Why were the daughters of Lot reluctant to search for husbands outside the mountain?

In Genesis 19:32, it says, "Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him that we may preserve offspring from our father." This means that the daughters of Lot were willing to commit incest in order to have children.

The story of Lot and his family is one of the most intriguing stories in the Bible. Lot and his family were living in the city of Sodom, which was known for its wickedness. God decided to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, but he allowed Lot and his family to escape. However, when they were outside the city, Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Lot and his two daughters fled to a mountain, where they lived in a cave. In Genesis 19:30-38, we read about how Lot's daughters were reluctant to search for husbands outside the mountain. In this blog post, we will explore why.

Why were the daughters of Lot reluctant?

The daughters of Lot were reluctant to search for husbands outside the mountain for several reasons. Firstly, they were afraid of the people who lived in the surrounding towns. In Genesis 19:31, it says, "One 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.'" This means that they were afraid of being taken advantage of by men who did not share their beliefs and values.

Secondly, the daughters of Lot may have been influenced by their upbringing in Sodom. Sodom was known for its wickedness, and it is possible that the daughters of Lot had been exposed to immoral behavior. In Genesis 19:32, it says, "Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him that we may preserve offspring from our father." This means that the daughters of Lot were willing to commit incest in order to have children.

Finally, it is possible that the daughters of Lot did not trust anyone outside their immediate family. They had just lost their mother, and they had been through a traumatic experience. They may have felt safer staying in the mountain with their father, rather than risking their safety by searching for husbands outside.

The consequences of their actions

The daughters of Lot's decision to have children through incest had serious consequences. In Genesis 19:36-38, it says, "Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. The firstborn bore a son, and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. And the younger, she also bore a son, and called his name Ben-ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites to this day."

The Moabites and Ammonites became enemies of the Israelites, and their descendants were often in conflict with the Israelites. Furthermore, the Bible teaches us that incest is a sin. In Leviticus 18:6, it says, "None of you shall approach anyone near of kin to uncover nakedness: I am the Lord." This means that the daughters of Lot's decision to commit incest was a sin in the eyes of God.

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Jamie Larson
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