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Genesis 19:1

by Don Costello  
3/07/2009 / Bible Studies

Genesis 19:1

"And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

1. "And there came two angels to Sodom at even"

a. This gives us a time marker. Earlier in the day, in "the heat of the day" probably between 2-5 PM, these two angels had been with the LORD visiting with Abraham, Genesis 18:1. The angels probably arrived at the entrance to Sodom at even, approximately 6 PM.

b. Most Bible Scholars locate Sodom and Gomorrah at the southern end of the Dead Sea. So, from the plain of Mamre, outside of present day Hebron to Sodom would be at least 40 miles.

2. "and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom"

a. The gate of a city was a place where legal business was done.

1). In Israel, the determination of guilt or innocence was done at the gate.

a). Deuteronomy 22:15 "Then the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate:"

2). Executions were carried out there.

a). Deuteronomy 22:24 "Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor's wife: so thou shalt put evil from among you."

3). When Boaz wanted to legally marry Ruth, he went to the gate of the city of Bethlehem.

a). Ruth 4:1 "Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat down there, and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by, unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! Turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down."

4). There are numerous examples in Scripture that shows the importance of the gate of the city. Here are some other examples

a). 1 Kings 22:10; Jeremiah 38:7; Amos 5:10-15.
b. This evidence is enough to put forth that Lot was in some capacity an official of the city.

3. "and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground."

a. Bowing oneself toward the ground was a common form of greeting. It implies humility on oneself and honor toward the person you are greeting.

b. It is probable that Lot was ignorant that these two individuals were angels, at least at this point. There is no doubt he eventually realized who they were, but when he came to that realization is unknown. Whether he realized it or not Lot was obeying a spiritual shown in Hebrews.

1). Hebrews 13:2 "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

My name is Don Costello. Ever since I received Christ in November of 1976 I have had a passion to study and know God's word.My wife Melissa and I have 5 children.

My e-mail address is [email protected]

I have a blog located at:
www.theophilus-loverofgodsword.blogspot.com/

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