Lot and His Family Lesson 17

Genesis 19:30-38 The angels, that were to destroy Sodom, instructed Lot to go to the mountains. Instead he begged to go to Zaor, a small town within running distance. The angels gave him permission, but after reaching this small city, Lot soon took his daughters to the mountains as the angels had commanded in the first place.

Zaor In Abraham ’ s time, Zoar was a member of a Pentapolis, one of five city-states, each having its own king. The other Pentapolis cities were Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim.

It is assumed that Lot wanted to go to this “little” city thinking that there was less sin in a smaller city and God might spare it. m.html#map shows maps good info m.html#map It is assumed that Lot wanted to go to this “little” city thinking that there was less sin in a smaller city and God might spare it. m.html#map shows maps good info m.html#map

It is commonly placed at the southeastern end of the Dead Sea, at the foot of the mountains of Moab.

It is obvious that Lot was a distance that could have been easily crossed back to Abraham because The Bible describes how Abraham looked over the plains and saw the cities burning from God’s wrath.

So the question is, “Why did Lot not go back to his Uncle Abraham?”,and “Where are all of the herds and herdsmen that Lot and Abraham were arguing over.

Lot and Abraham had parted on good terms. It was their herdsmen that did not get along. Now apparently Lot had no herds. When he fled the city, there is no mention of him carrying flocks with him. He and his family are alone.

Lot settled in a cave with his daughters. His wife was lost when she looked back upon the burning city and turned into a pillar of salt.

30 Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. 31 One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth. 32 Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father.”

How could this have been the case? Abraham could not have been that far away. Besides later, Abraham sent all the way back, 600 miles, to Ur for a wife for Isaac. Once again, surely they could have gone home to Uncle Abraham.

33 That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.

34 The next day the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I lay with my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.".

35 So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went and lay with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.

36 So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. 37 The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab ; he is the father of the Moabites of today. 38 The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben- Ammi ; he is the father of the Ammonites of today.

The Moabites lived peacefully with Israel throughout most of history. They sent their daughters to intermarry and thus brought idolatry into Israel.

Later it was Moab and Ammon who hired Balaam to curse Israel. He could only bless them, so once again the daughters of Moab intermarried into Israel to insure their safety. Balaam did prophesy the coming Messiah during that time. Ruth was a Moabite thus causing Moabites to be part of the linage of Jesus.

The Moabites and the Ammonites worshiped the fire god Moloch. Child sacrifices were part of this religious practice. The god was made with the head of a calf and the hands of a human. Fire was kindled in the outstretched hand and babies were placed within the fire.

The Ammonites were probably more of a predatory tribe, moving from place to place, while the Moabites were more settled. They inhabited the country east of the Jordan and north of Moab and the Dead Sea.

2 Peter 2:7-8and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.