Genesis 19:18-20 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 19:20

Behold now, this city is near to flee unto (literally, thither ) , and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither , (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live . Lot's meaning was that since Zoar was the smallest of the cities of the Pentapolis, it would not be a great demand on God's mercy to spare it, and it would save him from further exertions for his safety. A singular display of moral obtuseness and indolent selfishness on the part of Lot. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 19:1-38

- The Destruction of Sodom and Amorah9. גשׁ־<הלאה gesh-hāl'âh, “approach to a distant point,” stand back.11. סנורים sanevērı̂ym, “blindness,” affecting the mental more than the ocular vision.37. מואב mô'āb, Moab; מאב mē'āb, “from a father.” בן־עמי ben-‛amı̂y, Ben-‘ammi, “son of my people.” עמון ‛amôn, ‘Ammon, “of the people.”This chapter is the continuation and conclusion of the former. It records a part of God’s strange work - strange, because it consists in punishment, and because... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 19:1-38

Sodom and Gomorrah (19:1-38)Meanwhile the two messengers arrived in Sodom. Lot, knowing the danger that strangers faced in the streets of Sodom at night, welcomed them into his house (19:1-3). Although Lot did not agree with the immoral practices of Sodom (2 Peter 2:7-8), he apparently did not have the courage to oppose them. He was even prepared to allow the sexual perverts of the city to rape his daughters, in order to protect his two guests from homosexual assault. In a blinding judgment,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 19:18

LORD* . see note on Genesis 18:27 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 19:20

is it not a little one? Figure of speech Epitrechon. my soul = myself. Hebrew my nephesh. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 19:18-22

"And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so my lord: behold now, thy servant hath found favour in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy lovingkindness, which thou hast shown unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountains, lest evil overtake me, and I die. Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape thither (is it not a little one?), and my soul shall live. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 19:18

Genesis 19:18. And Lot said unto them—my Lord— In Gen 19:17 it is said, that when they (the angels) had brought Lot forth, he, i.e.. one of them, said, &c. And so here Lot applying to both, (who evidently acted by one commission,) immediately addressed one only, and him, most probably, who had said, Escape for thy life, &c. But it appears very clearly, I think, that neither of these was the Jehovah, who spoke with such authority in the former chapter. In Gen 19:13 they say positively,... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 19:19

Genesis 19:19. I cannot escape, lest, &c.— Lot betrayed the weakness of his faith, as if he saw a better way of security for himself than God pointed out, or, as if he doubted the sufficiency of the Divine protection. He urges two motives for permission to go to the city of Zoar; 1st, Because it was near, not so far off as the mountains; and 2nd, Because it was a little one, with fewer inhabitants, and so probably less depraved than the others. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 19:18

18, 19. Lot said . . . Oh, not so, my Lord . . . I cannot escape to the mountain—What a strange want of faith and fortitude, as if He who had interfered for his rescue would not have protected Lot in the mountain solitude. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 19:12-22

"In order to show that the rescue of Lot was in response to the prayer of Abraham, the narrative reads so that the words of the messengers ["swept away," Genesis 19:15; Genesis 19:17] recall explicitly the words of Abraham’s prayer in behalf of the righteous in the previous chapter ["sweep away," Genesis 18:23]." [Note: Sailhamer, The Pentateuch . . ., p. 170.] read more