Genesis 19:17-27

17 As soon as they were outside, one [of the angels] said, "Run for your lives! Don't look behind you, and don't stop on the plain. Run for the hills, or you'll be swept away!"

18 Lot answered, "Oh no!

19 Even though you've been so good to me and though you've been very kind to me by saving my life, I can't run as far as the hills. This disaster will overtake me, and I'll die.

20 Look, there's a city near enough to flee to, and it's small. Why don't you let me run there? Isn't it small? Then my life will be saved."

21 The angel said to him, "Alright, I will grant you this request too. I will not destroy the city you're talking about.

22 Run there quickly, because I can't do anything until you get there." (The city is named Zoar [Small].)

23 The sun had just risen over the land as Lot came to Zoar.

24 Then the LORD made burning sulfur and fire rain out of heaven on Sodom and Gomorrah.

25 He destroyed those cities, the whole plain, all who lived in the cities, and whatever grew on the ground.

26 Lot's wife looked back and turned into a column of salt.

27 Early the next morning Abraham came to the place where he had stood in front of the LORD.

Genesis 19:17-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 19

The contents of this chapter are Lot's entertainment of two angels that came to Sodom, Ge 19:1-3; the rude behaviour of the men of Sodom towards them, who for it were smote with blindness, Ge 19:4-11; the deliverance of Lot, his wife and two daughters, by means of the angels he entertained, Ge 19:12-17; the sparing of the city of Zoar at the entreaty of Lot, to which he was allowed to flee, Ge 19:18-22; the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah, Ge 19:23-25; Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt for looking back, Ge 19:26; Abraham's view of the conflagration of the cities, Ge 19:28,29; Lot's betaking himself to a mountain, and dwelling in a cave with his two daughters, by whom he had two sons, the one called Moab, and the other Benammi, Ge 19:30-38.