham’s visitors in chap. 18 and in view of what they are about to accomplish.
6. To Lot they first seemed to be just two male visitors (contrast Abraham’s instant recognition of them as supernatural beings) coming into the city toward sunset (i.e., "in the evening").
7. They spent most of the day with Abraham transporting themselves to Sodom.
8. The distance between Mamre and Sodom is at least 20 miles and is too great a distance to suppose they actually walked the distance after a leisurely lunch with Abraham.
9. They encounter Lot "sitting in the gate of Sodom."
10. This gateway was the public square of the city where the elders sat, public meetings were held, and legal disputes were resolved.
11. Lot’s presence there suggests he was a respected member of the community, but it is strange that no elders of the city are mentioned.
12. Perhaps Lot was sitting by himself suggesting the estrangement between him and the men of Sodom.
13. In any case, only Lot the immigrant welcomes the visitors.
14. Lot’s warm welcome is overtly quite similar to Abraham’s (cf. 18:3-5).
15. But Lot’s interest in them is not the same as that of Abraham by a long shot.
16. Lot views people as potential business contacts, hence his habit of sitting at the city gate right up until the gate was closed for the evening.
17. Lot has ulterior motives and so his overt show is not all it appears to be.
18. Lot is a believer who is a monetary reversionist.
19. He abandoned the directive will of God for "sordid gain" (cf. 1Tim. 3:8; Titus 1:7, 11; 1Pet. 5:2; Gk. aischrokerdes).
20. The different time of arrival makes it appropriate to offer them a bed for the night and a meal rather than rest under a shady tree.
21. Their reply is most unexpected and seemingly ungrateful: "No, but we shall spend the night in the square."
22. Each and everything they do is pre-planned based on the instructions given them from their appearing before Lot at sunset to the concession to spare Zoar.
23. While they appear to be just ordinary men adjusting their actions based on unforeseen circumstances, they are angels who are completely aware of each and every move during their time with Lot.
24. They know that they are going to stay the night in Lot’s house.
25. Their refusal is calculated for effect, that is, to put Lot under pressure as he well knows the dangers for a male visitor to stay the night in the streets of Sodom.
26. Lot is scared of what may happen to them if they do not spend the night in the safety of his house.
27. So scared that "urged then strongly" to come into his home (the vb. "press" phatsar means "to urge, to insist"; cf. 33:11; Judg. 19:7; 2Kgs. 5:16).
28. Here and in 19:9 the verb is intensified by the addition of me-odh (very, exceedingly).
29. The two angels acquiesced to Lot’s arm-twisting and agreed to enter his house.
30. They made no compromise by bending to Lot’s will.
31. Their reluctance to enter served to provide an occasion to illustrate the extreme danger that stalked the streets of Sodom at night.
32. It also serves to demonstrate the torment that was Lot’s living in that city of his own volition (cf. 2Pet. 2:7 "oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men").
33. For a moment the narrative relaxes, telling how they relented in the face of Lot’s pressure and "entered his house."
34. "And he made them a feast" (mishteh) describes banquets given on special occasions, e.g. the weaning of Isaac (21:8), weddings (29:22; Judg. 14:10), and royal entertaining (40:20; 1Kgs. 3:15).
35. "Baking them unleavened bread" is probably because it was easy and quick to make (cf. Ex. 12:30; 1Sam. 28:24), and like Abraham, Lot was hurrying to make his guests welcome.
36. So far there is nothing to suggest that Lot was a stingy man.

Fifth Scene: Homosexual Mob (vv. 4-11)

VERSE 4 Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house (tyIB;h;-l[; WBs;n" ~dos. yven>a; ry[ih' yven>a;w> WbK'v.yI ~r,j, [adv terem before + Qal impf.3m.p. shakabh lie down + waw w/noun m.p.constr. ish man + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. ir city + noun m.p.constr. ish man + proper noun Sodom], both young and old, all the people from every quarter [hc,Q'mi ~['h'-lK' !qez"-d[;w> r[;N:mi [prep min from w/noun m.s.abs. na-ar youth + waw w/prep adh even w/adj.m.s.abs. zaren old + noun m.s.constr. kol all + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. am people + prep min from w/noun m.s.abs. qatseh end, extremity; "from every quarter"]);

VERSE 5 and they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight (hl'y>L'h; ^yl,ae WaB'-rv,a] ~yvin"a]h' hYEa; Al Wrm.aYOw: jAl-la, War>q.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. qara call + prep el to + proper noun Lot + waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. amar say + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff. "to him" + interrog. qyeh where? + rel.pro. asher + Qal perf.3p. bo enter, come + prep el w/2m.s.suff. "to you" + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. layelah night])?

Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them (~t'ao h['d>nEw> Wnyleae ~aeyciAh [Hiphil imper.m.s.w/3m.p.suff. yatsa come out, bring out + prep el w/1p.suff. "to us" + waw w/Qal impf.1p. cohortative yada know + d.o. marker w/3m.p.suff. "them"])."

VERSE 6 But Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him (wyr'x]a; rg:s' tl,D,h;w> hx't.P,h; jAl ~h,lea] aceYEw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. yatsa go out + prep el w/3m.p.suff. "to them" + proper noun Lot + def.art.w/noun m.s. petach doorway + waw w/def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. deleth door + Qal perf.3m.s. sagar shut + adv achare w/3s.suff. "behind him"]),

VERSE 7 and said, "Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly (W[reT' yx;a; an"-la; rm;aYOw: [W[reT' yx;a; an"-la; rm;aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + neg lo not + w/interj na now + noun m.p.constr.w/1s.suff. ach brother + Hiphil impf.2m.p. jussive ra-a be evil]).

VERSE 8 "Now behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man (vyai W[d>y"-al{ rv,a] tAnb' yTev. yli an"-hNEhi [interj hinneh behold + interj na now + prep lamedh w/1s.suff. + adj.f. dual constr. shenayim two + noun f.p.abs. bath daughter + rel.pro. asher which + neg lo + Qal perf.3pl. yadah know + noun m.s.abs. ish man]; please let me bring them out to you [~k,ylea] !h,t.a, aN"-ha'yciAa [Hiphil impf.1s. cohortative yatsa bring out + interj na please + d.o. marker w/3f.p.suff. "them" + prep el w/2m.p.suff. "to you], and do to them whatever you like [~k,ynEy[eB. bAJK; !h,l' Wf[]w: [waw w/Qal imper.m.p. ashah do + prep lamedh w/3f.p.suff. "to them" + def.art.w/prep kaph w/adj.m.s.abs. tobh good + prep beth w/noun f. dual constr.w/2m.p.suff. ayin eye]; only do nothing to these men [ qr; Wf[]T;-la; laeh' ~yvin"a]l' rb'd' [adv raq thin; "only" + def.art.w/prep lamedh w/noun m.p.abs. ish man + def.art.w/adj.p.abs. elleh these + neg al not + Qal impf.2m.p. jussive ashah do + noun m.s.abs. dabar word, thing], inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof (ytir'qo lceB. WaB' !Ke-l[;-yKi [part ki for + prep el + adv ken = inasmuch as + Qal perf.3p. bo come + prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. tsel shadow, shelter + noun f.s.constr.w/1s.suff. qora beam; "roof"])."

VERSE 9 But they said, "Stand aside (ha'l.h'-vG< Wrm.aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. amar say + Qal imper.m.s. nagash draw near + adv hale-ah onwards = Stand aside])."

Furthermore, they said, "This one came in as an alien, and already he is acting like a judge (jApv' jPov.YIw: rWgl'-aB' dx'a,h' Wrm.aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. amar say + def.art.w/adj.m.s.abs. echadh one + Qal perf.3m.s. bo come + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. gur be a stranger/guest + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s shaphat judge + Qal infin.constr. shaphat judge]; now we will treat you worse than them [~h,me ^l. [r;n" hT'[; [adv attah now + Hiphil impf.1p. ra-ah do evil + prep lamedh w/2m.s.suff. + prep min w/3m.p.suff. "them"])."

So they pressed hard against Lot and came near to break the door (tl,D'h; rBov.li WvG>YIw: daom. jAlB. vyaib' Wrc.p.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. patsar press, push + def.art/wprep beth w/noun m.s.abs. ish man + prep beth w/proper noun Lot + adv me-odh much; "hard" + waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. nagash draw near + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. shabhar break + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. deleth door]).

VERSE 10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them, and shut the door (Wrg"s' tl,D,h;-ta,w> ht'y>B'h; ~h,ylea] jAl-ta, WaybiY"w: ~d'y"-ta, ~yvin"a]h' Wxl.v.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. shalach send out; "reached" + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. ish man + d.o. marker + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.p.suff yadh hand + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.p. bo go, bring + d.o. marker + proper noun Lot + prep el w/3m.p.suff. "to them" + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. bayith house + waw d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. deleth door + Qal perf.3p. sagar shut]).

VERSE 11 They struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great (lAdG"-d[;w> !joQ'mi ~yrIwEn>S;B; WKhi tyIB;h; xt;P,-rv,a] ~yvin"a]h'-ta,w> [waw w/d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. ish man + rel.pro. ashere + noun m.s.abs. pethach doorway + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. bayith house + Hiphil perf.3p. nakah strike + def.art.w/prep. Beth w/noun m.p.abs. sanwerim sudden blindness; here and 2Kgs. 6:18 + prep min w/adj.m.s.abs. qaton small + waw w/part adh "both" + waw w/adj.m.s.abs. gadhol great], so that they wearied themselves trying to find the doorway [xt;P'h; acom.li Wal.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. la-ah be weary + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. matsa find + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. pethach doorway]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 4-11

1. In this 5^th scene the action takes place just outside Lot’s house.
2. In this scene the questions aroused in the earlier scenes are filled in (e.g., why the insistence that the men not spend the night in the street).
3. We learn that the Sodomites are most inhospitable to male strangers!
4. In this scene Lot learns the identity of his guests, which is necessary if he is to take their warning to exit Sodom seriously.
5. Prior to retiring for the night a mob forms at Lot’s door.
6. They are described as "men of the city"/"both young and old"/"from every quarter."
7. The mob shouts out that Lot’s visitors be brought out "so that we may know them."
8. This remark and Lots’ subsequent comments that homosexuality has been identified as the sin of Sodom.
9. The verb yada-to know is frequently used in Genesis as a euphemism for sexual intercourse (cf. 4:1, 17, 25; 24:16).
10. Indeed, the homosexual identification is made inescapable by Lot’s repluy, in which he describes his daughters as "virgins," literally, "who have not known a man."
11. So here the Hebrew verb "to know" must mean sexual intimacy, and is so recognized by all major commentators.
12. All homosexual practice is regarded in the OT as a capital offense (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; cf. Rom. 1:26-27), but the attitude of Israel’s neighbors is less clear, for it is not often discussed in their legal collections.
13. It seems likely that they permitted it among consenting adults, but here homosexual rape is being proposed, something completely at odds with all oriental hospitality!
14. So far Lot has been portrayed as most hospitable and very solicitous of his visitors’ welfare.
15. Overtly he demonstrates himself to be a man of no mean courage.
16. He bravely goes out to face the mob alone.
17. The last phrase (v.6) "he shut the door behind him" gives a clue to his thinking.
18. By shutting the door he cut off his own escape, hoping to protect those inside.
19. Lot’s mistake is to image that he can reason with such types.
20. In v. 7 is employs polite entreaty, which works with a reasonable man, but not with someone who is implacable.
21. "My brothers" suggest that a soft answer would turn away the kind of pathology that existed in Sodom.
22. Not surprisingly his appeal fell on deaf ears, and in desperation, he offers to sacrifice his virgin daughters to the inflamed mob.
23. His offer shocks the reader, so immediately follows an explanation of his motives: "only do not do anything to these men for they came under the protection/shadow of my roof."
24. "For this reason" almost seems redundant semantically, but it serves to underline how committed Lot is to protecting his guests.
25. Putting their welfare above his daughters’ may have been questionable, but it shows how committed he was to protecting these two strangers.
26. The text does not divulge Lot’s inner motives.
27. All we have is his overt actions.
28. Fortunately the unfortunate offer was not accepted.
29. Verbal abuse turns to physical abuse as is expected with the mob mentality.
30. His polite appeal, "Do not do evil, my brothers" is met by a jibe at his immigrant statue, "this single one came in as an immigrant/alien…we shall treat you worse than them."
31. The mob presses Lot against the door with a view to battering it down (v.9).
32. At this desperate point in the narrative the angels reveal their true identity by opening the door and bringing Lot back into the house and striking the his would-be assailants with blindness (vv. 10-11).
33. The wording of v. 10 sounds like 8:9.
34. The incapacitation of the queer mob was done by the angels from within the house (v.11).
35. Here we see the incredible abilities inherent in angels.
36. This diffused the threat against Lot and his household.
37. "They became weary trying to find the door" ends the scene on a comic note.
38. Why did they not go home as soon as they were struck with blindness?
39. Even if they found the door and could manage to break it down, they could not locate what they were looking for considering their temporary blindness.
40. This is yet another hint of how deeply rooted their sinful obsession was.
41. Divine judgment does not produce pause in their obsessive lust and so a greater calamity awaits them.
42. Such was the nature of the blinding of this mob that no one found his way to the door.
43. Supernatural agency was manifested not simply in the blinding but also in the continued protection of the house until such time as the mob dispersed.

Sixth Scene: Angelic Monologue (vv. 12-13)

VERSE 12 Then the two men said to Lot, "Whom else have you here (hpo ^l.-ymi d[o jAl-la, ~yvin"a]h' Wrm.aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.p. amar say + def.art.w/noun m.p.as. ish man + prep el to + proper noun Lot + adv adh + prep min + prep lamedh w/2m.s.suff. + adv poh here])?

A son-in-law, and your sons, and your daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of the place (~AqM'h;-!mi aceAh ry[iB' ^l.-rv,a] lkow> ^yt,nOb.W ^yn<b'W !t'x' [noun m.s.abs. chathan son-in-law + waw w/noun m.p.constr.w/2m.s.suff. ben + waw w/non f.p.constr.w/2m.s.suff. bath daughter + waw w/noun m.s.abs. kol all + rel.pro. asher which + prep lamedh w/2m.s.suff. + def.art.w/prep beth w/noun f.s.abs. ir city + Hiphil imper.m.s. yatsa bring out + prep min + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. maqom place]);

VERSE 13 for we are about to destroy this place (hZ<h; ~AqM'h;-ta, Wnx.n:a] ~ytixiv.m;-yKi [part ki for + Hiphil part.m.p.abs. shachath destroy + pro.1p. nachnu we + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs;. maqom place + def.art.w/adj.m.s.abs. zoth this], because their outcry has become so great before the LORD that the LORD has sent us to destroy it [Ht'x]v;l. hw"hy> WnxeL.v;y>w: hw"hy> ynEP.-ta, ~t'q'[]c; hl'd>g"-yKi [part ki for + Qal perf.3f.s. gadhal become great + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.p. se-aqah outcry + d.o. marker + noun both p.constr. peh face + proper noun Yahweh + waw w/Piel impf.3m.s.w/1p.suff. shalach send + proper noun Yahweh + prep lamedh w/Piel infin.constr.w/3f.s.suff. shachath destroy ])."

ANALYSIS: VERSES 12-13

1. This central and sixth scene is set in Lot’s house in Sodom and is an angelic monologue.
2. The previous scene revealed the depths of the depravity of the males population in Sodom.
3. Lot is prepared for the angelic announcement of impending destruction of the city by the neutralization of the mob in scene 5.
4. In this scene Lot is warned of impending judgment (like Noah in 6:13-21) and advised to lead his family to safety.
5. Here and in the Flood announcement the ominous term "ruin" (shachath) appears twice, first in the hiphil then in piel (6:13, 17; 19:13).
6. This term occurs in Abraham’s intercession, bringing it to an uncertain close (18:28, 31, 32).
7. Lot is advised to "bring out" his "sons-in-law…sons…daughters."
8. "Whomever you have in the city" refers to other relations.
9. His sons and unmarried daughters would have been under his patriarchal authority, but not his "sons-in-law."
10. The indefinite singular form, literally "son-in-law," is odd.
11. Some mention of his "son-in-law" is necessary to explain why Lot went next to urge them to escape.
12. He had no responsibility for his sons-in-law as they were not part of his extended family.
13. In 18:21 Yahweh said He wanted to investigate the outcry.
14. The angels now confirm His original verdict (18:20) and pronounce sentence on behalf of the Judge of all the earth.
15. "Their outcry is great in Yahweh’s presence, and Yahweh has sent us to destroy it," further clarifies the relationship between Yahweh and the two angels already implied in 18:22, 33; 19:1.
16. The "outcry" represents the appeal to the Judge of the earth by those who were abused by the homosexual population of these cities.
17. The Judge of the earth moves at the time of His choosing against those who oppress the weak and unsuspecting (cf. Jam. 5:4).
18. We learn that angels were the agents of the judgment that fell from the skies upon Sodom and Gomorrah.

Seventh Scene: Lot’s Appeal to his sons-in-law (v. 14)

VERSE 14 Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, and said (rm,aYOw: wyt'nOb. yxeq.l{ wyn"t'x]-la, rBed;y>w: jAl aceYEw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. yatsa go out + proper noun Lot + prep el to + noun m.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. chathan the vb means ‘to make oneself a daughter’s husband’ + Qal part.m.p.constr. laqach take; "marry" + noun f.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. bath daughter + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say], "Up, get out of this place, for the LORD will destroy the city (ry[ih'-ta, hw"hy> tyxiv.m;-yKi hZ<h; ~AqM'h;-!mi WaC. WmWq [Qal imper.m.p. qum rise up + Qal imper.m.p. yatsa go out + prep min + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. maqom place + def.art.w/adj.m.s.abs. zoth this + part ki for + Hiphil part.m.s.abs. shachath destroy + proper noun Yahweh + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. ir city])."

But he appeared to his sons-in-law to be jesting (wyn"t'x] ynEy[eB. qxec;m.ki yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah be + prep kaph w/Piel part.m.s.abs. tsachaq laugh, mock (piel) + prep beth w/noun m. dual constr. ayin eye + noun m.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. chathan son-in-law]).

ANALYSIS: VERSE 14

1. This seventh scene is set outside Lot’s house and takes place in the house(s) of his soon-to-be sons-in-law.
2. While the translation of the participle "to marry" could be taken as either "had married" or "were to marry," but the latter is definitely the case as the two daughters were living with Lot and his wife and they were still virgins.
3. KJV has "which married his daughters" and the NKJ has "who had married" but this is wrong considering the preceding narrative as well as the concluding scene with Lot in the cave.
4. This talk of judgment in the middle of the night stuck the two sons-in-law as a joke.
5. "Joking" is the same verb as "laugh" (cf. 17:17; 18;12,13,15), the etymology of Isaac, but here the piel stem is used (cf. 21:9 where Ishmael teases the toddler Isaac on the occasion of his weaning celebration).
6. It is completely understandable that these two men would have regarded Lot’s nocturnal visit as a prank.
7. Lot had no spiritual credibility with his peers.
8. Any halfway observant persons knew what made Lot tick and it wasn’t spiritual in nature.

Eighth Scene: Leaving Sodom (vv. 15-16)

VERSE 15 When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying (rmoale jAlB. ~ykia'l.M;h; WcyaiY"w: hl'[' rx;V;h; Amk.W [waw w/prep kaph ‘and when’ + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. shachar dawn + Qal perf.3m.s. alah ascend; "dawned" + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.p. utz urge + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. male-ak angel + prep beth w/proper noun Lot + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. amar say], "Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here [taoc'm.NIh; ^yt,nOb. yTev.-ta,w> ^T.v.ai-ta, xq; ~Wq [Qal imper.m.s. qum arise + Qal imper.m.s. laqach take + d.o. marker + noun f.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. ishshah woman, wife + waw w/d.o. marker + adj.f. dual constr. shenayim two + noun f.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. bath + def.art.w/Niphal part.f.p.abs. matsa find; "who are here"], or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city [ry[ih' !wO[]B; hp,S'Ti-!P, [part peh lest + Niphal impf.2m.s. saphah sweep (away) + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr. awon punishment + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. ir city])."

VERSE 16 But he hesitated (Hm'h.m;t.YIw: [waw w/Hithpalel 3m.s. machah linger, delay]).

So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters (wyt'nOb. yTev. dy:b.W ATv.ai-dy:b.W Ady"B. ~yvin"a]h' WqzIx]Y:w: Hm'h.m;t.YIw: [waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.p. chazaq be strong; "seized" + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. ish man + prep beth w/noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. yadh hand + waw w/prep beth w/noun f.s.constr. yadh + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ishah wife + waw w/prep beth w/noun f.s.constr. yadh hand + adj.f. dual constr. shenayim two + noun f.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. bath daughter], for the compassion of the LORD was upon him (wyl'[' hw"hy> tl;m.x,B. [prep beth w/noun f.s.constr. chemelah mercy, compassion + proper noun Yahweh + prep al w/3m.s.suff. "upon him"]; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city [ry[il' #Wxm WhxuNIY:w: WhauciYOw: [waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.p.w/3m.s.suff. yatsa go out, bring out + waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.p.w/3m.s.suff. nuach rest, settle down; "put" + prep min w/noun m.s.abs. chutz outside + prep lamedh w/noun f.s.abs. ir city]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 15-16

1. The 8^th scene reverses the action of the 4^th.
2. There the angels arrive at Sodom; here they leave.
3. In the 4^th scene they were strongly persuaded by Lot to leave; now it is their turn to use force to make him go.
4. This scene takes place at the crack of dawn, literally "as dawn rose."
5. Dawn is the time when the blackness of night starts to lighten before sunrise (cf. v. 23; Judg. 19:25-26).
6. "Up/Arise" is clearly exclamatory as the angels are waking Lot up.
7. "Take your wife and your two daughters who are here" probably indicates that Lot had other daughters living elsewhere in Sodom.
8. Those who are adjusted to the will of God are prompt in obeying divine commands.
9. Failure to leave means that Lot and family will be "swept away in the punishment of the city."
10. "But he hesitated" denotes Lot’s character.
11. He was fond of good living, soft, indecisive and anxious and compromising.
12. Lot’s heart was in Sodom and the materialistic good life he enjoyed there not without internal conflict.
13. The angels are compelled to use force taking Lot, his wife and two daughters, two with each angel.
14. The angel’s use of force is an act of mercy; "had compassion" is used with the nuance of "sparing from death" (cf. Ex. 2:6; Deut. 13:8; 1Sam. 15:3,9,15).

Ninth Scene: Lot Intercedes for Zoar (vv. 17-22)

VERSE 17 When they had brought them outside, one said, "Escape for your life (^v,p.n:-l[; jleM'hi rm,aYOw: hc'Wxh; ~t'ao ~a'yciAhk. yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah be + prep kaph w/Hiphil infin.constr.w/3m.p.suff. yatsa go forth + d.o. marker w/3m.p.suff. "them" + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. chutz outside + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s.suff. amar say + Niphal imper.m.s. malat escape + prep al + noun f.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. nephesh life, soul])!

Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley (rK'Kih;-lk'B. dmo[]T;-la;w> ^yr,x]a; jyBiT;-la; [neg al not + Hiphil impf.2m.s. jussive nabat look + adv achari w/2m.s.suff. ‘behind you’ + waw w/neg al not + Qal impf.2m.s. jussive amadh remain + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr. kol all + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. kikkar round disk; ‘valley’]; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away [hp,S'Ti-!P, jleM'hi hr'h'h' [def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. har mountain, hill country + Niphal imper.m.s. malat escape + part peh lest + Niphal impf.2m.s. saphah sweep away])."

VERSE 18 But Lot said to them, "Oh no, my lords (yn"doa] an"-la; ~h,lea] jAl rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + proper noun Lot + prep el w/3m.p.suff. "to them" + neg al + interj na + proper noun adon lord, sir])!

VERSE 19 "Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight (^yn<y[eB. !xe ^D>b.[; ac'm' an"-hNEhi [interj hinneh + interj na now + Qal perf.3m.sl matsa find + noun m.s.constr.w/2m.s.suff. ebedh servant + noun m.s.abs. chen favor, grace + prep beth w/noun f. dual constr.w/2m.s.suff. ayin eye], and you have magnified your lovingkindness, which you have shown me by saving my life [yvip.n:-ta, tAyx]h;l. ydIM'[i t'yfi[' rv,a] ^D>s.x; lDeg>T;w: [waw w/Hiphil impf.2m.s. gadal become great + noun m.s.constr.w/2dm.s.suff. chesed lovingkindness + rel. asher + Qal perf.2m.s. ashah do + prep im with w/1s.suff. + prep lamedh w/Hiphil infin.constr. chayah live; cause to live = "saving" + d.o. marker + noun f.s.constr.w/1s.suff. nephesh soul, life]; but I cannot escape to the mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die [yTim;w" h['r'h' ynIq;B'd>Ti-!P, hr'h'h' jleM'hil. lk;Wa al{ ykinOa'w> [waw w/pro.1s. anoki I + neg lo + Qal impf.1s. yakol be able + prep lamedh w/Niphal infin.constr. male escape + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. har mountain + part pen lest + Qal impf.3f.s.w/1s.suff. dabaq cleave, cling, catch, overtake + def.art.w/adj.f.s.abs. ra-ah evil; "disaster" + waw w/Qal perf.1s. muth die]);

VERSE 20 now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small (r['c.mi ayhiw> hM'v' sWnl' hb'roq. taZOh; ry[ih' an"-hNEhi [interj hinneh + interj na now + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. ir city, town + def.art.w/adj.f.s.abs. zoth this + adj.f.s.abs. qarobh near + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. nus flee + adv sham there + waw w/pro.3f.s. hi it + noun m.s.abs. mites-ar little, small]).

Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) that my life may be saved (yvip.n: yxit.W awhi r['c.mi al{h] hM'v' aN" hj'l.M'ai [Niphal impf.1s cohortative malat escape + interj. na please + adv sham there + interrog. part. w/neg lo + noun m.s.abs. mites-ar small + pro.3m.s. hi it + waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. jussive hayah "may be" + noun f.s.constr.w/1s.suff. nephesh life])."

VERSE 21 He said to him, "Behold, I grant you this request also, not to overthrow the town of which you have spoken (T'r>B;DI rv,a] ry[ih'-ta, yKip.h' yTil.bil. hZ<h; rb'D'l; ~G: ^yn<p' ytiaf'n" hNEhi wyl'ae rm,aYOw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. amar say + prep el w/3m.s.suff. + interj hinneh behold + Qal perf.1s. nasha lift; "grant" + noun both p.w/2m.s.suff. paneh face "you" + conj gam also + prep lamedh w/def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. dabar word; "request" + adj.m.s.abs. zoth this + prep lamedh w/part bal not + Qal infin.constr.w/1s.suff. haphak overturn + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. ir city + rel. asher + Piel perf.2m.s. dabar speak]).

VERSE 22 "Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there (hM'v' ^a]Bo-d[; rb'D' tAf[]l; lk;Wa al{ yKi hM'v' jleM'hi rhem; [Piel imper.m.s. mahar hasten, hurry + Niphal imper.m.s. malat escape + adv sham there + part ki for + neg lo + Qal impf.1s. yakol be able + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. ashah do + noun m.s.abs. dabar word, thing + part adh until + Qal infin.constr.w/2m.s.suff. bo go; "arrive" + adv sham there])."

Therefore the name of the town was called Zoar (r[;Ac ry[ih'-~ve ar'q' !Ke-l[; [prep al + part ken = therefore + Qal perf.3m.s. qara call + noun m.s.constr. shem name + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. ir town + proper noun Zoar]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 17-22

1. In this scene Lot intercedes for Zoar (cf. 3^rd scene Abraham interceded for Sodom).
2. Abraham was compassionate but Lot is selfish.
3. Abraham pleaded for justice; Lot is weak and pleads for his own convenience.
4. The tone in v. 17 is urgent.
5. In v. 17 one of the angels issues four commands: "escape," "don’t look back," "do not stay anywhere in the valley," and "escape to the mountains."
6. The physical deliverance of the four members of Lot’s family was dependant upon their following the angel’s instructions literally, that is, with no deviation.
7. The root "escape" (malat) occurs 5x in this scene and is a play on the name Lot, as if to say, "Lot was let out of Sodom."
8. In the gloom preceding sunrise Lot finds himself under immense pressure in the face of these commands, particularly the one telling the reluctant party to climb the steep ascent into the hills surrounding the valley of doom.
9. Lot takes exception to the command to relocate in the cliffs surrounding the valley.
10. He gives the angels credit for his deliverance when actually God is the source of his deliverance.
11. He rightly regards his deliverance as being attributed to grace and loyal-love, terms he was familiar with as a believer.
12. Yet he attributes this grace to angels and not to God.
13. Instead of obeying without question the injunction "to escape to the mountains," he says he cannot.
14. The angels would not have told the party to escape to a location that they were not able to get to before judgment fell from the skies.
15. God does not tell people to accomplish that which is impossible for them to achieve.
16. He suggests that he escape to a small city nearby, which he hopes will be spared because it is small—not because it might contain the righteous.
17. Lot proves himself fearful, selfish and faithless.
18. The angel who spoke to him grants him his request (v. 21), as God had directed him.
19. God foreknowing the entreaty of Lot grants him this request.
20. Even a negative believer is sometimes graced-out simply because he is one of the righteous.
21. But Lot must be quick (v. 22), for God cannot act until he reaches his chosen city.
22. "Zoar" comes from the root which means "to be small," which was the basis for Lot’s appeal.
23. According to 14:8 its prior name was Bela.

Tenth Scene: Destruction of the Cities of the Plain (vv. 23-26)

VERSE 23 The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar (hr'[]co aB' jAlw> #r,a'h'-l[; ac'y" vm,V,h; [def.art.w/noun both s.abs. shemesh sun + Qal perf.3m.s. yatsa go out, come out + prep al + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. erets earth + waw w/proper noun Lot + Qal perf.3m.s. bo go in; "came" + proper noun Zoar]).

VERSE 24 Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven (~yIm'V'h;-!mi hw"hy> taeme vaew" tyrIp.G" hr'mo[]-l[;w> ~dos.-l[; ryjim.hi hw"hyw: [waw w/proper noun Yahweh + Hiphil perf.3m.s. matar rain + prep al upon + proper noun Sodom + waw w/prep al + proper noun Gomorrah + noun f.s.abs. gophrith brimstone, sulphur + waw w/noun both s.abs. esh fire + prep min from w/part eth + proper noun Yahweh + prep min + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. shamayim heaven]),

VERSE 25 and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground (hm'd'a]h' xm;c,w> ~yrI['h, ybev.yO-lK' taew> rK'Kih;-lK' taew> laeh' ~yrI['h,-ta, %poh]Y:w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. haphak overturn + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun f.p.abs. ir city + def.art.w/adj. both p.abs. elleh these + waw w/d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr. kol all + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. kikkar valley + waw w/d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr. kol all + Qal part.m.p.constr. yashab dwell; citizens + def.art.w/noun f.p.abs. ir city + waw w/noun m.s.constr. tsemach sprout + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. eretz earth, ground]).

VERSE 26 But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt (xl;m, bycin> yhiT.w: wyr'x]a;me ATv.ai jBeT;w: [waw w/Hiphil impf.3f.s. nabat look + noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. ishshah wife + prep min w/adv achare backward + waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. hayah be + noun m.s.constr. netsibh pillar + noun m.s.abs. melach salt]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 23-26

1. The tenth scene describes the judgment that befell Sodom and Gomorrah.
2. The language suggests that at sunrise or shortly thereafter that the fire from heaven came upon the inhabitants of the cities.
3. Lot for his part must have moved quickly.
4. Upon Lot’s arrival in Zoar the judgment on the cities of the plain commenced (vv. 23 and 23).
5. At this juncture Yahweh "rained brimstone and fire" (e.g. burning sulphur) on Sodom and Gomorrah from the sky (heaven).
6. Cf. 2Pet. 2:6 "Turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes."
7. The Dead Sea area reeks of sulphur.
8. In fact compressed sulphur balls can be found buried close to the surface.
9. These balls are nearly 100 % pure sulphur and can be found embedded in the ashen area near the Dead Sea.
10. The cities were located in the plain, so they should be located in the shallow area now covered by the Dead Sea.
11. Josephus said, "The traces or shadows of the five cities can still be seen."
12. The water level of the Dead Sea has fallen since the time of Josephus, so what Josephus saw is still visible today.
13. The surviving sulphur balls are mostly golf ball size, and some have burn marks on them!
14. This is the only location on earth where 96% pure monolithic sulphur can be found in a small ball.
15. Geo-thermal sulfur nodules are only 40% pure.
16. The brimstone also contains trace amounts of magnesium which when ignited reaches extremely high temperatures.
17. The ash there today is composed of Calcium Sulfate and Calcium Carbonate which are by-products of the limestone and sulphur burning.
18. The limestone buildings were reduced to ashes as the Bible says.
19. Satellite imagery reveals the cities as white ash and sets them apart from the surrounding terrain.
20. The five cities (cf. 10:19 Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zoboiim, Lasha) formed the Canaanite border, and so they could not be on the south end of the Dead Sea as popularly believed.
21. They form a north-south line along the Dead Sea area.
22. Gomorrah is located at the base of Masada.
23. Zoar, the city to which Lot escaped is just south of Sodom.
24. The shadows of man-made structures are found in the Dead Sea area including ziggurats, sphinxes, towers, arched doorways and walls resembling double Canaanite walls.
25. In the days of Abraham and Lot the Dead Sea was a gorgeous valley (cf. 13:10-11).
26. The Jordan River flowed through the valley and down into the crevices below the ground.
27. The Dead Sea has a depth of 1,312 feet below sea level, the lowest point on the earth.
28. It is also one of the hottest spots on the earth.
29. Every day the Jordan River pours seven million tons of water into the Dead Sea, yet due to evaporation and underground seepage the sea level does not increase (there is no noticeable outlet as the south end).
30. The Sea has a high concentration of sodium, and magnesium chloride.
31. Seepage from the sea exudes salt, potash, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, petroleum and bitumen, which produces tar (cf. 14:10).
32. The tar pits alone were a source of great income for the cities as there are for the modern Israelites.
33. Excavation has confirmed the existence of these tar pits.
34. Only volcanoes are known to spew sulfur into the sky, but there is no evidence of volcanism in the area of the Dead Sea.
35. The five cities of the plain are located on the western side of the Dead Sea.
36. Gomorrah is located about a mile north of Masada.
37. Sodom is located as the foot of Mount Siddim, which is situated on modern maps of Israel toward the southwestern corner of the Dead Sea.
38. Gen. 10:19 also locates Sodom at the southwestern corner of the Dead Sea, which is also the southwestern corner of Canaan.
39. Admah is directly west of Qumran on the N.W. end of the Dead Sea (sulfur balls found there; cf. Deut. 29:23).
40. Zeboiim is not far from Jericho and the Jordan (cf. 1Sam. 13:16-18).
41. "He overthrew" (haphaka), as in v. 21 and again in v. 29, reappears in the later standard phrase, "like the overthrow of Sodom" (cf. Deut. 29:23; Amos 4:11; Isa. 13:19; Jer. 49:18).
42. Here even the vegetation is totally destroyed (v. 25).
43. V. 25 feature structures, creatures, humans and plants (cf. 13:10).
44. By looking back Lot’s wife contravened the instruction not to look back in v. 17.
45. She tested the four imperatives necessary for deliverance and the result was her petrification into a pillar of salt.
46. She refused to comply with the God-given directive for her deliverance.
47. Examples of believers who are given specific instructions in order to avoid premature death (Lk. 21:20ff.; Matt. 24:15-21; Rev. 18:4).
48. By looking back she identified with her doomed hometown (her heart was in Sodom).
49. She not only looked back but she tarried explaining how it was that her husband entered Zoar without her just as the judgment was commencing (vv. 23-24).
50. Sodom and Gomorrah is referred to as the frame of reference for the destruction of the US in one hour of one day (cf. Isa. 13:19; Jer. 50:40).

Eleventh Scene: Abraham Observes the Destruction from Afar (vv. 27-29)

VERSE 27 Now Abraham arose early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before the LORD (hw"hy> ynEP.-ta, ~v' dm;['-rv,a] ~AqM'h;-la, rq,BoB; ~h'r'b.a; ~Kev.Y:w: [waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. shakam rise early + proper noun Abraham + prep beth w/def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. boqer morning + prep el + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. maqom place + rel.pro. asher + prep el + Qal perf.3m.s. amadh stand + adv sham there + d.o. marker + noun both p.constr. paneh face + proper noun Yahweh]);

VERSE 28 and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley (rK'Kih; #r,a, ynEP.-lK'-l[;w> hr'mo[]w: ~dos. ynEP.-l[; @qev.Y:w: [waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s. shaqaph overlook + prep al + noun both p.constr. paneh face + proper noun Sodom + waw w/proper noun Gomorrah + waw w/prep al + noun m.s.constr. kol all + noun both pl.constr. paneh face + noun both s.abs. eretz land + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. kikkar valley], and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace [!v'b.Kih; rjoyqiK. #r,a'h' rjoyqi hl'[' hNEhiw> ar>Y:w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. ra-ah see + waw w/interj. hinneh behold + Qal perf.3m.s. alah ascend + noun m.s.abs. qitor thick smoke + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz earth + prep kaph w/noun m.s.abs. qitor smoke + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. kibshan kiln]).

VERSE 29 Thus it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, that God remembered Abraham (~h'r'b.a;-ta, ~yhil{a/ rKoz>YIw: rK'Kih; yre['-ta, ~yhil{a/ txev;B. yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah be + prep beth w/Piel infin.constr. shachath destroy + noun m.p.abs. Elohim + d.o. marker + noun f.p.constr. ir + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. kikkar valley + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. zakar remember + noun m.p.abs. Elohim + d.o. marker + proper noun Abraham], and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived [jAl !heB' bv;y"-rv,a] ~yrI['h,-ta, %poh]B; hk'peh]h; %ATmi jAl-ta, xL;v;y>w: [waw w/Piel impf.3m.s. shalach send away + d.o. marker + proper noun Lot + prep min w/noun m.s.constr. tawek midst + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. haphekhah overthrow + prep beth w/Qal infin.constr. haphak overthrow + d.o. marker + def.art.w/noun f.p.abs. ir city + rel. asher + Qal perf.3m.s. yashab dwell + prep beth w/3f.p.suff. "in which" + proper noun Lot]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 26-29

1. This final scene matches the first (18:16), with Abraham looking down over the Dead Sea plain on the overthrown cities and seeing a columns of smoke ascending like a kiln, rising on the morning air.
2. Abraham had family there, What had happened to them?
3. Abraham was unaware of Lot’s fate.
4. He had gone back to the very spot where he had interceded before the LORD.
5. What had been the point?
6. V. 29 is the concluding verse of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah is just a resume of the story already told in detail.
7. Unbeknownst to him his intercession had been worthwhile, for "when God ruined the cities of the valley, that God remembered Abraham.
8. As noted earlier, "God remembered Abraham" echoes 8:1, "God remembered Noah."
9. But an exact parallel would have been "God remembered Lot," for Noah and Lot were men saved from God’s wrath.
10. The substitution of Abraham for Lot makes an important doctrinal point.
11. Lot was saved not on his own merits but through Abraham’s intercession.
12. Lot was saved twice in his lifetime due to the actions of his uncle Abraham.
13. He never knew Abraham’s part in his second deliverance even as Abraham never knew if his intercession bore fruit.

Origin of the Moabites and Ammonites (vv. 30-38)

VERSE 30 Lot went up from Zoar, and stayed in the mountains, and his two daughters with him (AM[i wyt'nOb. yTev.W rh'B' bv,YEw: r[;ACmi jAl l[;Y:w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. alah go up + proper noun Lot + prep min from w/proper noun Zoar + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. yashab dwell + prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. har mountain + waw w/adj.f. dual constr. shenayim two + noun f.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. bath daughter + prep im w/3m.s.suff. "with him"]; for he was afraid to stay in Zoar; and he stayed in a cave, he and his two daughters [wyt'nOb. yTev.W aWh hr'['M.B; bv,YEw: r[;AcB. tb,v,l' arey" yKi [part ki for + Qal perf.3m.s. yare fear + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. yashab dwell + prep beth w/proper noun Zoar + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. yashab dwell + prep beth w/noun f.s.abs. me-arah cave + pro.3m.s. hu he + waw w/adj.f. dual constr. shenayim two + noun f.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. bath]).

VERSE 31 Then the firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of the earth (#r,a'h'-lK' %r,d,K. Wnyle[' aAbl' #r,a'B' !yae vyaiw> !qez" Wnybia' hr'y[iC.h;-la, hr'ykiB.h; rm,aTow: [waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. amar say + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. bekor firstborn + prep el + def.art.w/adj.f.s.abs. tsair young + noun m.s.constr.w/1p.suff. abh father + Qal perf.3m.s. qaqan be old + waw w/noun m.s.abs. ish man + adv ayin not + prep beth w/noun both s.abs. earth + prep lamedh w/Qal infin.constr. bo go, come + prep al w/1p.suff. "to us" + prep kaph w/noun both s.abs. derek way + noun m.s.constr. kol all + def.art.w/noun both s.abs. eretz earth]).

VERSE 32 "Come, let us make our father drink wine, and let us lie with him that we may preserve our family through our father ([r;z" Wnybia'me hY<x;n>W AM[i hb'K.v.nIw> !yIy: Wnybia'-ta, hq,v.n: hk'l. [ Qal imper.m.s. halak walk + Hiphil impf.1p.cohorative shaqah give to drink + d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr.w/1p.suff. abh father + noun m.s.abs. yayin wine + waw w/Qal impf.1p. cohortative shakabh lie down + prep im with w/3m.s.suff. "with him" + waw w/Piel impf.1p. cohortative hayah "we may preserve" + prep min w/noun m.s.constr.w/1p.suff. abh father; "our father" + m.s.abs. qera seed; "our family"]."

VERSE 33 So they made their father drink wine that night, and the firstborn went in and lay with her father (h'ybia'-ta, bK;v.Tiw: hr'ykiB.h; aboT'w: aWh hl'y>L;B; !yIy: !h,ybia]-ta, !"yq,v.T;w: [waw w/Hiphil impf.3f.p. shaqah give to drink + d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr.w/3f.p.suff. abh father + noun m.s.ab.s. yayin wine + prep beth w/def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. layilah night + pro.3m.s. hu same + waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. bo go + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. bekor firstborn + waw w/Qal impf.3f.s shakab lie down + d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr.w/3f.s. abh father]; and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose [Hm'Wqb.W Hb'k.viB. [d;y"-al{w> [waw w/neg. lo + Qal perf.3m.s. yada know + prep beth w/Qal infin.constr.w/3f.s.suff. shakah lie down + waw w/prep beth w/Qal infin.constr.w/3f.s.suff. qum rise]).

VERSE 34 On the following day, the firstborn said to the younger, "Behold, I lay last night with my father (ybia'-ta, vm,a, yTib.k;v'-!he hr'y[iC.h;-la, hr'ykiB.h; rm,aTow: tr'x\M'mi [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah + prep min w/noun f.s.abs. macharath morning + waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. amar say + def.art.w/noun f.s.abs. bekor firstborn + prep el + def.art.w/adj.f.s.abs. tsa-ir young + interj hinneh + Qal perf.1s. shakabh lie down + prep adv emesh yesterday; "last night" + d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr.w/1s.suff. abh father]; let us make him drink wine tonight also; then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve our family through our father [[r;z" Wnybia'me hY<x;n>W AM[i ybik.vi yaiboW hl'y>L;h;-~G: !yIy: WNq,v.n: [Hiphil impf.1p.w/3m.s.suff. shaqah give drink to + noun m.s.abs. yayin wine + conj gam also + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. layelah night + waw w/Qal impf.f.s. bo go + Qal imper.m.s. shakabh lie down + prep im with w/3m.s.suff. + waw w/Piel impf.1p. hayah be; "we may preserve" + prep min w/noun m.s.constr.w/1p.suff. abh father + noun m.s.abs. zera- seed])."

VERSE 35 So they made their father drink wine that night also, and the younger arose and lay with him (AM[i bK;v.Tiw: hr'y[iC.h; ~q'T'w: !yIy" !h,ybia]-ta, aWhh; hl'y>L;B; ~G: !"yq,v.T;w: [waw w/Hiphil impf.3f.p. shaqah give to drink + conj gam also + prep beth w/def.art/w/noun layelah night + def.art.w/pro.3m.s. hu that + d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr.w/3f.p.suff. abh father + noun m.s.abs. yayin wine + waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. shakab lie down + prep im with w/3m.s.suff. + def.art.w/adj.f.s.abs. tsa-ir younger] and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose [Hm'qub.W Hb'k.viB. [d;y"-al{w> [waw w/neg lo + Qal perf.3m.s. yada know + prep beth w/Qal infin.constr.w/3f.s.suff. shakabh lie down + waw w/prep beth w/Qal infin.constr.w/3f.s.suff. qum arise]).

VERSE 36 Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father (!h,ybia]me jAl-tAnb. yTev. !"yr,h]T;w: [waw w/Qal impf.3f.p. harah be with child + adj.f. dual constr. shenayim two + noun f.p.constr. bath + proper noun Lot + prep min w/noun m.s.constr.w/3f.p.suff. abh father]).

VERSE 37 The firstborn bore a son, and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day (~AYh;-d[; ba'Am-ybia] aWh ba'Am Amv. ar'q.Tiw: !Be hr'ykiB.h; dl,Tew: [waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. yaladh bear + def.art.w/noun f.sabs. bekor firstborn + noun m.s.abs. ben son + waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. qara call + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. shem name + proper noun Moab + pro.3m.s. hu he + noun m.s.constr. abh + proper noun Moab + part adh until + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. yom day]).

VERSE 38 As for the younger, she also bore a son, and called his name Ben-ammi; he is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day (~AYh;-d[; !AM[;-ynEb. ybia] aWh yMi[;-!B, Amv. ar'q.Tiw: !Be hd'l.y" awhi-~g: hr'y[iC.h;w> [waw w/def.art.w/adj.f.s.abs. tse-ira young + conj gam also + pro.3f.s. hi she + Qal perf.3f.s. yaladh bear + noun m.s.abs. ben son + waw w/Qal impf.3f.s. qara call + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. shem name + proper noun Ben-jamin + pro.3m.s. he he + noun m.s.constr. abh father + noun m.p.constr. ben + proper noun Ammon + part adh until + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. yom day]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 30-38

1. This final chapter of the Lot biography has parallels with the Noah story.
2. In both, the men drink too much.
3. In both, when their fathers drink, the children sin against him, and there are long-term consequences.
4. One view of this episode exonerates the ancestral mothers as heroic.
5. It is often surmised that the story was handed down by the Moabites and the Ammonites as viewing their maternal ancestors as ingenious in the face of their desperate plight.
6. Lot’s daughters had been betrothed and, having lost their future husbands in the destruction of Sodom, were compelled to take irregular measures in the face of their father’s inertia, is to be applauded according to the alternate view.
7. The alternate view sees in even the names given to the children, Moab, "from the father," and Ben-Ammi, "son of my people," does not indicate that the they felt ashamed of their deed.
8. Further support for this view is the attitude of Tamar toward her father-in-law Judah when she was forced to act similarly because he failed to provide her with another husband after she was widowed.
9. The Law (Deut. 25:5-10) provides for a widow to marry her brother-in-law, which would in other circumstances be regarded as incest.
10. "Lot left Zoar and dwelt in the mountains," fulfills the original angelic order to escape to the hills (v. 17).
11. The comment "because he was afraid to live in Zoar," shows that his motives were not based on faith.
12. Lot was not a man of faith, and so he worried that Zoar would soon be destroyed like Sodom even though the angels granted him this concession.
13. Lot did not trust the divine promise to spare Zoar even as he was reluctant to obey the command in the first place.
14. So Lot did not trust the divine guarantee that he would be safe in Zoar.
15. Lot’s lack of faith has him living in a cave rather than the security and prosperity of the city, even if a little city.
16. Lot, the wealthy rancher who had so much livestock to separate from Abraham (13:8-11), chose to live in the fertile Dead Sea valley, which was destroyed with all his property and relations.
17. He ends up learning to be accustomed to living in a cave, which is a refuge for refugees (Josh. 10:16).
18. His ruin can hardly be more complete, and his contrast with Abraham is impressive.
19. Having been set on the promise by Yahweh, just as Abraham was, he turned aside from the way (chp. 13), and was still supported by God’s hand (chp. 14 and chp. 19) he cannot even muster the faith to live out his life in the relative security of the sole surviving city of the fertile plain.
20. The initiative comes from the older daughter, who should be concerned for her parents’ welfare.
21. "Our father is old" suggests she is concerned, but the relevance of her remark to her proposal is obscure.
22. Does she think that because he is old he ought to be looking for a husband for her (cf. 24:11), or that his age precludes him from having sex (18:12)?
23. The former seems more likely in light of "there is no man in all the area [world] to come into us as they do in all the area [world]."
24. What she is concerned about is the lack of potential husbands for her father to seek out, not, his lack of sexual virility.
25. Her remark, "there is no man" can hardly be true, whether we translate eretz as "area," or "world."
26. Presumably, there were at least eligible men in Zoar which was close by.
27. The comment in v. 31 does not give us insight into the girl’s mind, so she exaggerates the effects of their plight.
28. "To come into us" is a respectable term to marriage (cf. Deut. 25:5), and "after the manner of all the world" refers to the universal practice of marriage.
29. Had she proposed to give her father wine to drown his sorrows, then there would have been some basis to support her action.
30. "Give…wine to those in bitter distress; let them drink and forget their poverty" (Prov. 31:6-7).
31. "Let us lie with him that we may preserve our family through our father" tells us what she really wanted.
32. She wanted children, more than she wanted a husband.
33. The execution of the elder sister’s scheme goes without a hitch (vv. 33-35).
34. So simple was it the first night that the same procedure was followed the next evening by the younger sister.
35. On both occasions Lot was oblivious regarding, "when she lay down or when she arose."
36. Perhaps Lot’s ability to drink himself into a state of conscious oblivion (blackout) was something they had observed in the past.
37. This alleviates the blame that was attached to Lot.
38. This shows how passive he was.
39. It also highlights the slickness of the daughters, in contrast with the father’s befuddled ignorance.
40. The angels rescued Lot and his virgin daughters from the Sodom mob; now they sacrifice their virginity and their father’s honor when there was no dire danger.
41. The girls were guilty of female rape!
42. Although the narrator reserves judgment about this incident, it seems unlikely that he approves of Lot’s daughters’ deed.
43. Incest between a father and a daughter is regarded as wrong and punishable under the Law (Lev. 20:12).
44. The fact the daughters had to get him drunk shows that they were flouting normal social conventions.
45. The narrator assumes his readers held certain moral assumptions and did not feel the need to excoriate the daughters’ behavior.
46. We are left just to pity Lot in his last and painful loss of honor at the hands of those who should have loved him most.
47. Despite the nature of this scheme it worked and Lot’s daughters became pregnant and bore two sons.
48. Genesis traces the origins of Israel’s neighbors (cf. chap. 10; 25:12-18; 36:1-43), so the birth of Moab, and Ammon is a fitting point to end the story of Lot.
49. Despite the dubious origins of these near-neighbors; this was not held against them.
50. Their territories were regarded as God-given (Deut. 2:9, 19).
51. Only Moab’s and Ammon’s lack of hospitality toward the Israelites on their way to Canaan prompted later animosity (Deut. 23:3).
52. No other twenty-four hour period in Abraham’s life is related in more detail than that described in Gen. 18-19; a midday lunch with three visitors that ended with the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah early the following morning.
53. Sodom and Gomorrah is a paradigm of divine judgment: any nation, Jewish or Gentile, can expect such treatment if it flouts God’s standards and spurns His call to repentance.
54. Jesus warns that towns that rejected Him or His messengers are more to blame than Sodom (Matt. 10:15).
55. Jesus compares His second coming in judgment to the Flood or the overthrow of Sodom (Lk. 17:26-32).