Genesis 19:3

3 He constrained them greatly, that they should turn (in) to him. And when they entered into his house, he made a feast, and baked therf bread, and they ate. (But he greatly constrained them, that they should turn in at his house. And so when they had entered into his house, he made a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.)

Genesis 19:3 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 19:3

And he pressed them greatly
He prayed, he entreated, he persuaded, he made use of a multitude of words, and of all the arguments he could think of, to prevail upon them; and might not only press them with words, but make use of gestures, as taking them by the hand, or by their clothes, and as it were forcing them into his house, whereby it plainly appeared he was cordial and hearty in his invitation:

and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house:
went along with him to it, and instead of proceeding forward, or continuing where they were, or steering their course to a street in the city, they turned in to Lot's house:

and he made them a feast;
a large, liberal, and generous entertainment, as Abraham did, consisting of a variety of eatables and drinkables; indeed it has its name only from drinking, wine being a principal part of a banquet:

and did bake unleavened bread;
not because it was the time of the passover, as Jarchi suggests, for as yet that was not instituted; but for quicker dispatch, that his guests might have their supper the sooner, and get to bed the earlier, and rest themselves; bread without leaven in it being sooner baked than that which is made with it:

and they did eat;
the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem are,

``they seemed as if they ate.''

(See Gill on Genesis 18:8);

Genesis 19:3 In-Context

1 And (the) twain angels came to Sodom in the eventide, while Lot sat in the gates of the city. And when he had seen them, he rose, and went to meet them, and worshipped low to the earth, (And the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, while Lot sat at the city gates. And when he had seen them, he arose, and went to meet them, and bowed low to the ground,)
2 and said, My lords, I beseech, bow ye [down] into the house of your servant, and dwell ye there; wash ye your feet, and in the morrowtide ye shall go into your way (and in the morning ye shall go on your way). Which said, Nay, but we shall dwell in the street.
3 He constrained them greatly, that they should turn (in) to him. And when they entered into his house, he made a feast, and baked therf bread, and they ate. (But he greatly constrained them, that they should turn in at his house. And so when they had entered into his house, he made a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.)
4 Forsooth before that they went to sleep, men of the city compassed his house, from a child till to an eld man (from a youth unto an old man), all the people together;
5 and they called (to) Lot, and said to him, Where be the men that entered to thee tonight? (Where be the men who have entered into thy house tonight?) bring them out hither, (so) that we (may) know them, that is, by lechery against kind.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.