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This study uses the King James Version of the Holy Bible throughout.
To read this study with a modern English translation of the Bible Go Here
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Entering Sodom
Abraham Attempts to Negotiate a Settlement
Genesis 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
After Abraham's unsuccessful attempt at negotiating a settlement for the people of the cities, two of the three Visitors go on down into the city where they met Lot.
The Three Visitors
Throughout the millennia there has been much speculation about the identity of Abraham's Three Visitors. All three are offered deep respect but one of them is directly called YHVH (the Holy Name of God -- Yahweh: Tetragrammaton: Yod He Vav He)! To read this in the Torah -- the Holy Book of this fiercely monotheistic people who adamantly reject any and all notions that God incarnates in human form (as taught by Nicene Christians, Hindus and others) -- is a most unexpected comment and one not easily resolved! We discussed this a bit when considering Genesis 17:1 in part one.
Now Moses writes:
Genesis 18:33 And the LORD [YHVH in the Hebrew] went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
As discussed in part one of this study (concerning 17:1) HaShem appeared (ra'ah) or revealed Himself to Abram in a vision and now, at 18:33, that visionary Presence departs. As anyone who has ever experienced real visions will attest, just because something occurs in a vision does not mean it is not "real." Indeed visions are often "more real" than normal conscious experiences, the extra-normal element underscoring the reality of the event. It is inconceivable that HaShem ("the Name": Tetragrammaton) would have Personally manifested in a human-like semblance before any mortal, even one as holy as Abraham considering that Moses (the author of both Genesis and Exodus) quotes HaShem as saying that "...there shall no man see me, and live" -- Exodus 33:20. The debate over the identity and nature of the three Visitors will of course continues. Its a question I hope will be resolved in the coming Thousand Year Messianic Kingdom.
As much as we may wish the contrary were true, while the first Visitor is named, Scripture simply does not identify the other Two Messengers who accompanied the vision of HaShem. Many Bible Students equate these Two Visitors with the Two Witnesses described in chapter eleven of the Revelation of Y'shua the Anointed. Some believe they were Moses and Elijah. Others say these two were Master Y'shua and Melchizedek (or possibly Michael the Archangel), however understand that all such attempts at identifying the Two Visitors is purely conjecture. The Bible does not say who there were nor does it directly link them to the Two Witnesses despite the obvious similarities.
This much is clear from the text: At this point HaShem and His two servants parted company and the servants continued on to Sodom while HaShem "returned" to Ouranos or His Heavenly Abode.
Two Visitors Enter Sodom
The two remaining Visitors (translated in the KJV as "angels" from mal'ak -- i.e. messengers -- according to the next verse) arrived in Sodom about sunset.
Remember that the Visitors were on a specific mission from God. Their purpose was to determine whether the people of the town would manifest suitable righteousness and hospitality (tsedaqah and mishpat) or would experience the wrath of El Elyon. Entering the town just before sunset gave the people the opportunity to provide the strangers with food and shelter for the night as demanded by the Noahide laws of hospitality and the protection and sanctity of life. Doubtless this is why they chose to enter at that time of the day.
Genesis 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
The phrase that Lot "sat in the gate of Sodom" doesn't mean he was hanging out around some literal gate, but that he was a person of some importance in the town. In support of this, compare Deuteronomy 21:19-21 where we read, in part: "...bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city...". Because of Lot's alliance with Abraham (which had saved the town) as well as his great wealth and influence, Lot had become at the very least a city elder or judge (or perhaps something even greater). Sitting at the gate might better be understood today as 'sitting on the judicial bench' or as being a sitting member of the town counsel.
Recall how Abraham had cordially greeted the Visitors when they arrived at his home. When Lot first saw the "strangers" he also offered his respects to them by bowing as was the custom. Under normal circumstances, Lot would then have either personally washed their feet and fed them or arraigned for someone else to do so. He would have introduced them to the leading citizens and politicians of the town, made arrangements for their accommodations and so on as deemed appropriate. However while he did welcome them, he did not follow through with the customary procedures. And with good cause! Something was seriously wrong in Sodom and Lot knew it! What he did was still in keeping with the Laws of Noah, he sought to protect their lives by concealing their presence. Saving a life always takes precedence over the bestowing of public honors. Like Abraham, Lot was a man of character and morality. His actions were therefore righteous and just.
The Plot Thickens!
19:2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways.
And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
As an elder of Sodom Lot knew his town well. As we will see below, there was good reason for his insistence that the strangers come into his home quickly (rather than his introducing them to the town's other elders as was the custom). Indeed, failure to make such introductions would have constituted a breech in hospitality under normal circumstances, not to mention an insult towards the other town officials... but these were not normal circumstances as Lot well knew!
Lot didn't know who these strangers were (although he did call them "my lords" (adown implying he recognized them as men of some importance), but he did know they were in serious danger and he warned them of their peril and sought to assist them as was appropriate. When the Visitors declined his invitation the text says "he pressed upon them greatly" the need that they come inside. Lot insisted they maintain 'a low profile' and get off the streets. He urged them to spend the evening with his family and to leave early the next morning, presumably before anyone caught wind of their presence. Ordinarily a man in his position would have encouraged them stay as long as they wished, to make themselves at home ... 'mi casa es su casa'... but again, something was dreadfully amiss in Sodom and Lot wanted to keep them safe and get them out of town as quickly as possible!
How different this was from Abraham's treatment of the Visitors! Why should the Visitors "...rise up early, and go on [their] way?" What does Lot know that we, thus far in the text, do not? He knew the Sin of Sodom and the danger it posed for the unknown strangers!
Now we are beginning to understand the seriousness of the Sin of the cities of the plains!
"That We May Know Them"
Genesis 19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
Thus far there has been no hint about the sexual proclivities or orientation of the people of Sodom and yet the very name of their town has become synonymous with homosexuality and Sodomy.
Sodomy
Dictionary.com: Sodomy:
1. anal or oral copulation with a member of the opposite sex.
2. copulation with a member of the same sex.
Webster's Dictionary: Sodomy:
Main Entry: sod·omy
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French sodomie, from Late Latin Sodoma Sodom; from the homosexual proclivities of the men of the city in Gen 19:1–11
Date: 13th century: anal or oral copulation with a member of the same or opposite sex; also: copulation with an animal.
So, if Webster's and the current usage of the word is correct, if the word sodomy accurately arises "from the homosexual proclivities of the men of the city in Gen 19:1–11" we should be able to locate it in the text.
But its not there!
Misinterpreting these five little words is the source Webster's is referring to.
But this verse says nothing of the sort!
First consider the origin of the word sodomy as defined by Webster's. It has NO biblical origin and did not exist as a word until 1200 AFTER the last books of the Bible were written.
The word was coined in 13th century CE in Latin. The word's origin and the origin of the false doctrine connecting the Sin of Sodom with homosexuality originated in the Roman (Latin) Catholic Church not in the Bible. As shown above both Ezekiel and Master Y'shua clearly define the Sin of Sodom.
Let's take a look close at this passage and see if there is ANYTHING in it alluding to homosexuality (or to sexuality of any kind). If not, then defining the Roman Catholic created word sodomy as Webster's, dictionary.com and common usage does is based solely of prejudice, a lack of biblical understanding and is completely groundless.
Genesis 19:4,5
But before they lay down...: The texts says the two Visitors entered Lot's home. They ate dinner, chatted with the family presumably, and then at some point before going to bed...
...the men of the city, even the men of Sodom...: The "men" here are the enowsh as discussed previously. The world means "the people," not only the men, all the people of Sodom, the men women and potentially the children...
...compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter...: The old, the young, the rich and the poor, from all around the city rushed to Lot's house and surrounded it (evidently to prevent their escape or maybe simply because of the crowd...
And they called unto Lot, and said unto him...: Clearly the word had gotten out that Lot was hiding the men in his house....
...Where are the men which came in to thee this night?...: Where are the enowsh the people....
And here is where the entire false doctrine is based, on twisting the meaning of a single word:
...bring them out unto us, that we may know them: What did the people of Sodom want to "know" from or about the men? They wanted the two men brought out so they could Yada ("know" or "interrogate") them.
What Does "Yada" Mean?
Here is how this common word is translated in the King James version:
- know 645
- known 105
- knowledge 19
- perceive 18
- shew 17
- tell 8
- wist 7
- understand 7
- certainly 7
- acknowledge 6
- acquaintance 6
- consider 6
- declare 6
- teach 5
- miscellaneous ways 85
This very common Hebrew word is used in a few different ways but it almost means: "to know or to ascertain some information." When it doesn't mean that directly it still speaks of attaining intimate knowledge of another.
Here's what Strong's Dictionary tells us about Yada:
Yada` (yaw-dah');
Word Origin: Hebrew, Verb
a primitive root
to know
(Qal)
to know
to know, learn to know
to perceive
to perceive and see, find out and discern
to discriminate, distinguish
to know by experience
to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess
to consider
to know, be acquainted with
to know (a person carnally)
to know how, be skilful in
to have knowledge, be wise
(Niphal)
to be made known, be or become known, be revealed
to make oneself known
to be perceived
to be instructed
(Piel) to cause to know
(Poal) to cause to know
(Pual)
to be known
known, one known, acquaintance (participle)
(Hiphil) to make known, declare
(Hophal) to be made known
(Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself
You will note that one of the definitions Strong's offers is: to know (a person carnally). We use it this ways occasionally when we speak of "knowing someone in the biblical sense." However this "biblical sense" is a very rare usage in the Bible. It is only used that way 10 times out of the hundreds of times yada is used. In all of those cases the context makes the presence of sexuality obvious.
For instance:
Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew [yada] Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
In such cases sexual union refers to the 'two becoming one flesh' as the relationship becomes solidified.
In the vast majority of cases yada simply means to ascertain some knowledge.
Here's a few examples:
Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know [yada] good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Judges 3:4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know [yada] whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
Psalm 39:4 LORD, make me to know [yada] mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know [yada] how frail I am.
Ecclesiastes 7:25 I applied mine heart to know [yada], and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know [yada] the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:
Did the People of Sodom Want Sex?
A few things to consider:
The Bible always needs to be interpreted and understood in context. Prior to this verse nothing sexual (neither homosexual nor otherwise) was even implied or suggested by the context.
Since the contexts tells us that not even ten people could be found without the Sin of Sodom that would mean that every man, woman and child in the city except Lot and his family were homosexual rapists (this would include the women who wanted to the "know" the men.
Since the word translated here as "men" actually means humans or people, not just males, there is no reason to assume that only men were in the mob of rapists. If these hundreds of people (or however many people lived in Sodom at the time, quite possibly there were thousands) were all demanding to have sex with these two male strangers, it is all but certain that their intended gang rape would have included women as well as men.
The idea of an entire town having sex with two men is hard to fathom to say the least. Nonetheless, for the sake of argument, lets say the entire town of Sodom was intent on having sex with these two men, surely it would have included heterosexual as well as homosexual rape (because of the women present).
And, unless the two men wanted to be gang raped (which clearly wasn't the case as they defended themselves and Lot's family) the crime would, whether heterosexual or homosexual in nature, be rape, not same gender sex. No one is supporting the legalization of rape nor equal rights for rapists.
* And so this story has nothing to do with contemporary consensual same gender unions in any case. *
Let's continue with what happened next:
19:6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
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.
On top of what we have already read that shows the Sin of Sodom was not homosexuality, here's another clear evidence.
Are we seriously supposed to believe that Lot and his family lived in a village filled with nothing but homosexual rapists and that the fact was never mentioned in Scripture? Its one thing to suggest that the people were dishonest etc. but quite another to say the entire town was composed with nothing was crazed homosexual rapists!
Are we seriously supposed to believe that God sent Abram to restore such a town after it had been defeated in battle and then sent High Priest Melchizedek to bless the event of returning such rapists to power? Or, that in the intervening years between Abram's liberating every man, woman and child in it not only "became gay" but violently so?
Are we seriously supposed to believe that Lot, trying to appease hundreds if not thousands of crazed homosexual rapists thought it might work to offer his virgin daughters to them in exchange for not raping the men? Think about it for a second... would crazed homosexual rapists consider sex a couple of inexperienced virgin females a valid substitute for man-flesh? That doesn't even make sense!
Furthermore, recall that Abraham negotiated the angels down to a mere ten righteous people in exchange for saving the town (18:23-33) and yet there were not even ten found in all of Sodom who did not practice this specific sin. IF the offending sin was homosexuality, that would mean that in a fairly prominent city in one of the most male dominated, machismocentric, patriarchal parts of the world, not even ten females, heterosexual or homosexual, could be found (less if we include Lot's family)? Nothing but crazed homosexual male rapists in the entire town! Such a city would have died off soon enough anyway!
No, none of this makes any sense whatsoever! Homosexuality could not even conceivably have been the Sin of Sodom.
And what's more, none of this talk about crazed gay rapists addresses the fact that both Master Y'shua and Ezekiel identified the Sin of Sodom as something else completely, something that perfectly fits with what Moses tells us about the town:
Ezekiel 16:48 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
49 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.
