we have great reason to fear and trem- special formalities of appointment, the ble for ourselves. CHAPTER XIX. supposition is perhaps not ill-founded. Ceriain it is that in the book of Job, which contains so many striking pic 1. And there came two angels to Sod-tures of patriarchal times, the phrase Rather a cording to the literal rendering of the Heb. om. ויבאר is used in that sense; ch. 27. 7—12, 'When I went out to the gate through b and there came two of the the city, when I prepared my seat in angels, or the two angels; i. e. two of in the street, &c.-I delivered the poor the three spoken of in the previous that cried, and the fatherless, and him chapter, and there called men. While that had none to help him ;' i. e. I did the Angel-Jehovah remained commu- this judicially. Lot was now an aged ning with Abraham, the other two went man and a resident of long standing in on their way till they came to Sodom. Sodom, and might with other elders -¶ And Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. have sustained this character, though The gates of cities were anciently the it would appear from v. 9, that he was chief places of general resort for the cit- too good a man to have been a popular izens where they assembled not only to magistrate.- -T And Lot seeing them, confer upon public affairs, and to hold rose up to meet them, &c. Lot, like their courts of justice, but also for the sake | Abraham, was 'upon hospitable thoughts of social intercourse and pleasant rec-intent,' and with the ready courtesy reation. Indeed it appears from 2 Kings, which is ever prompted by a pious 7. 1, 18, that markets were some heart, he rises and goes forth to meet times held in their gates, which would the approaching strangers, and to tender naturally bring together a concourse of to them the welcome and the attentions people, and it is remarked by travellers of a generous host; thus exemplifying that the modern Arabs and other Ori- the language of Job, ch. 31. 32, 'The entals are exceedingly addicted to flock- stranger did not lodge in the street; ing together to their markets and fairs but I opened my doors to the traveller.' for the sake of society and amusement. 2. Behold, now, my lords, turn in, As to the passage before us, the Jewish &c. Heb. 7 Adonai; a word frecommentators understand the phrasequently applied as a title of the Most 'sitting in the gate,' as implying the exercise of authority as a magistrate; and if we suppose, as is highly probable, that in those primitive times the 'elders' of cities and villages were the acknowledged judges in civil affairs in virtue of their age, and without any High, although in such cases distinguished by a different mode of vowelpointing. The absence of inns in eastern countries (except the caravanserais, where shelter alone is provided), both in ancient and modern times renders such an invitation as Lot's a custom 3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; f and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. ces. f ch. 18. 8. 4 ¶ But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: Its Gr. ary civility under similar circumstan- enjoy their company and converse, but But for such a proffer of enter- because he was too well aware of the tainment in private houses, strangers danger to which they would be exoften pass the night in the open squares posed, were they to adhere to their de of cities, which in that warm climate clared purpose of lodging in the street. is attended with little inconvenience. The Heb. term implies an earnestness - Nay, but he will abide in the of importunity almost amounting to street all night. They at first refuse, violence, and is in fact the very same as if it were accounted as great a mark word that occurs v. 9, 'And they pressof civility on the part of strangers noted sore upon the man,' which cannot to seem forward in accepting, as it was perhaps be better rendered. on his to be forward in inviting. The representative is Kareßiarato, a synonreply is to be construed, not as a delib-yme with which is employed in a simerate violation of truth, but as the lan- ilar connection, Luke, 24. 29, 'But guage of common etiquette on such they constrained (Tapeßiaravтo) him occasions, and as expressing their pres- saying, Abide with us; for it is toward ent purpose, unless they should be fur- evening, and the day is far spent. And ther importuned by Lot; in that case, he went in to tarry with them.'-¶ their words would not be understood to He made them a feast. Heb. nnn preclude the liberty of complying. Our a drinking, a banquet. Gr. TOTOV id. Saviour's language, Luke, 24. 28, 29, rendered in Est. 5. 6.-7. 7, a 'banquet affords a striking parallel to their re- of wine.' Comp. Est. 7. 1, 2.—3. 15; fusal. The answer of the angels, more- so called from that which constituted over, was better calculated to put to the principal part of the entertainment. the test and make manifest the sincer- This was customary in those days, and ity and kindness of Lot's disposition. on similar occasions, and is not to be By acting as if they deemed it safe to judged of by those rules of abstinence lodge in the streets, while they knew from every exciting beverage which the contrary to be true, they gave a pious and benevolent men in modern fair opportunity to Lot to show how times have felt constrained to adopt unfeigned was his concern for their se- under a state of society altogether difcurity, while at the same time the inti- ferent, and in view of evils which have mations from him of the danger to be made a course of rigid abstinence abapprehended would go to disclose the solutely imperative on their conscienaggravated wickedness of the place, ces.- - Did bake unleavened bread. and justify the judgment about to be in- Because this could be more expeditiousflicted. ly prepared than any thing else of the kind. 3. He pressed upon them greatly. and he pas ויפצר בם מאר .Heb exceedingly urgent upon them. Not merely from an impulse of generosity, that he might refresh them with the cheer of his house, or from a wish to 4. And before they lay down, &c. While the little party were thus innocently refreshing and enjoying themselves under the hospitable roof of Lot, the characteristic baseness of the 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we i may know them. 6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, g Isai.. 3. 9. h Judg. 19. 22. ich. 4. 1. Rom. 1. 24. 27. Jude 7. k Judg. 19. 23. 7 And said, I pray you, breth ren, do not so wickedly. 8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes; only unto these men do nothing; m for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. 1 Judg. 19. 24. m ch. 18. 5. not completely sunk in profligate idleness, they could not all have found deeds of iniquity. But from the peculiar emphasis of the language it would seem that there were no exceptions. Sodom was full of Sodomites. What must have been the extent of its abominations, when the aged, instead of restraining the young, were actually urging them forward in the course of iniquity by their own pernicious example! But every thing tended to illustrate the justice of the judgment which was fast ripening for execution against them. abandoned Sodomites soon began to betray itself. They beset the house, not for the purpose of robbing or insult-time thus suddenly to rendezvous for ing them in any of the ordinary modes of violence or outrage, which had been bad enough, especially to strangers, but to perpetrate a species of crime too shocking and detestable to be named; a species of crime which indeed has no name given it in the Scriptures, but what is borrowed from this infamous place, Lev. 18. 22. However we might wish, for the honour of human nature, that this shameful vice had perished from the earth together with the cities of the plain, yet the severe prohibitory laws of Moses imply that it was practised in his day, and history unblush-voice; ingly records it as prevalent in the best days of Greece and Rome. Rom 1. 24-27. In like manner we have melancholy evidence from the penal codes of modern times that it is not extinct, as the British law makes it punishable with death.- -T All the people from every quarter. Heb. p from the extremity, i. e. from every extremity of 6. Went out at the door. The origthe city; correctly rendered in our ver-inal here, as in v. 11, employs two dission. This circumstance shows in the most impressive light the unparalleled corruption, that had infected all orders, ranks, and ages of the inhabitants of Sodom. The signal had but to be given, and the universal mass of the population were ready at once to flock together to any scene of riot and debauchery! Had they had any useful occupations to follow, were they 5. Called. That is, with a loud demanded vociferously; which was virtually proclaiming their own shame. In allusion to the circumstances mentioned in this verse, the prophet says of Jerusalem, Is. 3. 9, 'They declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not.' Compare the similar instance of enormous wickedness recorded Judg. 19. 22, &c. de tinct words for 'door;' the one 7, 8. And said, I pray you, brethren, Per himself up for a judge, who was mere- &c. The conduct of Lot on this trying occasion was in many respects praiseworthy. He seems to have been struck with horror at the thoughts of the violation of the laws of hospitality, and his shutting the door after him expressed how delicately he felt for his guests. It was saying in effect, 'Let not their ears be offended with what passes without; whatever is scurrilous, obscene, or abusive, let me hear it but not them.' His gentle and respectful manner of treating this worst of mobs, is also worthy of notice. Though he could have entertained no respect for them on the score of character, yet he forebore the use of opprobrious terms.fore came they under my roof. Gr. Recognising in them his fellow crea- 'Under the covering of my beans or tures and near neighbours, he calls them rafters.' The meaning is, that they brethren, if perchance by such concil- entered his house on the ground of the iatory language he may gain their ear understood condition that their persons and eventually dissuade them from should be safe, that the sacredness of their wicked purpose. (See 1 Sam. 30. the laws of hospitality should protect 23. Is. 58. 7. Acts 17. 26.) But when, them. Together with this, the words to turn off their attention from his probably carry an implication that a guests, he proposes to bring out and special providence had conducted them surrender his daughters to their pleas- to his dwelling, and that any allowed ure, he hints at an expedient which can violence towards his guests would not by no means be justified. It is not for only be a most flagrant injury to them, us to have recourse to one evil in the but an act of gross treachery and dishope of preventing a greater; but rath- obedience towards God who had, for er to consent to no evil. His regard to the time being, intrusted their persons the rites of hospitality was indeed com- to his keeping. As it would seem from mendable, but having used all proper the language of Abraham in the premeans of preserving his guests, he ceding chapter, v. 5, that the opportuniought to have left the event to God. ties afforded for entertaining strangers It is possible indeed that owing to the were regarded as providential, and as excessive perturbation of his mind he carrying the force of a direct command was scarcely master of his words or of heaven to that effect, Lot no doubt actions, and that some excuse may be suggested as strong an argument as suggested for him on this score; but he could have used, when he said, in all probability if he had never lived in 'For therefore have they come under Sodom nor become familiarized to their the shadow of my roof.' It was ap profligate manners he would not have pealing to their own knowledge of the made such a proposal. As it was he awful sanctity with which the laws of evidently gained nothing by it, but an hospitality were invested. But with increased measure of abuse; and even that abandoned population this plea, his gentle remonstrance was perverse-like every other, was unavailing, ly construed into obtrusive and officious 9. This one fellow came in to so meddling, as if he had or would set journ, and he will needs be a judge. 10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the 9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: Now door. will we deal worse with thee 11 And they smote the men than with them. And they press-P that were at the door of the ed sore upon the man, even Lot, house with blindness, both small ́and came near to break the door. and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. n 2 Pet. 2. 7, 8. o Exod. 2. 14. p 2 Kings 6. 18. Acts. 13. 11. the reception of God's messengers, as he had recognised a special providence in their being sent within the sphere of his hospitality, and as he had exposed himself to great perils in their defence, the Most High would not leave him without a witness of his guardian care. By this seasonable interference he reminds us how calmly we may resign ourselves to the custody of an ever watchful providence while engaged in the way of duty, and how intrepidly we may face dangers and enemies while following that 'which right is.' 11. Smote the men-with blindness. Heb. 0 bassanverim, with daz Heb. O judging he will judge. The point of the reproach lies in charging Lot with the audacity of 'opposing himself, a single individual, to the will of the majority, the multitude of the citizens, and thus, though no more than a foreigner arrogantly taking it upon him, to act the part of a judge, as if he would hold the whole city at his beck. At the same time, it would perhaps be doing no violence to the words to suppose the charge to have been grounded on the fact of his having formerly officiated as judge among them, and in that character rebuked or punished their flagitious conduct. It admits of a doubt, at any rate, wheth-zled blindnesses, pl. Gr. aspaora with er the term is predicated of what he a not-seeing. Chal. 'With fatuity of said or did on this occasion merely. vision.' Syr. With illusions.' The 10. The men put forth their hand, original occurs only here and 2 Kings, &c. God's people are safe when an16. 18, where a similar effect appears gels stand sentries at their doors. Mo- to have been produced upon the Syrses again calls the heavenly messen-ian army in answer to the prayer of gers by a name indicative not of what they were, but of what they seemed; for although they now began to put forth a superhuman power, they had not yet revealed themselves as ministers sent from heaven. The incident here related of them teaches us that though God, in his deep wisdom, often sees fit to defer, till his people are brought into the most trying straits, the aid which he purposes to afford, yet he will not fail them in the last extremity. Lot was made to feel his extrem ity before the needed succour was vouchsafed him, but as he had kindly and generously opened his doors for Elisha. The judgment undoubtedly consisted, not in a total privation of sight, in which case they would of course have desisted from the assault on Lot, and endeavoured to make their way home, but in a confused vision, such as is occasioned by vertigo of the brain, in which objects swim before the eyes, and mock every attempt to approach or seize them. It was an effect upon their vision that prevented their seeing any thing distinctly or steadily, or in its right place. In this utter confusion of the senses they wearied themselves in seeking for what they deemed a door, but which was |