XIX. (1) AND THERE CAME TWO ANGELS. — Heb., _And the two angels came._ It is a continuation of the preceding narrative, and takes up the history from Genesis 18:22. LOT SAT IN THE GATE OF SODOM. — He had therefore become a citizen of Sodom, probably after the deliverance from the Elamite invasion,... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE STREET. — That is, the broad open space of the city. (Comp. Judges 19:15; Judges 19:20.) In a warm climate there is little hardship in passing the night in the open air; and as at this early date there were no caravanserais, travellers had to lodge in this way unless they found some hospitabl... [ Continue Reading ]
HE PRESSED UPON THEM GREATLY. — This he did as knowing the licentiousness of the people; but the angels do not readily accept his hospitality, as they had done that of Abraham, because his character had deteriorated. UNLEAVENED BREAD. — Heb., _thin cakes,_ like those now eaten by the Jews at the Pa... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM EVERY QUARTER. — Heb., _from the end._ This may mean, either, “to the last man.” or “from the very end of the town.” In either case it shows that there were not in Sodom the ten righteous men who would have availed to save it (Genesis 18:32).... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS. — It is plain from Judges 19:24 that this proposal was not viewed in old time with the horror which it seems to deserve. Granting with St. Ambrose that it was the substitution of a smaller for a greater sin, and with St. Chrysostom that Lot was bound by the laws of hospitality... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS ONE FELLOW CAME IN TO SOJOURN. — Heb. _the one came to sojourn,_ as if an extraordinary concession had been made in Lot’s favour in allowing him to dwell within their walls. In ancient times the rights of citizenship were most jealously guarded, and the position of a sojourner made very bitter.... [ Continue Reading ]
BLINDNESS. — This word occurs elsewhere only in 2 Kings 6:18, and in both cases it is plain that actual blindness is not meant. Had the men here been struck with blindness they would not have wearied themselves with trying to find the door, but would either have gone away in terror at the visitation... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH MARRIED HIS DAUGHTERS. — Heb., _the takers of his daughters_ — a present participle, for which reason Ewald, Tuch, and others translate “who were to marry his daughters.” The traditional view is that given in our Version, and is confirmed by Genesis 19:15, where the words — “thy two daughters... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE MORNING AROSE. — Lot had thus the night for making his preparations, but part of this he spent in his visits to his sons-in-law. CONSUMED. — Heb., _swept away;_ and so in Genesis 19:17. See Genesis 18:23, where it is rendered “destroy.”... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHILE HE LINGERED. — Heb., _and he lingered._ Lot still clung to his wealth, and could not make up his mind to leave it, and so at length the angels took him by the hand and compelled him to quit the doomed city. THE LORD BEING MERCIFUL UNTO HIM. — Heb., _in Jehovah’s pity for him._ (Comp. Isai... [ Continue Reading ]
ABROAD. — Heb., _outside_ — that is, of the city. LOOK NOT BEHIND THEE. — This was not merely to prevent delay, but also showed that God demanded of them a total abandonment in heart and will of the condemned cities, and hence the severity with which the violation of the command was visited. PLAIN... [ Continue Reading ]
LEST SOME EVIL. — Heb., _lest the evil,_ lest the threatened calamity overtake me and I die.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE ACCEPTED THEE. — Heb., _I have lifted up thy face._ (See Note on Genesis 4:6.)... [ Continue Reading ]
ZOAR. — This town is identified by Dr. Tristram (_Land of Moab,_ p. 330) with Zi’ara, at the northern end of the Dead Sea. It is described as lying upon the borders of the Moabite territory, in Isaiah 15:5; Jeremiah 48:34. Eusebius says that a Roman garrison was posted there, but he probably accepte... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SUN WAS RISEN. — As Lot started at dawn, he had thus had about an hour for his flight.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD (JEHOVAH) RAINED... FROM THE LORD (FROM JEHOVAH). — Many commentators, following the Council of Sirmium, see in this repetition of the name of Jehovah an indication of the Holy Trinity, as though God the Son rained down fire from God the Father. More correctly Calvin takes it as an emphatic... [ Continue Reading ]
OVERTHREW. — This does not mean _submerged,_ and the agent in the destruction was fire and not water. “The plain” (Heb., _the Ciccar_) still existed, and when Abraham saw it, was wrapped in smoke.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS WIFE LOOKED BACK FROM BEHIND HIM. — In Oriental countries it is still the rule for the wife to walk behind her husband. As regards the method of her transformation, some think that she was stifled by sulphureous vapours, and her body subsequently encrusted with salt. More probably, the earthquak... [ Continue Reading ]
ABRAHAM GAT UP EARLY IN THE MORNING. — This was necessary, because he had a walk of some miles before he reached “the place where he stood before Jehovah” on the previous evening; and probably the mighty forces which overthrew the cities had been some hours at work when he reached the head of the ra... [ Continue Reading ]
LO, THE SMOKE OF THE COUNTRY (REALLY, _LAND_) WENT UP AS THE SMOKE OF A FURNACE. — The substitution of the word _country_ for _land_ is confusing. It was the _land of the Ciccar,_ just mentioned, which was in flames. As Abraham could see the Ciccar, it must have been at the northern end of the Dead... [ Continue Reading ]
HE FEARED TO DWELL IN ZOAR. — Though this little place had been granted him for an asylum, yet, terrified at the sight of the smoking valley, and remembering that he had been originally commanded to go to the mountains, he summons up his courage and proceeds thither. The limestone regions of Palesti... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIRSTBORN SAID UNTO THE YOUNGER. — Several modern commentators see in this recital a mark of Jewish hatred towards the Moabites and Ammonites, and an attempt to brand their origin with shame. Really we find in Deuteronomy 2:9, no trace of the existence of this hostility, but, on the contrary, th... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WE MAY PRESERVE SEED OF OUR FATHER. — This was a very strong feeling in ancient times, and affords the sole excuse for the revolting conduct of these women. The utter degradation of Lot and his family is the most painful part of his story, which thus ends in his intense shame.... [ Continue Reading ]
MOAB... BEN-AMMI. — Both these names suggest an incestuous origin, but the latter in a less repulsive way. “Son of my people” means one born of intercourse with her own kin and family. It is a striking proof of the vigour of the race of Terah, that from this lone cavern, and after the loss of all th... [ Continue Reading ]