Bible Commentaries
Genesis 19

Verse 1

two. Hebrew the two. With article, viz. two of the three, Genesis 18:16 .

Sodom = flaming, burning.

even. Note emph. on notes of time in the Structure.

gate. The seat of judgment, showing that Lot was a real citizen, Genesis 19:9 ; Genesis 23:10 , Genesis 23:18 ; Genesis 34:20 , Genesis 34:24 .Ruth 4:1 .

Verse 2

my lords. Plural of Adon.

in the street. Figure of speech Peristasis.

Verse 3

eat. See Genesis 18:8 .

Verse 5

know. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause). App-6 .

Verse 8

known. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause).

these. Archaic pronoun showing antiquity of Pentateuch

roof. Figure of speech Metalepsis. App-6 . Roof put for house, and house put for protection.

Verse 9

judge. See Genesis 19:1 . He sat in Sodom's gate, the seat of the judges. See note on Genesis 13:7 .

worse. Hebrew. ra'. App-44 .

break = break open, shiver.

Verse 11

blindness. Produced by dazzlings of light. Figure of speech Heterosis (of Noun). Plural put for sing, only here and 2 Kings 6:18 . 2 Kings 6:9 instances of people so smitten (see App-10 ). See Genesis 19:11 ; Genesis 27:1 ; Genesis 48:10 . Jdg 16:21 . 1 Samuel 4:15 . 1 Kings 14:4 . 2Ki 6:18 ; 2 Kings 25:7 . Acts 13:11 .

Verse 12

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton.

Verse 13

will destroy = are about to destroy.

face. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

Verse 14

the LORD. Compare the "we" of Genesis 19:13 . Hebrew. Jehovah.

one that mocked. [ talked nonsense ] See notes on next page.

one that mocked = talked nonsense. He had looked, and pitched his tent toward Sodom, had dwelt and made his home there, and married his daughters, and sat in its gate as a judge. No wonder he seemed as one that mocked. He chose Sodom (Genesis 13:11 ), and "lingered" in the place of his choice (Genesis 19:16 ). See note, Genesis 13:7 .

Verse 15

iniquity. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause). App-6 . Cause put for effect = judgment. Compare Psalms 7:16 .

Verse 16

lingered. See Genesis 19:14 .

Verse 17

He. Septuagint reads "they".

life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. See App-13 .

look, &c. Figure of speech Asyndeton. (No ands, but climax.)

Verse 18

LORD* . see note on Genesis 18:27 .

Verse 20

is it not a little one? Figure of speech Epitrechon.

my soul = myself. Hebrew my nephesh.

Verse 21

thee. Hebrew. thy face . Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part).

Verse 22

Zoar = little, or smallness. Compare Genesis 14:2 , Genesis 14:8 .

Verse 24

the LORD . . . from the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. Repetition very emphatic. Compare "we", Genesis 19:13 .

brimstone and fire. Figure of speech Hendiadys ( App-6 ) = burning brimstone. Referred to in Deuteronomy 29:23 .Isaiah 13:19 . Jeremiah 49:18 . Zephaniah 2:9 . Matthew 10:15 . 2 Peter 2:6 . Jude 1:7 .

Verse 25

overthrew. These cities are not in the Dead Sea, but their ruins have been discovered by M. de Saulcy (called to-day Kharbet-Goumran), about 4 miles square ( Journey round the Dead Sea, vol. ii, pp. 42-46). Note the parallelism ( Alternation ). a | cities. b | plain. a | cities (inhabitants). b | plain (produce).

Verse 26

wife. Compare Luke 17:32 .

looked back: i.e. curiously. Compare Isaiah 63:5 and Genesis 19:28 . Same word as in Genesis 19:17 .

became. Same word as Genesis 1:2 , "the earth became. "

Verse 27

stood. Compare note on Genesis 18:22 .

Verse 28

looked toward. A different word from Genesis 19:27 . Abraham bent forward and looked with awe and grief.

smoke. It does not say he saw the cities, but only the smoke.

Verse 29

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

remembered. Lot's deliverance due to Abraham's prayer. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.

cities = the city. Figure of speech Heterosis (of Number). App-6 .

Verse 32

wine. Hebrew. yayin. See App-27 .

Verses 33-35

nor = but. This clause is one marked with the "fifteen extraordinary points" calling attention to the ancient readings "he did know when she arose. "See App-31 .

Verse 37

Moab. Hebrew. from a father.

Verse 38

Ben-ammi. Hebrew. son of Ammi = "the god Am". See on Genesis 14:5 and Deuteronomy 2:20 . Begotten in shame, both had a shameful history. Deuteronomy 23:3 , Deuteronomy 23:4 . Compare Judges 10:10 ; Judges 11:4 , Judges 11:15 .Numbers 21:29 . Deuteronomy 2:19 ; Deuteronomy 3:16 . 2 Chronicles 20:1 .