Genesis 19

The two angels come in human shape to Sodom and are lodged and entertained by Lot verse 1 the Sodomites surrounded the house by night and intend abominably to abuse those guest 4 Lot goes about to dissuade them but in vain an d not without danger to himself 6 from which the angel withdraw him and strike the Sodomites with blindness that they were fain to quit the house 10 Lot with his wife and two daughters the son in law making mock of it are led out of Sodom and charged to save themselves of the mountain 17 but Lot entreats and obtains to shelter himself in zoar 18 the four cities and all the territories about together with the inhabitants and growth thereof are consumed with fire and brimstone from heaven 24 the Lord punisheth Lots wife 26 Abraham considers the destruction of these cities 27 Lot retires to the mountains where through drink he is ignorantly abused by both ibis daughters 31 from whence issued Moab and Ammon.

1. And the two angels [of whom mention is made above chapter 18.22 where they are called men as below verse 5 &c. the Hebrew word doth signify ambassadors sent ones messengers as also doth the word angels taken from the Greek tongue] came to Sodom in the evening and Lot sate in the gate of Sodom and when Lot saw them he arose to meet them and bowed himself with the face to the ground [compare above chapter 18. Verse, 2.]

2. And he said Lo now my Lords turn in I pray unto the house of your servant [that is into my house] and overnight lodge there and wash your feet and ye shall arise early and go your way and they said no but we will overnight in the streets [namely in case Lot should not persuade to the contrary of the importunity and to take up their lodging in his house as came to pass compare Luke 24 verse 28,29.]

3. And he pressed them very much so that they turned into him and came to his house and he made them a feats and baked unleavened cakes [which could be soon made ready that they might betake themselves so much the sooner to their rest compare above chapter 18.6.] and they did eat [see above chapter 18 on verse 2.]

4. Before they lay to sleep [Heb. Before they lay down or when laid down viz. for to sleep so below chapter 28.13 Leviticus 14:47 and 26.6 &c.] the man of that city the man of Soddom from the youngest to the eldest had surrounded the house [a most shameless and abominable insolence wherein they all conspired young and old from all parts of the city and that by night too] and all the people from the utmost end [of the city namely understand from one end and the other end of it.]

5. And they called upon Lot and said to him where are those men that came this night unto thee? Bring them forth to us [they are not ashamed to proclaim their sin and abominations in public and to have it known by all men this Sodomitical boasting in evil God reproacheth to the Israelites Isaiah 3:9 where he saith they boast themselves of their sins like those of Sodom and do not hide them] that we may acknowledge them [what kind of abomination they mean by this expression is plain enough by Lots answer see Leviticus 18:2 and 20.13 and 20.13 Romans 1:26,27 and 1Corinthians 6.9 and Jude verse 7.]

6. Then Lot went forth unto them at the door and he shut the door after him.

7. And he said my brethren do no evil I pray [thus courteously Lot spake to these wretched men calling them brethren in regard of the common brotherhood of nature compare above chapter 9.5 and c below chapter 29.4 and Leviticus 19:17.]

8. Behold yet I have two daughters who acknowledged men [see of this phrase below chapter 24.16 Numbers 31:18 and Judges 11:39 Luke 1:34] I will bring them forth unto you and do unto them [Lot endeavoring to hinder one abominable sin he gives way here through human fearfulness and adverseness unto another sin contrary to his fatherly duty and the rule Romans 3:8] as it is good in your eyes [even what you will yourselves at your own pleasure see of this phrase below chapter 20.15 an d41.37 Numbers 24:1 &c.] only do nothing to these men for therefore they are gone in under the shadow of my roof [viz. to be free and safe from all harm and violence to come under one shadow is to break one under his protection and safeguard compare Jude 9.15Psalms 36.8 Jeremiah 48:44.]

9. Then they said come father on [as threatening him if they could but get him into their hands] moreover said they this such a one is come for to dwell here as a stranger and should he judge judging? or he would judge judging see the annotate above chapter 2.16 compare 2Peter 2.8now shall we do the more evil then them and they pressed much upon the men upon Lot and they slept on to break open the door.

10. Yet the men [the two angels Lot his guests] put forth their hand and caused Lot to come into them into the house and shut the door.

11. And they smote the men at the door of the house with blindness [viz. not only corporal but spiritual also this miraculous punishment was such upon the sight of their eyes not that they could not see at all but that they were blinded chiefly in the judgment and apprehension of their understanding and disabled thereby to discern and distinguished what they saw in some measure see the like 2kings 6.18] from the least to the greatest so that they grew weary for to find the door [seeking the door with much labor and not able to find it they were so tired that they were fain to give over and shift away.]

12. Then said those men to Lot whom hast thou here yet more? A son in law or thy sons or thy daughters and all whom or what thou hast in this city bring out of this place.

13. For we go to destroy this place for that her cry [understand that of the inhabitants of Sodom is become or grown great see above chapter 4 on verse 10 and 18.20] before the face of the Lord [thus made known unto him that according to his justice he was now about to avenge it for the face of the Lord is over them that do to avenge it for the face of the LORD is over them that do evil that he may destroy their embrace from the earth Psalms 34:17] and the Lord hath sent us forth to destroy her.

14. And then Lot went forth and spake to his sons in law that were to take his daughters [viz. to marry them so above chapter 6.2 and below chapter 24.3 an d228.6 an d34.9 Deuteronomy 7:3] and said get ye up go forth out of this place for the Lord goeth to destroy this city but he was in the eyes of his sons in law as jesting [a lively image of the reckless and carnal men in the time approaching judgments see Matthew 24:38 Luke 17:28 ,29 , 1Thessalonians 5.3.]

15. And when the dawning arose the angels pressed Lot saying get up thee take thy wife and thy two daughters which are present [Heb. Which are found hence some conjecture that Lot had more daughters which remained and perished with their husbands in Sodom] that thou perish not with the unrighteousness of this city [or in the punishment of the unrighteousness &c. see above chapter 4 on verse 13.]

16. But he delayed [doubtless being troubled & destructed with manifold carnal thoughts and cares] so the men apprehend his hand and the hand of his wife and the hand of his two daughters for or because of the sparing of the LORD over them [which Lot acknowledgeth below verse 19.] and they brought them forth and put them without the city.

17. And it came to pass when they had brought them forth without then he said [Heb. Viz. the LORD that had stayed with Abraham, above chapter 18.22 and was gone from him verse 33 though some do hold that this is one of the two angels that appeared unto Lot] save thee [and escape so in the sequel] for thy lifes sake [Heb. Soul so below chapter 37.21 Deuteronomy 22:16 Joshua 2:13 1 Kings 19:3 2Kings 7.7 Matthew 2.0 the meaning is that he should forget to care of his goods and look only to the saving of his life] and look not about thee back and stand not this plain save thee towards the mountain that thou perish not.

18. And Lot said to them: [viz. to the angels and addressing himself nevertheless in the sequel to the LORD, who it seems was present now with the two angels as before at Abraham] [chapter 18.] Nay ( I pray ) Lord.

19. See yet thy servant hath found grace in thy eyes [see above chapter 6 on verse 8] and hast made thy bounty great which thou hast don eto m for to save my soul alive but I shall not b able to b preserved towards the mountain left peradventure that evil cleave to me and I should die [by the evil understand here that of punishment as this word is frequently used see Deuteronomy 31 verse 17 1 Kings 9:9 and 14.10 Isaiah 45:7 Jeremiah 6:19 Amos 3:6 Lot is afraid that the mountain would be too far from him and that he might be surprised with that destruction by the way .]

20. Behold yet this city is near to escape thither and she is little [otherwise it is but a small thing and so in the sequel] let me I pray be saved thitherward is she not little? [Otherwise is not that a small matter?] That my soul may live.

21. And he said Lo I have received thy face also in the matter [that is I shall be favorable to thee and in mercy grant thee this request also see this phrase below chapter 32.0 and compare the annotate] that I do not destroy this city wherefore thou hast spoken.

22. Make hast save thee thitherward for I shall not be able to do ought until thou be come in there [for as much as I have decreed in mercy to spare thee] there they called the name of the city Zoar [that is a small or little formerly called Bela above chapter 14.2 see likewise above 13. On verse 10.]

23. The sun arose above the earth when Lot came in at Zoar.

24. Then the Lord [viz. the son of God of one and the same essence power and glory with the father and before both in this and preceding chapter often called JEHOVAH or the LORD to whom the father there hath surrendered all judgments John 5:22] made it to rain brimstone and fire [before God executed a general judgment by the water here he maketh use of a some the hot lust burning Sodomites a type of everlasting judgment Revelations 19.20 this happens as some do calculate in the year after the creation 2048] over Sodom and over Gomorra [to which add Adama and Zeboim out of Deuteronomy 29:23 Hosea 11:5 for all these four cities were burnt together] from the LORD [that is according to the judgment of many excellent interpreters from the father who worketh by the son John 5:19.]

25. And he destroyed the same cities and all the plain and all the inhabitants of these cities also the growth of the land.

26. And his wife looked about [contrary to the express charge verse 17 in which transgression unbelief and disobedience were mixed with covetousness and thankfulness] from behind him [namely from Lot as the leader and the foreman of the company hastening towards the place where he might be saved] and she became a salt-pillar [her body namely which was turned into selfish matter the harder to grow and the longer to stand and endure there see Luke 17:32 Josephus recordeth that the same salt pillar stood yet in his time see the first book of the antiquites chapter 12 the tract of this county was afterwards called the salt-sea see above chapter 14.3.]

27. And Abraham got himself up that morning very early towards that place where he had stood before the face of the Lord [see above chapter 18.22.]

28. And he looked towards Sodom and Gomorra and towards all the land of the plain and he saw and behold there went up a smoke from the land like the smoke of the furnace.

29. And it came to pass when God destroyed the cities of this plain the Go remembered Abraham [partly the intercession h had made above chapter 18.22,24 and partly the promises made unto him above chapter 12.3] and he led forth Lot out of the midst of destruction in the destroying f those cities in which Lot had dwelt [that is in one of which see the like phrase above chapter 18 .9 and 19.12 John 1:5 Matthew 7.44.]

30. And lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt upon the mountain and his two daughters with him for he was afraid to dwell within zoar [not withstanding that before he had thought it the safest place to retreat see verse 20 but now he fears God he would likewise destroy that city or else that the inhabitants might do him some mischief and violence .] and he dwelt in a cave he and his two daughters.

31. Then said the first born to the youngest [Heb. The little one ands in the sequel that is the youngest] our father is old and there is no man in this land [They knew well enough that there are men at Zoar but they were afraid that these would perish like the rest] to go in to us [see of this phrase above chapter 6.4 and 16.2,4 item Deuteronomy 25:5] after the manner of all the earth [Heb. The way of &c. see above chapter 18. On verse 11.]

32. Come let us give wine [which doubtless they have brought along with them from Sodom or Zoar for provision] to drink to our father and lie with him [an abominable enterprise and grievous fall in Lots family.] that we may keep [a son or child so below verse 34 see above chapter 4 on verse 25] alive of our father.

33. And they gave their father wine to drink that night and the first born and lay with her father and he was not aware of it in her lying down or in her rising.

34. And it came to pass the second day that the first born said to the youngest behold I lay yester night with my father let us give him likewise this night the wine to drink go in then lie with him that we may keep seed alive of our father.

35. And they gave their father that night also wine to drink and the youngest arose and lay with him and he was not aware of it in her lying down or in her rising.

36. And the two daughters of Lot conceived of their father.

37. And the first born a son called his name Moab this is the father of the Moabites [Heb. Moab a people sufficiently known in holy scripture having inhabited on the east side of Jordan and the dead sea between the river of Arnon and Jabbok] unto this day.

38. And the youngest she likewise bare a son and called his name Ben Ammi this is the father of the children of Ammon [that is the Ammonites the people likewise well known in holy scripture having likewise dwelt east ward of Palestine though northwards of the Moabites] unto this day.