Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed
1The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. 2“My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.”
“No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”
3But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate. 4Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. 5They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”
6Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him 7and said, “No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing. 8Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don’t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.”
9“Get out of our way,” they replied. “This fellow came here as a foreigner, and now he wants to play the judge! We’ll treat you worse than them.” They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door.
10But the men inside reached out and pulled Lot back into the house and shut the door. 11Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness so that they could not find the door.
12The two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, 13because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.”
14So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry19:14 Or were married to his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.
15With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.”
16When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them. 17As soon as they 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!”
18But Lot said to them, “No, my lords,19:18 Or No, Lord; or No, my lord please! 19Your19:19 The Hebrew is singular. servant has found favor in your19:19 The Hebrew is singular. eyes, and you19:19 The Hebrew is singular. have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die. 20Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn’t it? Then my life will be spared.”
21He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. 22But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar.19:22 Zoar means small.)
23By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. 24Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. 25Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. 26But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
27Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the Lord. 28He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace.
29So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.
Lot and His Daughters
30Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. 31One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children—as is the custom all over the earth. 32Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father.”
33That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.
34The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I slept with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.” 35So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.
36So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. 37The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab19:37 Moab sounds like the Hebrew for from father.; he is the father of the Moabites of today. 38The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi19:38 Ben-Ammi means son of my father’s people.; he is the father of the Ammonites19:38 Hebrew Bene-Ammon of today.
Kuangamizwa Kwa Sodoma Na Gomora
119:1 Mwa 11:27; 17:3; 18:1, 2, 22; 48:12; Rut 2:10; 1Sam 25:23; 2Sam 14:33; 2Fal 2:15; Ebr 13:2Malaika wale wawili wakafika Sodoma wakati wa jioni, naye Loti alikuwa ameketi kwenye lango la mji. Wakati alipowaona, aliondoka kwenda kuwalaki na kuwasujudia hadi chini. 219:2 Mwa 18:4; Lk 7:44; Amu 19:15, 20Akasema, “Bwana zangu, tafadhali karibuni kwenye nyumba ya mtumishi wenu. Mnaweza kunawa miguu na kulala hapa kisha asubuhi na mapema mwendelee na safari yenu.”
Wakamjibu, “La hasha, tutalala hapa nje uwanjani.”
319:3 Mwa 18:6; 33:11; Ay 31:32; Kut 12:39Lakini akasisitiza kwa nguvu kwamba waingie pamoja naye nyumbani kwake. Akawaandalia chakula, mikate isiyotiwa chachu, nao wakala. 419:4 Mwa 13:13Kabla hawajaenda kulala, watu wote kutoka kila sehemu ya mji wa Sodoma, vijana kwa wazee, waliizunguka nyumba. 519:5 Mwa 13:13; Law 18:22; Kum 23:18; Amu 19:22; Rum 1:24-27Wakamwita Loti wakisema, “Wako wapi wale watu ambao walikuja kwako jioni hii? Watoe nje kwetu ili tuweze kuwalawiti.”
619:6 Amu 19:23Loti akatoka nje kuonana nao, akaufunga mlango nyuma yake, 7akasema, “La hasha, rafiki zangu. Msifanye jambo hili ovu. 819:8 Amu 19:24; 2Pet 2:7-8Tazama, ninao binti wawili ambao kamwe hawajakutana kimwili na mwanaume. Acha niwatoe nje kwenu, nanyi mnaweza kuwafanyia lolote mnalotaka. Lakini msiwafanyie chochote watu hawa, kwa sababu wako kwenye ulinzi chini ya dari langu.”
919:9 Mwa 13:8; 23:4; Mdo 7:27Wakamjibu, “Tuondokee mbali.” Wakaendelea kusema, “Huyu mtu alikuja hapa kama mgeni na sasa anataka kuwa mwamuzi wetu! Tutakutenda vibaya kuliko wao.” Waliendelea kumlazimisha Loti na kusonga mbele ili kuvunja mlango.
1019:10 Mwa 18:2Lakini watu wale waliokuwa ndani wakanyoosha mkono wakamvuta Loti ndani ya nyumba na kufunga mlango. 1119:11 Kum 28:28-29; 2Fal 6:18; Mdo 13:11Kisha wakawapiga kwa upofu wale watu waliokuwa mlangoni mwa ile nyumba, vijana kwa wazee, hivyo hawakuweza kuupata mlango.
1219:12 Mwa 6:18; 7:1Wale watu wawili wakamwambia Loti, “Una mtu mwingine yeyote hapa, wakwe zako, wana au binti, ama yeyote mwingine aliye wako katika mji huu? Waondoe hapa, 1319:13 Kut 12:29; 2Sam 24:16; 2Fal 19:35; 1Nya 21:12, 15; 2Nya 32:21; Mwa 18:20; Za 78:49; Yer 21:12; 25:18; 44:22; 51:45kwa sababu tunapaangamiza mahali hapa. Kilio kwa Bwana dhidi ya watu wa hapa ni kikubwa kiasi kwamba ametutuma kupaangamiza.”
1419:14 Hes 16:21; Ufu 18:4; Kut 9:21; 1Fal 13:18; Yer 5:12; 43:2; Lk 17:28Kwa hiyo Loti alitoka ili kuzungumza na wakwe zake, waliokuwa wamewaposa binti zake. Akawaambia, “Fanyeni haraka kuondoka mahali hapa, kwa kuwa Bwana yu karibu kuangamiza mji huu!” Lakini wakwe zake walifikiri kwamba alikuwa akitania.
1519:15 Hes 16:26; Ay 21:18; Za 58:9; 73:19; 90:5; Ufu 18:4Kunako mapambazuko, malaika wakamhimiza Loti, wakamwambia, “Fanya haraka! Mchukue mke wako na binti zako wawili walioko hapa, la sivyo utaangamizwa wakati mji utakapoadhibiwa.”
1619:16 2Pet 2:7; Kut 34:6; Za 33:8-9Alipositasita, wale watu wakamshika mkono wake na mikono ya mke wake na binti zake wawili na kuwaongoza salama nje ya mji, kwa kuwa Bwana alikuwa na huruma kwao. 1719:17 1Fal 19:3; Yer 48:6; Mwa 13:12; 14:10; Mt 24:16Mara walipokwisha kuwatoa nje, mmoja wao akawaambia, “Mkimbie kwa usalama wenu! Msitazame nyuma, wala msisimame popote katika nchi tambarare! Kimbilieni milimani, ama sivyo mtaangamizwa!”
18Lakini Loti akawajibu, “La hasha, bwana zangu, tafadhalini! 1919:19 Mwa 6:8; 18:3; 24:12; 39:21; 40:14; 47:29; Rut 1:8; 2:20; 3:10Mtumishi wenu amepata kibali mbele ya macho yenu, nanyi mmeonyesha wema mkubwa kwangu kwa kuokoa maisha yangu. Lakini siwezi kukimbilia milimani, janga hili litanikumba, nami nitakufa. 20Tazama, hapa kuna mji karibu wa kukimbilia, nao ni mdogo. Niruhusuni nikimbilie humo, ni mdogo sana, ama sivyo? Ndipo maisha yangu yatasalimika.”
2119:21 1Sam 25:35; 2Sam 14:8; Ay 42:9Akamwambia, “Vema sana, nitalikubali hili ombi pia, sitauangamiza mji ulioutaja. 2219:22 Mwa 13:10Lakini ukimbilie huko haraka, kwa sababu sitaweza kufanya lolote mpaka ufike huko.” (Ndiyo maana mji huo ukaitwa Soari.19:22 Soari maana yake Mdogo.)
2319:23 Mwa 13:10Wakati Loti alipofika Soari, jua lilikuwa limechomoza katika nchi. 2419:24 Ay 18:15; Za 11:6; Isa 30:33; 34:9; Eze 38:22; Kum 29:23; Isa 1:9; 13:19; Yer 49:18; 50:40; Amo 4:11; Mwa 18:17; Law 10:2; Mt 10:15; Lk 17:29; Yud 7Ndipo Bwana akanyesha moto wa kiberiti uliotoka mbinguni kwa Bwana juu ya Sodoma na Gomora. 2519:25 Eze 16:48; 26:16; Sef 3:8; Hag 2:22; Mwa 13:12; Za 107:34; Isa 1:10; Yer 20:16; 23:14; Mao 4:6Hivyo akaiteketeza miji ile na eneo lote la tambarare, pamoja na wote waliokuwa wanaishi katika miji, hata pia mimea yote katika nchi. 2619:26 Lk 17:32Lakini mke wa Loti akatazama nyuma, hivyo akawa nguzo ya chumvi.
2719:27 Mwa 18:22Asubuhi na mapema siku iliyofuata, Abrahamu akaamka na kurudi mahali pale aliposimama mbele za Bwana. 2819:28 Mwa 15:17; Kut 19:18; Ufu 9:2, 18Akatazama upande wa Sodoma na Gomora, kuelekea nchi yote ya tambarare, akaona moshi mzito ukipanda kutoka kwenye nchi, kama moshi utokao kwenye tanuru.
2919:29 Mwa 8:1; 13:12; 14:12; Eze 14:16; 2Pet 2:7Kwa hiyo Mungu alipoiangamiza miji ya tambarare alimkumbuka Abrahamu, akamtoa Loti kutoka kwenye lile janga lililoharibu miji ile ambamo Loti alikuwa ameishi.
Loti Na Binti Zake
3019:30 Mwa 13:10; 14:10Loti na binti zake wawili waliondoka Soari na kufanya makao yao kule milimani, kwa maana aliogopa kukaa Soari. Yeye na binti zake wawili waliishi katika pango. 31Siku moja binti mkubwa akamwambia yule mdogo, “Baba yetu ni mzee na hakuna mwanaume mahali hapa atakayekutana na sisi kimwili, kama ilivyo desturi ya mahali pote duniani. 3219:32 Mwa 16:2; 38:18Tumnyweshe baba yetu mvinyo kisha tukutane naye kimwili ili tuhifadhi uzao wetu kupitia baba yetu.”
33Usiku ule walimnywesha baba yao mvinyo, alipolewa binti yake mkubwa akaingia na kukutana naye kimwili. Baba yao hakujua wakati binti yake alipoingia kulala naye wala alipotoka.
34Siku iliyofuata binti mkubwa akamwambia yule mdogo, “Usiku uliopita mimi nilikutana kimwili na baba yangu. Tumnyweshe divai tena, usiku huu nawe ukutane naye kimwili ili tuweze kuhifadhi uzao wetu kupitia baba yetu.” 3519:35 Mwa 9:21Kwa hiyo wakamnywesha baba yao mvinyo tena usiku ule, naye binti yake mdogo akaingia, akakutana naye kimwili. Kwa mara nyingine baba yao hakujua binti yake alipolala naye wala alipoondoka.
36Hivyo binti wawili wa Loti wakapata mimba kwa baba yao. 3719:37 Mwa 36:35; Kut 15:15; Hes 25:1; Isa 15:1; 25:10; Yer 25:21; 48:1; Eze 25:8; Sef 2:9; Hes 22:4; 24:17; Rut 1:4, 22; 1Sam 14:47; 22:3-4; 2Sam 8:2; 2Fal 3:4; Ezr 9:1; Za 108:9Binti mkubwa akamzaa mwana, akamwita jina lake Moabu; ndio baba wa Wamoabu hata leo. 3819:38 Hes 21:24; Kum 2:19; 23:3; Yos 12:2; Amu 3:13; 10:6-7; 1Sam 11:1-11; 14:47; 1Nya 19:1; 2Nya 20:23; 26:8; 27:5; Neh 2:19; 4:3; Yer 25:21; 40:14; 49:1; Eze 21:28; 25:2; Amo 1:13Binti mdogo naye pia akamzaa mwana, naye akamwita Benami; ndiye baba wa Waamoni hata leo.
