Genesis 19:14

Gen 19:14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

Ver. 14. But he seemed as one that mocked.] Sed fuit habitus tanquam iocabundus . Graceless hearts jeer, when they should fear, and are senseless and secure, as if they were out of the reach of God’s rod, and needed not to fear his wrath. Lot here is counted but a Lob, of his own sons-in-law. {a} Wonder not, if we meet with the same measure.

{a} Ridetur cum suo Iehova: sed risus impiorum est, Sardonius . - Par.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Gen_19:14

He seemed as one that mocked unto his sons-in-law

Danger despised

I.

LET US ATTEND TO THE EXHORTATION ADDRESSED BY LOT TO HIS SONS-IN-LAW. THERE IS A CLOSE PARALLEL BETWEEN THEIR SITUATION AND OUR OWN.

1. We are living, like them, amongst wicked men.

2. We are exposed, like them, to Divine judgment.

3. We are plied, like them, with overtures of mercy.

II. LET US ATTEND TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE SONS-IN-LAW OF LOT RECEIVED HIS EXHORTATION. THERE IS A CLOSE PARALLEL BETWEEN THEIR CONDUCT AND THAT OF MANY OF OURSELVES.

1. Like them, we reject as mockery the demonstration of our danger.

2. Like them, we reject as mockery the offer of a method of escape.

3. Like them, we reject as mockery all earnestness in pressing on our attention the means of deliverance.

III. LET US ATTEND TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE SONS-IN-LAW OF LOT RECEIVED HIS EXHORTATION. THERE IS A CLOSE PARALLEL BETWEEN THEIR DOOM AND OURS IF WE DIE IN A STATE OF UNBELIEF. Here we may appeal--

1. To the declarations of the Almighty.

2. To the facts of history. The old world. The cities of the plain.

3. To the dictates of reason.

4. To the attributes of God. His truth and holiness. (G. Brooks.)

Lots message to his sons-in-law: an illustration of the preachers message to the ungodly world

The context strikes several things forcibly on our attention.

1. The incongruity between the material and moral departments of existence in this world. In Sodom we find natural beauty and harmony in conjunction with moral deformity and discord.

2. The amazing power which prayer has with the Governor of the Gen_18:23-33).

3. The existence of a moral government in connection with the conduct of man.

4. The deep interest of angelic intelligences in human history.

I. LOTS MESSAGE TO HIS SONS-IN-LAW WAS ALARMING IN ITS NATURE. The Lord will destroy the city.

1. Their peril was great.

2. Their peril was the result of sin.

3. Their peril was just at hand.

4. Their peril at this moment was unavoidable.

II. HIS MESSAGE TO HIS SONS-IN-LAW WAS FOUNDED ON THE DIVINE AUTHORITY.

1. The danger of which the gospel preacher warns the unconverted is not a dream of his own; it is a fact of Divine revelation.

2. The proclamation of this danger to the unconverted is not optional on the preachers part; he is bound by heaven to do it

III. His MESSAGE TO HIS SONS-IN-LAW WAS SCEPTICALLY RECEIVED.

1. The appearance of things remaining unchanged. Since the fathers fell asleep, &c.

2. The force of old associations.

3. A false trust in the mercy of God. (Homilist.)

Disregard of religion and its consequences

Lots sons-in-law were probably void of faith and of the fear of God, minding only the things of this world, and resolved not to leave the possessions and conveniences which they enjoyed in that wicked country. And if so, they might easily frame to themselves objections to their fathers counsel, and a plea for their own conduct. But they learned, when it was too late, that his advice was sober and true.

I. NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT AND SERIOUS, AS NOTHING IS MORE CERTAIN, THAN ARE THE TRUTHS WHICH RELIGION PRESENTS TO OUR CONSIDERATION.

II. And yet, secondly, THERE ARE MANY WHO TREAT RELIGION WITH DISDAIN AND DISREGARD. In worldly affairs persons are seen to act usually with attention and earnestness; they made a due use of their reason, and consider what they are about. Thus they act, not only in things of great consequence, relating to their life, their health, their liberty, their fortunes, their family, their honour and credit, but even in slighter matters, to obtain a small profit, or to escape a small inconvenience. Nothing is neglected, nothing is put off to an uncertain day; instruction is attentively received and put in execution. But as to religion, there is not this zeal and activity; it is not carefully weighed, scarcely can it obtain a fair hearing; favourable opportunities are neglected, opportunities which slip away, and are never to be recalled, and everything that should be done is left undone.

III. Let us consider, thirdly, WHENCE PROCEEDS THIS STRANGE INDIFFERENCE AND NEGLECT. It proceeds in a great measure from want of faith, which is an evil more common than is imagined. Some men there are who have received good natural abilities, which they employ to bad purposes. Of these talents God giveth them the use, and the devil teacheth them the application. They argue themselves out of their religion, and then apply themselves to debauch the minds of others, and to treat serious and sacred things with levity, licentiousness, and ridicule. Pernicious books and corrupt conversation spread the contagious disease. (J. Jortin, D. D.)

On the guilt and the consequences of despising the Divine threatenings

I. Let us, in the first place, ATTEND TO THE EXHORTATION ADDRESSED BY LOT TO HIS SONS-IN-LAW. Up; get you out of this place: for the Lord will destroy this city. Consider what was the situation of these men. They dwelt in a city subject to the dominion of sin. They dwelt in a city which, in consequence of its sinfulness, deserved immediate destruction; in a city which, when time and opportunity abundantly sufficient for trial and repentance had been afforded, was devoted to immediate destruction. The Divine mercy still extended to them one respite, one opportunity, one warning more. Such, then, is your situation. Such is the situation of every one who hears the sound of the gospel. Contagion surrounds you; destruction lies before you. You are defiled, miserable, and helpless. Yet still there is a call of mercy; still there is a way to escape. The God whom you have offended places deliverance within your reach. The Son of God becomes man, and gives His life to purchase your salvation.

II. Consider, in the next place, THE MANNER IN WHICH THE SONS-IN-LAW OF LOT RECEIVED HIS AWFUL ADMONITION. He seemed unto them as one that mocked. Their conduct discloses to us their character. They had evidently set their hearts on the worldly advantages which, in their apprehension, attended the place where they resided; and they made little account of its wickedness. In many respects the conduct of a large portion of the world bears at this day a close resemblance to that of the sons-in-laws of Lot, and arises from the same principles. When the great doctrines of the gospel are proposed as comprehending and disclosing the appointed method of salvation; what numbers disregard or despise them! When the holy commandments of God are explained and enforced as indispensably and in every particular binding upon every man, what numbers withhold their assent from the strictness of such interpretations of the Scriptures! When the terrors of the world to come are displayed, when the wrath and vengeance of God are revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, what numbers refuse to credit the tremendous truth! The minister of the gospel seemeth unto them as one that mocketh.

III. Consider, in the third place, THE CONSEQUENCES OF TREATING AS AN IDLE TALE, AS THE WORDS OF ONE THAT MOCKETH, THE DECLARATIONS OF ALMIGHTY GOD. They brought ruin upon themselves and their posterity. (T. Gisborne, D. D.)

Lessons

1. Good fathers make haste in midst of dangers to keep their children from destruction, being fore-warned of Gods judgments.

2. Gracious parents are earnest with children to press on counsels for their good and safety.

3. Near relations in the flesh, though wicked, yet are dear unto gracious souls to save them.

4. Faith concerning Gods judgments revealed will put gracious hearts upon hastening others out of them.

5. Places of habitation when they be places of vengeance, as well as of sin, must be abhorred and forsaken by Gods saints.

6. Cities though ever so strong and stately cannot secure sinners from ruin. It and they shall perish.

7. Jehovah is the author of destruction upon places of wickedness, who cannot be resisted.

8. God sends messengers of salvation sometimes to the vilest of men, to Lots sons, &c.

9. God, His messengers, and His messages of vengeance, are all but scorns and derisions to wicked men.

10. Secure scorning of destruction from God is the immediate forerunner of it, as here. (G. Hughes, B. D.)

The last night in Sodom

If you had been in Sodom on that solemn, awful evening you would never have suspected it. There was nothing outwardly to show that terrible scenes were at hand, even at the door. No weird omens were observed that night; no strange sounds disturbed the superstitious. No fiery sword was seen hanging over the city, in token that the sword of the Almightys wrath was at last unsheathed. No signs appeared in the sun as he sank peacefully to rest. The cattle came lowing home from the fields, and the sheep-dogs barked, and the voices of children at play were heard. And then darkness fell; and the chirping of a myriad insects rose on the stillness of the Eastern night; and the stars looked down upon the quiet scene; and the moon shone, for the last time, on the great doomed city. But within Lots dwelling a solemn conference was being held, and Lots heart was heavy and disturbed. Full of sadness was he for the heedless, unrepenting people; full of anxiety for those dear to him in that place. And then he hurried out in the darkness to warn his relatives, and to urge on them immediate flight; and they--how true to life it all is!--laughed at him! They treated the matter as a fine joke, and the more earnest his entreaties, the more boisterous grew their mirth. And so the night wore on, and then the day began to break, and the angels hurried, nay, forced Lot out of the city. But with the morning light the scoffer waxed bolder still. What of thy coward fears of the night, O righteous Lot? he mockingly begins, but the words die away on his lips. Ah! what means this strange, unearthly gloom--this lurid, awful flame, in which earth and heaven seem joined in one? What this terrible sense of suffocation--this scorching, choking downpour? The lightning plays, and the thunder rolls--shock upon shock is felt--shriek rises upon shriek--confusion, horror, uproar! Woe! woe! woe! . . . A few hours later, and a silence still more awful . . . And the sun, as he rides high in the heavens, looks down upon a smoking mass of desolation--And the smoke of the city went up as the smoke of a furnace! (J. B. C. Murphy, B. A.)

Warnings disregarded by sinners

What a chance (which never came again) the sons of Lot missed that evening! But do you know what they said? They said he was an alarmist! The old man is in his dotage, laughed one, and some one has been frightening him. Never heed him, cried another, he is ever thus, croaking about the wickedness of the place, and telling us we are all going to be destroyed. He has been saying it for years--and nothing has ever happened yet! Ah, thats just where it is! Nothing has ever happened yet! And so, when the preacher warns the open sinner of his danger, and urges him to escape from his sin--to escape for his life--he is laughed at, and he is called an alarmist. But every one who has ever tried to press home a truth that has been unwelcome--to warn people of a danger that they would rather believe to be impossible--has been called an Alarmist. Noah was an Alarmist. Lot was an Alarmist. The prophets who foretold the destruction of Jerusalem were Alarmists, and many a one who foresaw and foretold the Indian Mutiny of 1857 was called an Alarmist. And so, at the risk of being called an Alarmist I would take up and echo this cry. Art thou living in a Sodom of wilful sin--a Sodom of uncleanness, or drunkenness, or not?--then Escape for thy life! (J. B. C. Murphy, B. A.)

As one that mocked

Look at Lot going through the streets of Sodom at midnight to warn his sons of the approaching destruction of the city, only to be reviled and mocked by them. Mr. Moody once said that he remembered being in an American city a few years ago, and there came unto the after-meeting an old grey-headed man, who for years had been wandering from God. In early life that old man had walked with God, and had found fellowship with Him; but for a number of years past he had been wandering in the darkness and agony of sin. He (Mr. Moody) said to him, God is very merciful, and He will forgive you, and gave him a number of passages of Scripture, and sat up with him until midnight. About that hour the light broke in upon the old man, and the Lord restored to him the joy of his salvation, and the old man went on his way rejoicing. The next night the old man came into the meeting looking the very picture of despair; he did not think he had ever seen a sadder countenance, and he asked him what his trouble was. The old man replied that he had spent the most wretched day of his life. His family had grown up and lived in that city. He had that day wandered from house to house, and had not seen a child who did not mock him. The old man added that he now realized what he had done; he had taken his children into the world, and could not get them out again.

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Gen 19:14. Lot spake to his sons-in-law, &c. — It is likely these sons-in- law had married other daughters of Lot, who were now dead, or who afterward perished in the destruction of the city. Up, get you out of this place — The manner of expression is startling. It was not a time to trifle, when the destruction was just at the door. But he seemed to them as one that mocked — They thought perhaps that the assault which the Sodomites had just now made upon his house had disturbed his head, and put him into such a fright that he knew not what he said. They that made a jest of every thing made a jest of that, and so perished in the overthrow. Thus many, who are warned of the danger they are in by sin, make a light matter of it; such will perish with their blood upon their heads.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

19:14 Lot’s warning words were not taken seriously because of his hypocrisy. It seemed that there would not be even ten righteous people in the city.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Or, should marry.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

14. And Lot went out. The faith of the holy man, Lot, appeared first in this, that he was completely awed and humbled at the threatening of God; secondly, that in the midst of destruction, he yet laid hold of the salvation promised to him. In inviting his sons-in-law to join him, he manifests such diligence as becomes the sons of God; who ought to labor, by all means, to rescue their own families from destruction. But when Moses says, ‘he appeared as one who mocked;’ the meaning is, that the pious old man was despised and derided and that what he said was accounted a fable; because his sons-in-law supposed him to be seized with delirium, and to be vainly framing imaginary dangers. Lot, therefore, did not seem to them to mock purposely or to have come for the sake of trifling with them; but they deemed his language fabulous; because, where there is no religion, and no fear of God, whatever is said concerning the punishment of the wicked, vanishes as a vain and illusory thing. And hence we perceive how fatal an evil security is, which son inebriates, yea, fascinates, the minds of the wicked, that they no longer think God sits as Judge in heaven; and thus they stupidly sleep in sin, till, while they’re saying, Peace and safety, they are overwhelmed in sudden ruin. And especially, the nearer the vengeance of God approaches, the more does their obstinacy increase and become desperate. There is nothing more full of fear, and even of terror, than wicked men are, when the hand of God presses closely on them; but until, constrained by force, they perceive their destruction to be imminent, they either reject all threats with proud scorn, or contemptuously pass them by. But their indolence ought to awaken us to the fear of God, so that we may be always careful; but more especially when some token of the wrath of God presents itself before us.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(14) Which married his daughters.—Heb., the takers of his daughters—a present participle, for which reason Ewald, Tuch, and others translate “who were to marry his daughters.” The traditional view is that given in our Version, and is confirmed by Gen_19:15, where the words—“thy two daughters which are here,” Heb., which are found—certainly suggest the idea that Lot had other daughters, besides the two which escaped with him.

As one that mocked.—Heb., as one that was laughing, or joking, and so not in earnest.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

14. married his daughters] Better, as R.V. marg., were to marry, as Lat. qui accepturi erant. This seems more probable than the rendering of the R.V., and LXX τοὺς εἰληφότας. The verb used here means literally “the takers of.” For Lot’s daughters were in the house with him: Lot went out to find his “sons in law”: the word “sons in law” may mean “the betrothed.” If the daughters had been married, they would not have been living with Lot.

as one that mocked] The same word in the Hebrew as that rendered “laughed” in Gen_18:12, and “sporting” in Gen_26:8. The Lat. has quasi ludens = “as one who was playing.”

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Lot went out,.... From his house, after the men of Sodom were gone from it, and before the morning, very probably about midnight:

and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters: according to Aben Ezra, he had two other daughters that perished in Sodom, which he gathers from Gen 19:15, "which are here", as if he had some elsewhere; and so Jarchi says, he had two daughters married in the city. And the Jewish writers (q) speak of one of them, whose name was Pelothith, married to one of the grandees of Sodom: but it seems rather, that these were the daughters Lot had at home with him; who, according to Josephus (r) were espoused to men in the city, but not yet married; and on account of such espousals, as were usual in the eastern countries, Lot calls them his sons-in-law, as they were intended, and so the words may be rendered, "that were about to take his daughters" (s); to take them for wives, and to their own houses, neither of which they had as yet done; for if these had been daughters of his married, and taken home, he would not only have spoke unto their husbands, but to them also; and would have been still more pressing upon them to arise and make their escape; of which nothing is said, nor of any answer of theirs to him, only of his sons-in-law, as they are called on the above account:

and said, up, get ye out of this place; that is, get up from your beds, anne immediately, and make your escape out of the city:

for the Lord will destroy this city; now, directly, immediately; therefore there is no time to be lost, but at once prepare for your safety:

but he seemed as one that mocked to his sons in law; as one that was in jest, and had a mind to have a little sport with them, to get them out of their beds, and put them into a flight, and then laugh at them.

(q) Pirke Eliezer, c. 25. (r) Antiqu. l. 1. c. 11. sect. 4. (s) "qui brevi fuerant ducturi filias suas", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so some in Vatablus & Drusius.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Sons-in-law. Perhaps they also were among the crowd, (ver. 4,) and therefore deserved to be abandoned to their incredulity; though, if they would have consented to follow Lot, the angels would have saved them for his sake. --- In jest. So little did they suffer God’s judgments to disturb them!

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Which married his daughters; Heb. took, or were taking, or about to take, to wit, either to espouse, or to marry. Compare Gen 6:2; 24:3; 28:6; Deu 7:3. Anciently persons were first espoused, and after some time the marriage was consummated.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

14. Which married his daughters — Hebrews, takers of his daughters. The Vulgate renders, who were about to take his daughters; and hence it has been generally supposed that his daughters were only betrothed, not actually married. The Hebrew expression will, however, allow the meaning of actual marriage, and Gen_19:15 distinguishes the two daughters “which are here,” as if to imply other daughters not present with Lot at the time. No mention is made of sons, except incidentally by the angel, in Gen_19:12, and there by way of question as to whether he had any in the city. No other mention of sons being made, and the fact that he went and alarmed his sons-in-law, argues rather that he had no sons.

Seemed as one that mocked — This is usually explained as meaning, he seemed to them to be jesting, or trifling. But this verb, in the Piel form, is everywhere used of lascivious sports, or carnal intercourse. His sons-in-law, familiar with the lewd practices so common in the streets of Sodom, supposed Lot was out indulging lascivious passions. See note on Gen_21:9.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Lot went out (obviously that same evening), and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, literally, those taking his daughters, meaning either those who had taken them (LXX, Targums, Knobel, Delitzsch), or more probably those intending to take them, their affianced husbands (Josephus, Vulgate, Clericus, Rosenm Ewald, Keil, Kalisch) and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord (Jehovah) will destroy this (literally, the) city. But (literally, and) he seemed as one that mocked as one that made laughter; from the same root as the word Isaac. (Gen_17:19; cf. Jud_1:16:25) unto his sons in law.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Up, get you out this place - The manner of expression is startling. It was not time to trifle, when the destruction was just at the door. But he seemed to them as one that mocked - They thought perhaps that the assault which the Sodomites had just now made upon his house had disturbed his head, and put him into such a fright that be knew not what he said. They that made a jest of every thing, made a jest of that, and so perished in the overthrow. Thus many who are warned of the danger they are in by sin, make a light matter of it; such will perish with their blood upon their heads.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Lot

Lot had utterly lost his testimony. In gaining influence Gen 19:1 he had lost power, even in his own family.

The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Lot went out

"So Lot left the house"

his sons-in-law, the men who had promised to marry his daughters

The phrase "the men who had promised to marry his daughters" explains what "sons-in-law" means here. AT: "the men who were going to marry his daughters" or "his daughters' fiancés" (See: Parallelism)

When the morning dawned

"Just before the sun came up"

Get going

"Go now"

you are not swept away in the punishment of the city

This can be stated in active form. AT: "so Yahweh does not also destroy you when he punishes the people of this city" (See: Active or Passive)

not swept away in the punishment

God destroying the people of the city is spoken of as if a person were sweeping away dust. (See: Metaphor)

of the city

Here "city" stands for the people. (See: Metonymy)

translationWords

Lot

Yahweh

angel

sweep

punish

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

חתניו SONS- IN-LAW — he had two married daughters in the city (Genesis Rabbah 50:9).

לוקחי בנותיו THOSE WHO WERE MARRYING HIS DAUGHTERS — those to whom his daughters at home were betrothed (Genesis Rabbah 50:9).

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

ויצא לוט...לקחי בנותיו, they had become the sons-in-law having already betrothed his daughters to them. The Torah does not report that Lot spoke to his daughters, as it was understood that the daughters would concur with their husbands’ decision.

Radak on the Tanakh — English translations: “Sefaria Community Translation” (CC0 1.0 (public-domain dedication)); “Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash” (CC BY 4.0); “Rabbi Mike Feuer, Jerusalem Anthology” (CC BY 4.0); and “R. David Kimhi on the first book of Psalms, Translated by R.G. Finch, London, 1919” (public domain). Text via Sefaria.