Study Notes Week 19

Read
Aloud together to hear the Word (Leviticus 23:1-3; Nehemiah 8:1-4; Luke 4:16-17)

Bereshiyt (Genesis) 19:1-38

19:1 The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with his face to the land, 2 and he said, “See now, my lords, please come into your servant's house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way [since you have come to your servant].”^(mss) They said, “No, but we will stay in the street all night.” 3 He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. 4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter. 5 They called to Lot, and said to him, “Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” 6 Lot went out to them through the door, and shut the door after himself. 7 He said, “Please, my brothers, don't act so wickedly. 8 See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them what seems good to you. Only don't do any word to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof.” 9 They said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will judge a judgment? Now we will do evil with you more than with them!” They pressed hard on the man Lot, and came near to break the door. 10 But the men reached out their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut the door. 11 They struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door. 12 The men said to Lot, “Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of the place: 13 for we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown so great before [Elohim]^(mss) that [he]^(LXX) has sent us to destroy it.” 14 Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up! Get out of this place, for [Elohim]^(mss) will destroy the city!” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking. 15 When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, [and get out,]^(LXX) lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” 16 But [they were troubled];^(LXX) and the men grabbed his hand, his wife's hand, and his two daughters' hands, [Elohim]^(mss) being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city. 17 It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, “Escape for your life! Don't look behind you, and don't stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!” 18 Lot said to them, “Oh, not so, my lord. 19 See now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown to me in saving my life. I can't escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die. 20 See now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape there—isn't it a little one?—And my soul will live.” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I have granted your request concerning this word also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Hurry, escape there, for I can't do any word until you get there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun had risen on the land when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then [Elohim]^(mss) rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD^(mss) from the heavens. 25 He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew on the ground. 26 But Lot's wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 Abraham went up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before [Elohim].^(mss) 28 He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and saw that the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace. 29 When Elohim destroyed the cities of the plain, Elohim remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived. 30 Lot went up out of Zoar, and lived in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he was afraid to live in Zoar. He lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 The firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man in the land to come in to us in the way of all the land. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve our father's family line.” 33 They made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father. He didn't know when she lay down, nor when she arose. 34 It came to pass on the next day, that the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let's make him drink wine again tonight. You go in, and lie with him, that we may preserve our father's family line.” 35 They made their father drink wine that night also. The younger went and lay with him. He didn't know when she lay down, nor when she got up. 36 Thus both of Lot's daughters were with child by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son, and named him Moab[, saying from my father].^(LXX) He is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben Ammi[, a son of my people].^(LXX) He is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day.

Torah Portion Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

Review of Study Notes for Week 18

1. Genesis 18:1-2 [Elohim]^(LXX) appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked and saw that three men stood near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door and bowed himself to the land,
   1. Jubilees 16:1 And on the new moon of the fourth month we (the angels) appeared unto Abraham, at the oak of Mamre, and we talked with him, and we announced to him that a son would be given to him by Sarah his wife.
   2. Often translated as “angel” or “messenger,” מַלְאַךְ malakh (H4397) is one who bears a message or runs an errand. Walks for another (i.e. הַלֵּךְ halaka means to walk). מַלְאַךְ malakh is equivalent to the Greek ἄγγελος angelos (G32) and defined as one who is sent as a messenger or envoy.
   3. Acts 23:7-8 When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.
      1. “Angels in Early Rabbinic Literature…Though the Bible records that the men ate a meal that Abraham had prepared for them, the rabbis stipulate that the trio only appeared to eat — since, being angels, they are not physical beings, but merely resemble them.” – https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/angels/
      2. “Origin of Angels…The angels enjoy the splendor of the Shekhinah and are free of the yeẓer ha-ra (“evil inclination”; Gen. R. 48:11); they have no needs (Yoma 4b; Mid. Ps. to 78:25; cf. also LXX and Targum, Ps. 78:25; MGWJ, 22 (1873), 113); they are classified according to countries and as a result there are angels who must not leave Ereẓ Israel (Tanḥ. B., Gen. 178); no angel may carry out more than one mission at a time (BM 86b; Gen. R. 50:2; Justin Martyr, Dialog. 56c); and they are capable of error (Eccles. R. 6:10, no. 1: cf. Adam and Eve 13–05). According to one concept the size of an angel is equal to a third of the world (R. Berechiah, PR 83:12; Gen. R. 68:12).” https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/angels-and-angelology-2
   4. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan And the glory of the Lord was revealed to him in the valley of Mamre; and he, being ill from the pain of circumcision, sat at the door of the tabernacle in the fervour (or strength) of the day. And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, three angels in the resemblance of men were standing before him; (angels) who had been sent from the necessity of three things;–because it is not possible for a ministering angel to be sent for more than one purpose at a time;–one, then, had come to make known to him that Sarah should bear a man-child; one had come to deliver Lot; and one to overthrow Sedom and Amorah. And when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the door of the tent, and bowed himself on the earth.
   5. Jerusalem Targum Three angels were sent to our father Abraham; and the three were sent for three things;–because it is not possible that one of the high angels should be sent for more things than one. The first angel was sent to announce to our father Abraham, that, behold, Sarah would bear Izhak; the second angel was sent to deliver Lot from the midst of the overthrow; the third angel was sent to overthrow Sedom and Amorah, Admah and Zeboim. Therefore was there a word of prophecy from before the Lord unto Abraham the Just, and the Word of the Lord was revealed to him in the valley of vision; and he sat in the door of the tabernacle, comforting himself from his circumcision in the fervour (or strength) of the day.]
      1. Luke 1:19-20 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
      2. Revelation 22:6 He said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon.”
      3. Revelation 22:16 I, Yeshua, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the seed of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
2. Genesis 18:16 The men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.
3. Genesis 18:17-19 [Elohim]^(LXX) said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do, 18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the land will be blessed in him? 19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his sons and his household after him, that they may keep the way of [Elohim],^(mss) to do righteousness and justice; to the end that [Elohim]^(LXX) may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him.”
   1. Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord YHWH will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.
4. Genesis 18:20-22 [Elohim]^(mss) said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, 21 I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.” 22 The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before [Elohim].^(mss)
   1. What was Sodom’s sin? Many are surprised to hear that it was not sodomy.
      1. sod·om·y – intercourse involving anal or oral copulation.
      2. Genesis 19:1-5 The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with his face to the land, 2 and he said, “See now, my lords, please come into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way. [Afterward you will cross over since you crossed over upon your servant.]”^(mss) They said, “No, but we will stay in the street all night.” 3 He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. 4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter. 5 They called to Lot, and said to him, “Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.”
   2. Wisdom of Solomon 19:13-17 The Wisdom of Solomon or Book of Wisdom is a Jewish work, written in Greek, and most likely composed in Alexandria, Egypt. Generally dated to the mid first century B.C. It is uncertain whether the book has a single author or comes from a school of writers, but recent scholarship has favored regarding it as a unified work. Fragments of the Wisdom of Solomon were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls in the first discovered and excavated cave at Qumran in 1949.
   3. 19:13 Punishments came upon the sinners, not without the signs that were given beforehand by the force of the thunders; for they justly suffered through their own wickednesses, for the hatred which they practiced toward guests was grievous indeed. 14 For whereas the others didn’t receive the strangers when they came to them, the Egyptians made slaves of guests who were their benefactors. 15 And not only so, but Elohim will visit the men of Sodom another way, since they received as enemies those who were sojourners; 16 whereas these first welcomed with feastings, and then afflicted with dreadful toils, those who had already shared with them in the same rights. 17 And moreover they were stricken with loss of sight (even as were those others at the righteous man’s doors), when, being surrounded with yawning darkness, they each looked for the passage through his own door.
   4. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan And the Lord said to the ministering angels, The cry of Sedom and Amorah, because they oppress the poor, and decree that whosoever giveth a morsel to the needy will be burned with fire, is therefore great, and their guilt exceedingly weighty. I will now appear, and see whether, as the cry of a damsel torn away, which ascendeth before Me, they have made completion of their sins; (or, whether they have made an end of their sins😉 and if they have wrought repentance, will they not be as (if) innocent before Me? and as if not knowing, I will not punish.
   5. Jerusalem Targum Now will I appear and see, according as the cry of the people of Sedom and Amorah hath ascended before Me, whether they have made a complete end. It may be, that some among these sinners do not know that their works of evil are manifest before Me. And if they seek to work repentance, behold, they will be considered before Me as if those works had not been known.
   6. Josephus 1.11.1-3 About this time the Sodomites grew proud, on account of their riches and great wealth; they became unjust towards men, and impious towards God, insomuch that they did not call to mind the advantages they received from him: they hated strangers, and abused themselves with Sodomitical practices. Elohim was therefore much displeased at them, and determined to punish them for their pride, and to overthrow their city, and to lay waste their country, until there should neither plant nor fruit grow out of it. 1.11.2. When Elohim had thus resolved concerning the Sodomites, Abraham, as he sat by the oak of Mambre, at the door of his tent, saw three angels; and thinking them to be strangers, he rose up, and saluted them, and desired they would accept of an entertainment, and abide with him; to which, when they agreed, he ordered cakes of meal to be made presently; and when he had slain a calf, he roasted it, and brought it to them, as they sat under the oak. Now they made a show of eating; and besides, they asked him about his wife Sarah, where she was; and when he said she was within, they said they would come again hereafter, and find her become a mother. Upon which the woman laughed, and said that it was impossible she should bear children, since she was ninety years of age, and her husband was a hundred. Then they concealed themselves no longer, but declared that they were angels of God; and that one of them was sent to inform them about the child, and two of the overthrow of Sodom. 1.11.3. When Abraham heard this, he was grieved for the Sodomites; and he rose up, and besought Elohim for them, and entreated him that he would not destroy the righteous with the wicked. And when Elohim had replied that there was no good man among the Sodomites; for if there were but ten such man among them, he would not punish any of them for their sins, Abraham held his peace. And the angels came to the city of the Sodomites, and Lot entreated them to accept of a lodging with him; for he was a very generous and hospitable man, and one that had learned to imitate the goodness of Abraham. Now when the Sodomites saw the young men to be of beautiful countenances, and this to an extraordinary degree, and that they took up their lodgings with Lot, they resolved themselves to enjoy these beautiful boys by force and violence; and when Lot exhorted them to sobriety, and not to offer any thing immodest to the strangers, but to have regard to their lodging in his house; and promised that if their inclinations could not be governed, he would expose his daughters to their coveting, instead of these strangers; neither thus were they made ashamed.
   7. Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.
5. Genesis 18:23-32 Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the land do right?” 26 [Elohim]^(mss) said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 27 Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, although I am dust and ashes. 28 What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.” 30 He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.” 32 He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”
   1. 2 Esdras (4 Esdras) 7:102-115 2 Esdras, consisting of chapters 3-14, (also called 4 Esdras, Latin Esdras, or Latin Ezra) is the name of a book in many English versions of the Bible. Its authorship is ascribed to Ezra, a scribe and priest of the 5th century B.C., although modern scholarship places its composition between 70 and 218 A.D. It is reckoned among the apocrypha by Roman Catholics, Protestants, and most Eastern Orthodox Christians. The Ethiopian Church considers 4 Ezra to be canonical, written during the Babylonian captivity, and calls it “Izra Sutuel” (ዕዝራ ሱቱኤል). It was also often cited by the Fathers of the Church. In the Eastern Armenian tradition it is called 3 Ezra.
   2. 7:102 I answered and said, “If I have found favor in your sight, show further to me, your servant, whether on the day of judgment the righteous will be able to intercede for the impious or to entreat the Most High for them— 103 fathers for sons or sons for parents, brothers for brothers, relatives for their kindred, or friends for those who are most dear.” 104 He answered me and said, “Since you have found favor in my sight, I will show you this also. The day of judgment is decisive and displays to all the seal of truth. Just as now a father does not send his son, or a son his father, or a master his servant, or a friend his dearest friend, to be ill or sleep or eat or be healed in his place, 105 so no one will ever pray for another on that day, neither will anyone lay a burden on another; for then all will bear their own righteousness and unrighteousness.” 106 I answered and said, “How then do we find that first Abraham prayed for the people of Sodom, and Moses for our ancestors who sinned in the desert, 107 and Joshua after him for Israel in the days of Achan, 108 and Samuel in the days of Saul, and David for the plague, and Solomon for those at the dedication, 109 and Elijah for those who received the rain, and for the one who was dead, that he might live, 110 and Hezekiah for the people in the days of Sennacherib, and many others prayed for many? 111 So if now, when corruption has increased and unrighteousness has multiplied, the righteous have prayed for the impious, why will it not be so then as well?” 112 He answered me and said, “This present world is not the end; the full glory does not remain in it; therefore those who were strong prayed for the weak. 113 But the day of judgment will be the end of this age and the beginning of the immortal age to come, in which corruption has passed away, 114 sinful indulgence has come to an end, unbelief has been cut off, and righteousness has increased and truth has appeared. 115 Therefore no one will then be able to have mercy on someone who has been condemned in the judgment, or to harm someone who is victorious.”

1. Genesis 18:33 – 19:1 He^(LXX) went his way as soon as he had finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place. 19:1 The two angels came to Sodom at evening…
   1. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan And the glory of the Lord was revealed to him in the valley of Mamre; and he, being ill from the pain of circumcision, sat at the door of the tabernacle in the fervour (or strength) of the day. And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, three angels in the resemblance of men were standing before him; (angels) who had been sent from the necessity of three things;–because it is not possible for a ministering angel to be sent for more than one purpose at a time;–one, then, had come to make known to him that Sarah should bear a man-child; one had come to deliver Lot; and one to overthrow Sedom and Amorah. And when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the door of the tent, and bowed himself on the earth.
   2. Jerusalem Targum Three angels were sent to our father Abraham; and the three were sent for three things;–because it is not possible that one of the high angels should be sent for more things than one. The first angel was sent to announce to our father Abraham, that, behold, Sarah would bear Izhak; the second angel was sent to deliver Lot from the midst of the overthrow; the third angel was sent to overthrow Sedom and Amorah, Admah and Zeboim. Therefore was there a word of prophecy from before the Lord unto Abraham the Just, and the Word of the Lord was revealed to him in the valley of vision; and he sat in the door of the tabernacle, comforting himself from his circumcision in the fervour (or strength) of the day.]
   3. Isaiah 3:8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against YHWH, to provoke the eyes of his glory. 9 The look of their faces testify against them. They [announce]^(LXX) their sin like Sodom. They don’t hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought disaster upon themselves. 10 Tell the righteous “Good!” For they will eat the fruit of their deeds. 11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them; for the deeds of his hands will be paid back to him.
2. Genesis 19:1 …Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with his face to the land, 2 and he said, “See now, my lords, please come into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way [since you have come to your servant].”^(mss) They said, “No, but we will stay in the street all night.”
   1. Lot was an elder and judge
      1. Deuteronomy 16:18-20 You will make judges and officers in all your gates, which YHWH your Elohim gives you, according to your tribes; and they will judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 Do not pervert justice. Do not show partiality. Do not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. 20 You will pursue complete righteousness so that you may live and inherit the land which YHWH your Elohim gives you.
      2. Deuteronomy 21:18-19 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and though they chasten him, will not listen to them, 19 then his father and his mother will take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city and to the gate of his place. 20 They will tell the elders of his city, “This our son is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey our voice. He is a glutton and a drunkard.”
      3. Deuteronomy 22:13-16 If any man takes a woman, and goes in to her, hates her, 14 and places on her deeds of words, and will bring out upon her an evil name, and says, “I took this wife, and when I came near to her, I didn’t find her virginity;” 15 then the young lady’s father and mother will take and bring the young lady’s virginity to the elders of the city in the gate. 16 The young lady’s father will tell the elders, “I gave my daughter to this man as his wife, and he hates her.
      4. Deuteronomy 25:5-10 If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the woman of the dead will not be married outside to a strange man. Her husband’s brother will go in to her, and he will take her for him for a woman, and he will do the marriage duty with her. 6 It will be that the firstborn whom she bears will rise upon the name of his brother who is dead, that his name not be blotted out of Israel. 7 If the man doesn’t want to take his brother’s wife, then his brother’s wife will go up to the gate to the elders, and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to raise up to his brother a name in Israel. He will not perform the duty of a husband’s brother to me.” 8 Then the elders of his city will call him, and speak to him. If he stands and says, “I don’t want to take her,” 9 then his brother’s wife will come to him to the eye of the elders, and loose his sandal from off his foot, and spit in his face. She will answer and say, “So will it be done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.” 10 His name will be called in Israel, “The house of him who had his sandal removed.”
         1. Ruth 4:10-11 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, I have purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today.” 11 All the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses…”
      5. Proverbs 31:23 Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
3. Genesis 19:3 He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.
4. Genesis 19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter. 5 They called to Lot, and said to him, “Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.”
5. Genesis 19:6 Lot went out to them through the door, and shut the door after himself. 7 He said, “Please, my brothers, don’t act so wickedly. 8 See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them what seems good to you. Only don’t do any word to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof.”
   1. Judges 19:1-30 In those days, when there was no king in Israel, there was a certain Levite living on the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim, who took for himself a concubine out of Bethlehem Judah. 2 His concubine whored against him, and went away from him to her father’s house to Bethlehem Judah, and was there for four new moons. 3 Her husband arose and went after her to speak kindly to her, to bring her again, having his servant with him and a couple of donkeys. She brought him into her father’s house; and when the father of the young lady saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. 4 His father-in-law, the young lady’s father, kept him there; and he stayed with him three days. So they ate and drank, and stayed there. 5 On the fourth day, they got up early in the morning, and he rose up to depart. The young lady’s father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward you will go your way.” 6 So they sat down, ate, and drank, both of them together. Then the young lady’s father said to the man, “Please be pleased to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.” 7 The man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he stayed there again. 8 He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady’s father said, “Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines;” and they both ate. 9 When the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady’s father, said to him, “Behold, now the day draws toward evening, please stay all night. Behold, the day is ending. Stay here, that your heart may be merry; and tomorrow go on your way early, that you may go home.” 10 But the man wouldn’t stay that night, but he rose up and went near Jebus, also called Jerusalem,. With him were a couple of saddled donkeys. His concubine also was with him. 11 When they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, “Please come and let’s enter into this city of the Jebusites, and stay in it.” 12 His master said to him, “We won’t enter into the city of a foreigner that is not of the sons of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah.” 13 He said to his servant, “Come and let’s draw near to one of these places; and we will lodge in Gibeah, or in Ramah.” 14 So they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. 15 They went over there, to go in to stay in Gibeah. He went in, and sat down in the street of the city; for there was no one who took them into his house to stay. 16 Behold, a bearded man came from his work out of the field at evening. Now the man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he lived in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjamites. 17 He lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the bearded man said, “Where are you going? Where did you come from?” 18 He said to him, “We are passing from Bethlehem Judah to the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim. I am from there, and I went to Bethlehem Judah. I am going to the house of YHWH; and there is no one who has taken me into his house. 19 Yet there is both straw and feed for our donkeys; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your servant, and for the young man who is with your servants. There is no lack of anything.” 20 The bearded man said, “Peace be to you! Just let me supply all your needs, but don’t sleep in the street.” 21 So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder. Then they washed their feet, and ate and drank. 22 As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain wicked fellows, surrounded the house, beating at the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the bearded man, saying, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we can have sex with him!” 23 The man, the owner of the house, went out to them, and said to them, “No, my brothers, please don’t act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, don’t do this folly. 24 Behold, here is my virgin daughter and his concubine. I will bring them out now. Humble them, and do with them what seems good to you; but to this man don’t do any such folly.” 25 But the men wouldn’t listen to him; so the man grabbed his concubine, and brought her out to them; and they had sex with her, and abused her all night until the morning. When the day began to dawn, they let her go. 26 Then the woman came in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, until it was light. 27 Her lord rose up in the morning and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way; and behold, the woman his concubine had fallen down at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold. 28 He said to her, “Get up, and let’s get going!” but no one answered. Then he took her up on the donkey; and the man rose up, and went to his place. 29 When he had come into his house, he took a knife and cut up his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel. 30 It was so, that all who saw it said, “Such a deed has not been done or seen from the day that the sons of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt to this day! Consider it, take counsel, and speak.”
6. Genesis 19:9 They said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will judge a judgment? Now we will do evil with you more than with them!” They pressed hard on the man Lot, and came near to break the door.
7. Genesis 19:10 But the men reached out their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut the door. 11 They struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
8. Genesis 19:12 The men said to Lot, “Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of the place: 13 for we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown so great before [Elohim]^(mss) that [he]^(LXX) has sent us to destroy it.”
   1. Matthew 10:5-15 Yeshua sent these twelve out and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Nations, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans. 6 Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim, saying, ‘The reign of the heavens is at hand!’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give. 9 Don’t take any gold, silver, or brass in your money belts. 10 Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor sandals, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food. 11 Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you go on. 12 As you enter into the household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 Whoever doesn’t receive you or hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. 15 Amen, amen, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
   2. Matthew 11:20-24 Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn’t repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 You, Capernaum, who are exalted to the heavens, you will go down to Sheol. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until today. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment, than for you.”
   3. 2 Peter 2:4-9 For if Elohim didn’t spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartaros, and committed them to pits of darkness to be reserved for judgment; 5 and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noaḥ with seven others, a proclaimer of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the impious; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live in an impious way; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the covetous life of the wicked, 8 for that righteous man dwelling among them was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds, 9 the Lord knows how to deliver the pious out of trial and to guard the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment
   4. Jude 1:1-7 Judah, a servant of Yeshua the Messiah, and brother of Jacob, to those who are called, sanctified by Elohim the Father, and kept for Yeshua the Messiah: 2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. 3 Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the holy ones. 4 For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: impious men, turning the grace of our Elohim into indecency, and denying our only Master, Elohim, and Lord, Yeshua the Messiah. 5 Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn’t believe. 6 Angels who didn’t guard their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, having in the same way as these given themselves over to whoring and gone after strange flesh, are shown as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.
9. Genesis 19:14 Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up! Get out of this place, for [Elohim]^(mss) will destroy the city!” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking.
10. Genesis 19:15-16 When the morning came, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, [and get out,]^(LXX) lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” 16 But [they were troubled];^(LXX) and the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and his two daughters’ hands, [Elohim]^(mss) being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city.
11. Genesis 19:17 It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, “Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!”
    1. Jubilees 16:5-7 And in this new moon the Lord executed his judgments on Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Zeboim, and all the region of the Jordan, and He burned them with fire and brimstone, and destroyed them until this day, even as I have declared unto thee all their works, that they are wicked and sinners exceedingly, and that they defile themselves and commit fornication in their flesh, and work uncleanness on the land. 6. And, in like manner, Elohim will execute judgment on the places where they have done according to the uncleanness of the Sodomites, like unto the judgment of Sodom. 7. But Lot we saved; for Elohim remembered Abraham, and sent him out from the midst of the overthrow.
12. Genesis 19:18-23 Lot said to them, “Oh, not so, my lord. 19 See now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown to me in saving my life. I can’t escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die. 20 See now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape there—isn’t it a little one?—And my soul will live.” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I have granted your request concerning this word also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Hurry, escape there, for I can’t do any word until you get there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun had risen on the land when Lot came to Zoar.
13. Genesis 19:24-26 Then [Elohim]^(mss) rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD^(mss) from the heavens. 25 He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew on the ground. 26 But Lot’s wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
    1. According to the Genesis Apocryphon, Lot’s wife was Egyptian “…Lot had great flocks also, and he took a wife for himself from among the daughters of Egypt.”
       The Genesis Apocryphon 1Q20 (1Q20), also called the Tales of the Patriarchs or the Apocalypse of Lamech and labeled 1QapGen, is one of the original seven Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1946 by Bedouin shepherds in Cave 1 near Qumran, a city in the northwest corner of the Dead Sea.
    2. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan And Lot’s wife looked after the angel, to know what would be in the end of her father’s house, for she was of the daughters of the Sedomaee; and because she sinned by salt (bemilcha) she was manifestly punished; behold, she was made a statue of salt.
    3. Targum Jerusalem And because the wife of Lot was of the children of the people of Sedom, she looked behind her, to see what would be the end of her father’s house: and, behold, she was made to stand a statue of salt, until the time of the resurrection will come, when the dead will arise.
    4. According to the Book of Jubilees, Lot separated from Abraham in 1964 A.M. (cf. Jubilees 13:17; Genesis 13:11-18) and Abraham was born 1876 A.M. (cf. Jubilees 11:15) which would make Abraham 88 years old at the time of this separation. The destruction of Sodom happened soon after Abraham was circumcised (cf. Genesis 18:1). We know that Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. (cf. Genesis 17:24)
14. Genesis 19:27-28 Abraham went up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before [Elohim].^(mss) 28 He looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and saw that the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace.
    1. This proves that there were not even ten righteous in Sodom according to Genesis 18:32.
    2. Genesis 18:23-32 Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the land do right?” 26 [Elohim]^(mss) said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 27 Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, although I am dust and ashes. 28 What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?” He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 He spoke to him yet again, and said, “What if there are forty found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.” 30 He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?” He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.” 32 He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”
    3. Isaiah 13:19 Babylon, the glory of reigns, the beauty of the Kasdim’ pride, will be like when Elohim overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20 It will never be inhabited, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation. The Arabian will not pitch a tent there, neither will shepherds make their flocks lie down there.
15. Genesis 19:29 When Elohim destroyed the cities of the plain, Elohim remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.
16. Genesis 19:30-36 Lot went up out of Zoar, and lived in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he was afraid to live in Zoar. He lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 The firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man in the land to come in to us in the way of all the land. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve our father’s family line.” 33 They made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father. He didn’t know when she lay down, nor when she arose. 34 It came to pass on the next day, that the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let’s make him drink wine again tonight. You go in, and lie with him, that we may preserve our father’s family line.” 35 They made their father drink wine that night also. The younger went and lay with him. He didn’t know when she lay down, nor when she got up.
    1. Leviticus 18:4-7 You will do my judgments. You will guard my statutes and walk in them. I am YHWH your Elohim. 5 You will therefore guard my statutes and my judgments, which if a man does, he will live in them. I am YHWH [your Elohim].^(LXX) 6 None of you will approach any near kin of his flesh, to uncover their [indecency]^(LXX) I am YHWH. 7 You will not uncover the [indecency]^(LXX) of your father, nor the [indecency]^(LXX) of your mother: she is your mother. You will not uncover her [indecency].^(LXX)
    2. Leviticus 20:7-9 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am YHWH your Elohim. 8 You will guard my statutes, and do them. I am YHWH who sanctifies you. 9 For everyone who belittles his father or his mother will surely be put to death. He has belittled his father or his mother. His blood will be upon himself.
    3. Jubilees 16:8-9 And he and his daughters committed sin upon the land, such as had not been on the land since the days of Adam till his time; for the man lay with his daughters. 9. And, behold, it was commanded and engraven concerning all his seed, on the heavenly tables, to remove them and root them out, and to execute judgment upon them like the judgment of Sodom, and to leave no seed of the man on land on the day of condemnation.
17. Genesis 19:36 Thus both of Lot’s daughters were with child by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son, and named him Moab[, saying from my father].^(LXX) He is the father of the Moabites to this day.
    1. Deuteronomy 2:8-11 So we passed by from our brothers, the sons of Esau, who dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Ezion Geber. We turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab. 9 YHWH said to me, “Don’t bother Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give you any of his land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the sons of Lot for a possession.” 10 The Emim lived there before, a great and numerous people, and tall as the Anakim. 11 These also are considered to be Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim.
18. Genesis 19:38 The younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben Ammi[, a son of my people].^(LXX) He is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day.
    1. Deuteronomy 2:17-21 YHWH spoke to me, saying, 18 “You are to pass over Ar, the border of Moab, today. 19 When you come near the border of the sons of Ammon, don’t bother them, nor contend with them; for I will not give you any of the land of the sons of Ammon for a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot for a possession.” 20 (That also is considered a land of Rephaim. Rephaim lived there in the past, but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim, 21 a great people, many, and tall, as the Anakim; but YHWH destroyed them from before Israel, and they succeeded them, and lived in their place
19. Deuteronomy 23:3-6 An Ammonite or a Moabite will not enter into the assembly of YHWH; even to the tenth generation will no one belonging to them enter into the assembly of YHWH forever, 4 because they didn’t meet you with bread and with water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. 5 Nevertheless YHWH your Elohim wouldn’t listen to Balaam, but YHWH your Elohim turned the curse into a blessing to you, because YHWH your Elohim loved you. 6 You will not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever.
20. Jeremiah 49:1-18 Of the sons of Ammon. YHWH says: “Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then does Malcam possess Gad, and his people dwell in its cities? 2 Therefore behold, the days come,” says YHWH, “that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon; and it will become a desolate heap, and her daughters will be burned with fire: then Israel will possess those who possessed him,” says YHWH. 3 “Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! Cry, you daughters of Rabbah! Clothe yourself in sackcloth. Lament, and run back and forth among the fences; for Malcam will go into captivity, his priests and his princes together. 4 Why do you boast in the valleys, your flowing valley, backsliding daughter? You trusted in her treasures, saying, ‘Who will come to me?’ 5 Behold, I will bring a terror on you,” says the Lord, YHWH of Armies, “from all who are around you. All of you will be driven completely out, and there will be no one to gather together the fugitives. 6 “But afterward I will reverse the captivity of the sons of Ammon,” says YHWH. 7 Of Edom, YHWH of Armies says: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? 8 Flee! Turn back! Dwell in the depths, inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau on him when I visit him. 9 If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? If thieves came by night, wouldn’t they steal until they had enough? 10 But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he will not be able to hide himself. His seed is destroyed, with his brothers and his neighbors; and he is no more. 11 Leave your fatherless sons. I will preserve them alive. Let your widows trust in me.” 12 For YHWH says: “Behold, they to whom it didn’t pertain to drink of the cup will certainly drink; and are you he who will altogether go unpunished? You won’t go unpunished, but you will surely drink. 13 For I have sworn by myself,” says YHWH, “that Bozrah will become an astonishment, a reproach, a waste, and a curse. All its cities will be perpetual wastes.”
21. Zephaniah 2:8-11 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the insults of the sons of Ammon, with which they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. 9 Therefore as I live, says YHWH of Armies, the Elohim of Israel, surely Moab will be as Sodom, and the sons of Ammon as Gomorrah, a possession of nettles, and salt pits, and a perpetual desolation. The remnant of my people will plunder them, and the survivors of my nation will inherit them. 10 This they will have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of YHWH of Armies. 11 YHWH will be awesome to them, for he will famish all the elohim of the land. Men will worship him, everyone from his place, even all the shores of the nations.
22. Nehemiah 13:1-3 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and it was found written in it that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of Elohim forever, 2 because they didn’t meet the sons of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them; however our Elohim turned the curse into a blessing. 3 It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.
    1. Ruth 4:10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon…
    2. Ruth 1:16 Ruth said, “Don’t urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your Elohim my Elohim. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May YHWH do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.”