Lot's Wife

Lot's wife is a figure mentioned in the Book of Genesis, specifically in the narrative of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. She is known for her disobedience to God's command and the subsequent consequence she faced. The account is found in Genesis 19, where God decides to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their wickedness. Lot, Abraham's nephew, is living in Sodom at the time, and God sends two angels to rescue Lot and his family from the impending destruction.

The angels instruct Lot and his family to flee the city and not to look back. Genesis 19:17 states, "As soon as the men had brought them out, one of them said, 'Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!'" However, as they are escaping, Lot's wife disobeys the command. Genesis 19:26 records, "But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt."

Lot's wife's transformation into a pillar of salt serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of disobedience to God's commands. Her account is often cited as a warning against longing for a sinful past and failing to trust in God's deliverance. In the New Testament, Jesus references Lot's wife in Luke 17:32 , saying, "Remember Lot’s wife!" This serves as an admonition to remain steadfast and not to turn back to a life of sin.

Lot's Daughters

Lot's daughters play a significant role in the continuation of Lot's lineage after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The narrative concerning Lot's daughters is found in Genesis 19:30-38. After fleeing to Zoar and subsequently settling in the mountains, Lot and his two daughters find themselves isolated. Believing that they are the last people on earth and that there is no man to carry on their family line, Lot's daughters devise a plan to preserve their father's lineage.

Genesis 19:31-32 recounts their plan: "One day the older daughter said to the younger, 'Our father is old, and there is no man in the land to sleep with us, as is the custom all over the earth. Come, let us get our father drunk with wine and sleep with him, so that we can preserve our father’s line.'" The daughters proceed with their plan on consecutive nights, resulting in both becoming pregnant by their father.

The older daughter gives birth to a son named Moab, who becomes the ancestor of the Moabites. The younger daughter bears a son named Ben-Ammi, who becomes the ancestor of the Ammonites. These two nations, the Moabites and the Ammonites, play significant roles in the history of Israel, often being in conflict with the Israelites.

The actions of Lot's daughters are viewed through a complex lens. While their actions are morally questionable, their account highlights themes of desperation, survival, and the lengths to which individuals might go to preserve their family line. The narrative also serves as a backdrop for understanding the origins of the Moabite and Ammonite peoples, who are frequently mentioned in the biblical text.

In summary, the accounts of Lot's wife and daughters provide rich material for reflection on obedience, the consequences of sin, and the complexities of human actions in the face of divine judgment.