And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee (literally, I have lifted up thy face, the petitioner usually supplicating with his face toward the ground, so that the elevation of his countenance expressed the granting of his request) concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. read more
- 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
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
is it not a little one? Figure of speech Epitrechon. my soul = myself. Hebrew my nephesh. read more
thee. Hebrew. thy face . Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part). read more
"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
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
Genesis 19:21. See, I have accepted thee, &c.— I have granted thee this request also. The Hebrew is, I have lifted up thy face, which some of the versions follow: and the metaphor, most probably, is taken from the Oriental custom of prostrating the body, and laying the face to the ground, when soliciting favours; when the order, to lift up the face, was generally deemed a presage, of good success. We have here, in what the angel says, Genesis 19:21-22. a fresh instance of the Divine... read more
21. See, I have accepted thee concerning this . . . also—His request was granted him, the prayer of faith availed, and to convince him, from his own experience, that it would have been best and safest at once to follow implicitly the divine directions. read more
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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