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Lot

the one who left Sodom

Who was Lot?

From
From Ur of the Chaldeans, his family’s land Genesis 11:28, 31
Occupation
Herdsman: he had flocks, herds and tents Genesis 13:5
Lot, an artistic recreation

What the Bible says

Genesis 11:27; Genesis 12:4-5

And these are the generations of Thare: Thare begot Abram, Nachor, and Aran. And Aran begot Lot.

Genesis 13:7-12

7Whereupon also there arose a strife between the herdsmen of Abram and of Lot. And at that time the Chanaanite and the Pherezite dwelled in that country. 8Abram therefore said to Lot: Let there be no quarrel, I beseech thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen: for we are brethren. 9Behold the whole land is before thee: depart from me I pray thee: if thou wilt go to the left hand, I will take the right: if thou choose the right hand, I will pass to the left. 10And Lot, lifting up his eyes, saw all the country about the Jordan, which was watered throughout, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha, as the paradise of the Lord, and like Egypt as one comes to Segor. 11And Lot chose to himself the country about the Jordan, and he departed from the east: and they were separated one brother from the other. 12Abram dwelt in the land of Chanaan; and Lot abode in the towns that were about the Jordan, and dwelt in Sodom.

Genesis 19:1-3, 15-16

1And the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of the city. And seeing them, he rose up and went to meet them: and worshipped prostrate to the ground, 2And said: I beseech you, my lords, turn in to the house of your servant, and lodge there: wash your feet, and in the morning you shall go on your way. And they said: No, but we will abide in the street. 3He pressed them very much to turn in unto him: and when they were come into his house, he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread and they ate: 15And when it was morning, the angels pressed him, saying: Arise, take thy wife, and the two daughters which thou hast: lest thou also perish in the wickedness of the city. 16And as he lingered, they took his hand, and the hand of his wife, and of his two daughters, because the Lord spared him.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Lot

  1. Before Jesus. He was the son of Haran, Abraham’s brother. He left Haran with Abraham and came with him to Canaan. Genesis 11:27; Genesis 12:4-5
  2. Before Jesus. The two of them had so much livestock that their herdsmen quarreled. Abraham suggested they part ways and let him choose first. Genesis 13:6-9
  3. With Jesus. Lot chose the well-watered Jordan valley and camped near Sodom. Genesis says the people of Sodom were very wicked. Genesis 13:10-13
  4. With Jesus. Some kings captured him in Sodom. Abraham went out with his men and rescued him. Genesis 14:12-16
  5. With Jesus. He welcomed two angels into his house and prepared a meal for them. The men of the city surrounded the house against his guests, and the angels protected Lot. Genesis 19:1-11
  6. Afterward. At dawn, Lot was slow to leave. The angels took him by the hand, with his wife and daughters, and led him out of the city. Genesis 19:15-16
  7. Afterward. Lot reached Zoar, and the Lord destroyed Sodom. His wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:23-26
  8. Afterward. Out of fear, he went to live with his two daughters in a cave. There his daughters got him drunk and had children by him, the fathers of the Moabites and the Ammonites. Genesis 19:30-38

Words of Lot

“I beseech you, my lords, turn in to the house of your servant, and lodge there: wash your feet, and in the morning you shall go on your way.” Genesis 19:2

To the two visitors who came to the gate of Sodom in the evening.

“Arise: get you out of this place, because the Lord will destroy this city.” Genesis 19:14

To the men who were to marry his daughters, the night before the destruction.

“I beseech thee my Lord, because thy servant hath found grace before thee, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewn to me, in saving my life…” Genesis 19:18-19

When they had led him out of the city and told him to flee to the hills.

What they were like

The greatest thing they did

In the Church today

In art, recognized by: Leaving Sodom with his daughters, while his wife stays behind, turned into a pillar of salt From Gn 19, 16.26; this is how Christian art often shows him

What people ask

How was Lot related to Abraham?

He was his nephew: the son of Haran, Abraham’s brother. Genesis 11:27

Why did Lot and Abraham part ways?

They had so much livestock that the land could not support them both, and their herdsmen quarreled. Abraham let him choose first. Genesis 13:6-9

What happened to Lot’s wife?

She looked back as they fled, and was turned into a pillar of salt. Jesus asked us to remember her. Genesis 19:26; Luke 17:32

Did Jesus speak about Lot?

Yes. He compared the days of Lot to the day the Son of Man is revealed. In the days of Lot, people were eating, buying and building, and then the fire came. Luke 17:28-30

Why did God save Lot?

Genesis says that God remembered Abraham, who had prayed for the city. Saint Peter says that Lot was a righteous man. Genesis 18:23-32; Genesis 19:29; 2 Peter 2:7

Daily life He was a herdsman: he too had flocks, herds and tents. Genesis 13:5 That evening he was sitting at the gate of Sodom. Genesis 19:1 What it cost…

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Who Lot is connected to

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All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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