ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Genesis 19

Gen. 19:1–3 The two angels. These are the two men who accompanied the Lord in ch. 18 but then separated from him (see 18:22). Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. These verses parallel the opening verses of ch. 18. Like Abraham, Lot greets the two men by bowing before them, offering them hospitality. There is no report of his wife assisting him. Unleavened bread implies it was baked in haste. By resembling Abraham’s earlier actions, Lot demonstrates that he is righteous, unlike the men of Sodom.

Gen. 19:4 the men of the city. Every male in Sodom, it seems, both young and old, was involved in the attempted rape of the two visitors.

Gen. 19:5 that we may know them. In Hebrew the verb “to know” sometimes implies sexual intercourse (e.g., 4:1; 17; 25; 19:8; compare Judg. 19:22). The context suggests that the men of Sodom intend to have homosexual relations with the two visitors, hence the origin of the term “sodomy.” By acting so wickedly against defenseless strangers, the entire community invites divine punishment.

Gen. 19:6–9 Lot’s readiness to protect the two men from the mob is admirable. In desperation he offers his two unmarried daughters as substitutes—a shocking, cowardly, and inexcusable act, even if he intended this only as a bluff, or expected the offer to be rejected. The reaction of the crowd only confirms the truly evil nature of their intentions.

Gen. 19:9 While Lot addresses them as “brothers” (v. 7), the crowd resents him as a foreigner who has become the judge.

Gen. 19:16 he lingered. Even Lot is slow to grasp the seriousness of the situation.

Gen. 19:17–23 Since the entire valley will be destroyed, Lot is told to escape to the hills. Lot thinks this will be too difficult and therefore asks to be given refuge in a small city in the valley. The Lord grants this request, further showing his mercy to Lot amid the judgment on Sodom.

Gen. 19:24–25 the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. This judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, the flood of chs. 6–9, and the later destruction of the Canaanites (Deut. 20:16–18) all demonstrate God’s righteous wrath against sin, his mercy in rescuing the godly from destruction, and the certainty of the final judgment to come.

Gen. 19:26 The pillar of salt may have been composed of the fiery matter raining in molten lumps from the sky.

Gen. 19:27–29 The text now focuses briefly on Abraham, reminding the reader of his intercession for Lot and his family (18:20–33).

Gen. 19:31–38 Lot’s daughters had intercourse with him on consecutive nights, but he was unaware of it. This unseemly episode marked the origin of the Moabites and Ammonites.