Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 1 · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. Verſe 1. Lot ſate in the gate]
NOt as a Judg (as the Hebrews will have it,) nor as a Merchant; much leſs as a Noveller, but as a good houſholder, looking for his herds, and as a good houſe-keeper looking for gueſts.
Verſ. 2. Nay, but we will abide in the ſtreet] They would have done ſo, Luke 24.but for Lots importunity. So our Saviour would have gone further, but that the two Diſciples conſtrained him to ſtay. This was no ſimulation; or if ſo, yet it was onelyonly exploratory without deceit or hypocriſie. And if Solomon ſinned not in making beleeve he would do that which was unlawful to be done. 1 King. 3.24. It can be no ſin to do the like in things indifferent.
Verſ. 4. Both old and young] Nulla aetas erat culpae immunis, ideò nec exitii, Ambroſ. Sin ſpreds as leaven, and is as catching as the plague; like the Jeruſalem Artichoke, plant it where you will, it over runs the ground, and chokes the heart.
Verſ. 5. That we may know them] O faces hatcht with impudency! They ſhroud not their ſin in a mantle of ſecrecy, but hang out theſe ſowre Grapes to the Sun to ripen.
Verſ. 6. Lot went out] So he expoſed himſelf, to ſave his ſtrangers, hoping to ſave them from that abominable violence. The right of ſtrangers is ſo holy, that there was ſcarce ever any nation ſo barbarous, that would violate the ſame. When Steven Gardiner had in his power the Renowned Clark Peter Martyr, then teaching at Oxford, he would not keep him to puniſh him: but when he ſhould go his way, as it is reported, gave him wherewith to bear his charges. But theſe Sodomites had not ſo much humanity left in them. They had put off the man, and were become dogs and worſe, Deut. 23.18. The price of a dog, that is, of a buggerer, ſaith Ju…ius and Deodatus, on that Text. And, Am I a dog, ſaith Abuer; that is, 2 Sam. 3.8.ſo given as dogs be to luſt?
Verſ. 7. Do not ſo wickedly] They were the firſt that fell into this foul ſin, and were therefore worthily hanged up in gibbets by God for a terror to others; and beſides, they ſuffer the vengeance of eternal fire, Iude 7. The Pope pretends to be Chriſts Vicar, and preſumes to aſſume the title of Holineſs. But how far he is from expreſſing God to the World, appears by his (if not commiting, yet conniving at) this deteſtable ſin of Sodomy. To ſpeak no more of that debauched villain Johannes a Caſa (that Printed a Poem in commendation of this wickedneſs, Act. & Mon. 417. Caeſar B…rgis buggerd a grave Biſhop by force. Ignat. concl. 58. Heyl. Geog. pag▪ 2…3.being at the ſame time Dean of the Popes Chamber, and Biſhop of Beneventum.) One Petro Alvegi Farueſis committed an unſpeakable violence on the perſon of Coſmus Chaerius, Biſhop of Fanum, and then poyſoned him. For which execrable action, he received no other chaſtiſement of his father, Pope Paul the third, then Haec vitia, me non commonſtratore, didicit; He never learned theſe tricks of his father. But whom did the Cardinal of Saint Lucia learn it of? J…cob. Revius de vis. Pontif.To whom and his whole family Pope Sixtus quartus permited, by licenſe, the free uſe of this fil…hineſs, for the three hotter mo…eths of the year, June, July, and Auguſt; with that Apoſtilla of his, Fiat ut petitur. Lupanar etiam utriuſque veneris Romae …, Ibid. p. 119.ſaith Agrippa. In the time of Pope Nicolas the ſecond (when Prieſts marriage was termed the hereſie of the Nicolaitans) Inva…s …mentèr Sodomiticum ſcel…, ſaith mine Author; Sodomy was held no ſin (as at this day it is not among the Turks.) Blounts Veyage. p. 79.In … and thoſe parts, Whoredom and Sodomy, thoſe Spaniſh ver…u…s, are common without reproof. The Popes pardons being more rife there, then in any part of Europe, for theſe filthineſſes, whereout he ſucketh no ſmall advantage. Notwithſtanding, the Indians abhor this moſt loathſom living; The World encompaſſed by Sir Fr. Drake. p. 58.ſhewing themſelves in reſpect of the Spaniards, as the Scythians did in reſpect of the Grecians; whom they ſo far excelled in life and behavior, as they were ſhort of them in learning and knowledg. God hath delivered up theſe Pagans (as he did thoſe Pagans, Rom. 1.) to reprobate ſenſe, to vile affections, to diſhonor their own bodies between themſelves, for that they have worſhipped, and ſerved the creature more then the Creator, Verſ. 24, 25, 26. Hence it is, that Rome is called Sodom in the Revelation.Revel 11.8.
Verſ. 8. Behold now, I have two daughters] This was an inconſiderate motion, ſuch as the beſt mindes eaſily yield, when once troubled. It was proper to the Lord Chriſt to be ſubject to natural paſſions and perturbations, yet without ſin: as a Chryſtal Glaſs full of clear water remains ſtill pure, howſoever it be ſhaken. The Hebrews think, That for this ſinful offering to proſtitute his daughters, he was given up by God, to commit inceſt with his daughters.
Verſ. 9. Stand back, &c.] They ſet up the briſtles at Lots admonition, a ſure fore-runner of deſtruction, as in Elies ſons.
Verſ. 10. But the men] Thus Lot is reſcued at a dead lift: that's Gods opportunity, who knows how, &c. 2 Peter 2. verſ. 9.
Verſ. 11. With blindneſs] Subite ſcotomate, ſaith Junius: With blindneſs both of body and minde, ſaith Aben-Ezra: Such as tormented their eyes, as if they had been pricked with thorns, as the Hebrew word ſignifies. And yet they continue groping for the door, as if they were ambitious of deſtruction, which now was at next door by. Dous quem deſtruit dementat. So Pharaoh, when under that palpable three days darkneſs, rageth againſt God, and threatneth Moſes with death. Though doomſday ſhould be to morrow next, wicked men muſt and will ſerve their luſts. Vale lumen amicum, ſaid Theotimus in St. Ambroſe, who choſe rather to loſe his ſight then his ſin.
Verſ. 12. Haſt thou here any, &c.] It is ſomething for ſafety, to be Lots Kinſman. So the Kenites in Sauls time, receive life from Jethro's duſt, many ages after his death, 1 Sam. 15.6.and favor from his hoſpitality.
Verſ. 13. For we will deſtroy this place] Even the good Angels are Gods executioners. And the firſt execution they did in the world, that we read of, was upon theſe filthy Sodomites. So will it be (likely) at the laſt day. And Saint Peter ſeems to ſay as much, 2 Pet. 2.9. The Lord reſerves the unjuſt to the day of judgment, to be puniſhed, But chiefly them that walk after the fleſh, in the luſt of uncleanneſs. Mark that (chiefly.)
Verſ. 14. But he ſeemed as one that mocked] Sed fuit habitus tanquam jo…abundus. Graceleſs hearts jear when they ſhould fear, and are ſenceleſs and ſecure, as if they were out of the reach of Gods rod, and needed not to fear his wrath. Ridetur cum ſuo Jehoua: ſed riſus impiorum eſt Sardonius. Par.Lot here is counted but a Lob, of his own ſons in law. Wonder not, if we meet with the ſame meaſure.
Verſ. 15. Left thou be conſumed] So Revel. 18.4. Come out of her, that ye receive not of her plagues. Muſculirui…is immin…ntibus pramigrant, & aranei cum telis primicadunt, ſaith Pliny. Plin. lib 8. cap 28. foreign. Septuag.Swine live home, afore a ſtorm.
Verſ. 16. And while he lingred] Or diſtracted himſelf with much buſineſs, which David did not, Pſal. 119 60. [The Lord being merciful unto him] What is he then to us, in delivering us from the …th to come? 1 Theſ. 1.10, Acts 2.40Why ſave we not our ſelves from this unto ward generation? Why ſee we not his mercy to us in our loſſes and croſſes? His hand laying hold on us, when he takes away that, that may hinder us from Heaven?
Verſ. 17. Look not behinde thee] As loth to depart. Non minùs difficultèr à deliciis Sudemorum abſtrabimur, quàm canis ab uncto cori….
Verſ. 18. O… not ſo my Lord] But who ſhall, preſcribe to the Almighty? Or limit the holy One of Iſrael? Are we wiſer then he▪ Have we a trick bey…nd him? He lets us ſometimes have our way but to our wo at laſt.
Verſ. 19. Behold now thy ſervant, &c.] We can receive and commend Gods favors, but be backward enough to obey him.
Verſ. 20. Is it not a little one?] Let no man uſe this plea for his ſin. foreign. Ariſt. Rhet. lib. 1.Even the Philoſopher tells us, That the ſmalleſt errors prove many times moſt dangerous. It is as much treaſon to coyn pence, as bigger peeces.
Verſ. 21. I will not overthrow this City] Zoar, of all the five Cities, was preſerved by Lots prayers, ſaith Jerome. See Deut. 29.23. Iſai. 15.
Verſ. 22. For I cannot do any thing] Not that the execution of the divine decree, depended ſimply upon Lots remove to Zoar; but upon another decree, for Lots remove ere Sodom were deſtroyed.
Verſ. 23. The Sun was riſen upon Sodom] But ere night, there was a diſmal change. Neſcis quid ſerus vesper vehat.
Verſ. 24. Then the Lord rained, &c.] Lot was no ſooner taken out of Sodom, but Sodom was ſoon taken out of the world. The wicked are reprieved for the godlies ſake; who, but for them, would ſuddenly be ruined. Iſai. 30.33.[Rained upon Sodom, &c.] Rained, not ſprinkled; and not fire onelyonly, but brimſtone and fire for increaſe of torment, and for an Hell above ground, and aforehand, Jude 7. Hot fire they had for their burning luſts; and ſtinking brimſtone for their ſtinking brutiſhneſs. Charls the ſecond, King of Navarre, was much given to ſenſual pleaſures, which ſo waſted his ſpirits, that in his old age, he fell into a kinde of Lethargy. To comfort his benummed joynts he was bound and ſewed up naked in a ſheet, Hryl. Geog. pag. 42.ſteeped in boyling Aqua vitae: The Surgeon having made an end of ſewing him, and wanting a knife to cut off the thred, took a wax candle that ſtood lighted by him. But the flame, running down by the thred, caught hold on the ſheet; which, according to the nature of the Aqua vita, burned with that vehemency, that the miſerable King ended his days in the fire.
Verſ. 25. Lib. 5. de bell… Jud. Omne carcus vita in profundam mergitur, ſquid vivum arte alique immerſeri… ſuper enibis.And he overthrew, &c.] Some footſteps of this overthrow, are to be read of in Solinus and Tacitus. Joſephus tells us of the mock-apples of Sodom, and ſaith, That an Ox, having all his Legs bound, will not ſink into the lake of Sodom, the water is ſo thick.
Verſ. 26. But his wiſe looked back] Whether out of curioſity, or fooliſh pity, or as loth to leave ſo ſweet a Countrey, ſhe turned her about, and ſhe was turned. Some think ſhe was a Sodomite, and ſome tell us her name was Tytea. Her ſin, Tyteam dictam volunt uxorem Loti, &c. He…delf.ſeem it never ſo light, was a compound of many ſins. And her puniſhment was part of the plague of Sodom, which was Brimſtone and Salt, ſo that it became a Sea of Salt, Deuter. 29.23. And all this to Seaſon us, ſaith Auguſtine; to Caution us, ſaith our Saviour, that we look not back. The Fable of Eurydice, loſt by her husbands looking back upon her, was deviſed by the devil to elude this holy Hiſtory.
Verſ. 27. And Abraham gat up] So ſollicitous he was for Sodom, that (as Luther thinks) he could not ſleep all night. Lot was delivered by his prayers, though Abraham knew it not.
Verſ. 28. And he looked] Abraham might look upon the ſmoke of Sodom, Lot might not; becauſe it would work more on Lots heart, then on Abrahams, who had more grace. [The ſmoke of the countrey] Nothing elſe was now to be ſeen of that fair and fruitful Plain. Sic tranſit gloria mundi. When we moſt greedily graſp earthly things, we embrace nothing but ſmoke, which wrings tears from our eyes, and ſoon vaniſheth into nothing.
Verſ. 29. God remembred Abraham, &c.] And ſhall he forget us, who have Chriſt to intercede for us?
Verſ. 30. Lot went up out of Zoar, &c.] So he ſhould have done at firſt; and ſo he had obeyed God, ſaved his wife, and prevented that ſin of inceſt with his daughters.
Verſ. 31. And the firſt born, &c.] Its dangerous to live in a wicked place: For though thy ſelf mayſt eſcape infection, thy children may be tainted, as Lots were.
Verſ, 32. Come let us make our father drink.] So the great Whore cometh forth with a Cup. Revel. 17.She knew too well, that Venus eſt in venis, ignis in igne furit. It is like they had wine from Zoar: they ſinned againſt conſcience; and therefore intoxicated their father, who now forgets that he is a father, and does that in a drunken pang, that Heaven and Earth were afterwards aſhamed of.
Verſ. 33. Nor when ſhe aroſe] There is a tittle extraordinary in the Hebrew, to note that this is a thing incredible, Appungunt deſuper quaſi incredibile; quaeſt. in Geneſ.Coire quempiam neſcientem. Cajetan and Pererius conclude it poſſible, and give Reaſons for it. Calvin ſaith beſt, That it was not ſo much his wine, as a ſpirit of ſlumber ſent upon him from God, for a ſcourge of his intemperance. Luther addes, No nos abeamus in ſecuritatem, That we may watch againſt ſecurity.
Verſ. 35. foreign. Athenaus.And they made, &c.] Decepit ebrietas Lotum, quem Sodoma non decepit, ſaith Origen. Well might Athenaeus call drunkenneſs the metropolis of miſchief.
Verſ. 37. Called his name Moab] That is, the begotten of my father: So Benammi, that is, begotten of one of my near kinred, viz. her father. Iſai. 3.9.Thus they declared their ſin as Sodom, they hid it not, but gloried in their ſhame. It is as hard to come from Sodom, and not taſte of the ſap of ſuch a ſoyl, as to walk barefac'd in the hot Sun, and not be tanned.