[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; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. [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 will we deal worse with thee,
than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came
near to break the door. [10] But the men put forth their hand, and
pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.
I have two daughters - This was unadvisedly and unjustifiably
offered. It is true, of two evils we must chose the less, but of two sins
we must chose neither, nor ever do evil that good may come of it.
[11] And they smote the men
that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great:
so that they wearied themselves to find the door. [12] And the men
said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and
thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of
this place:
And they smote the men with blindness - This was designed
to put an end to their attempt, and to be an earnest of their utter ruin
the next day.
[13] For we will destroy this
place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD;
and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.
We will destroy this place - The holy angels are ministers
of God's wrath for the destruction of sinners, as well as of his mercy
for the preservation and deliverance of his people.
[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. [15] And when the morning
arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and
thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity
of the city.
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.
[16] And while he lingered,
the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon
the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they
brought him forth, and set him without the city.
Tho' Lot did not make a jest of the warning as his sons
- in - law, yet he lingered, he did not make so much haste as the case
required. And it might have been fatal to him, if the angels had not laid
hold on his hand, and brought him forth. Herein the Lord was merciful to
him, otherwise he might justly have left him to perish, since he was loath
to depart. If God had not been merciful to us, our lingering had been our
ruin.
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