Bible Commentaries
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Genesis 19
two. Hebrew the two. With article, viz. two of the three, Genesis 18:16.
Sodom = flaming, burning.
even. Note emph. on notes of time in the Structure.
gate. The seat of judgment, showing that Lot was a real citizen, Genesis 19:9; Genesis 23:10, Genesis 23:18; Genesis 34:20, Genesis 34:24. Ruth 4:1.
known. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause).
these. Archaic pronoun showing antiquity of Pentateuch
roof. Figure of speech Metalepsis. App-6. Roof put for house, and house put for protection.
judge. See Genesis 19:1. He sat in Sodom's gate, the seat of the judges. See note on Genesis 13:7.
worse. Hebrew. ra". App-44.
break = break open, shiver.
blindness. Produced by dazzlings of light. Figure of speech Heterosis (of Noun). Plural put for sing, only here and 2 Kings 6:18. 2 Kings 6:9 instances of people so smitten (see App-10). See Genesis 19:11; Genesis 27:1; Genesis 48:10. Judges 16:21. 1 Samuel 4:15. 1 Kings 14:4. 2 Kings 6:18; 2 Kings 25:7. Acts 13:11.
the LORD. Compare the "we" of Genesis 19:13. Hebrew. Jehovah.
one that mocked. [talked nonsense] See notes on next page.
one that mocked = talked nonsense. He had looked, and pitched his tent toward Sodom, had dwelt and made his home there, and married his daughters, and sat in its gate as a judge. No wonder he seemed as one that mocked. He chose Sodom (Genesis 13:11), and "lingered" in the place of his choice (Genesis 19:16). See note, Genesis 13:7.
iniquity. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause). App-6. Cause put for effect = judgment. Compare Psalms 7:16.
He. Septuagint reads "they".
life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. See App-13.
look, &c. Figure of speech Asyndeton. (No ands, but climax.)
the LORD . . . from the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. Repetition very emphatic. Compare "we", Genesis 19:13.
brimstone and fire. Figure of speech Hendiadys (App-6) = burning brimstone. Referred to in Deuteronomy 29:23. Isaiah 13:19. Jeremiah 49:18. Zephaniah 2:9. Matthew 10:15. 2 Peter 2:6. Jude 1:7.
overthrew. These cities are not in the Dead Sea, but their ruins have been discovered by M. de Saulcy (called to-day Kharbet-Goumran), about 4 miles square (Journey round the Dead Sea, vol. ii, pp. 42-46). Note the parallelism (Alternation). a | cities. b | plain. a | cities (inhabitants). b | plain (produce).
wife. Compare Luke 17:32.
looked back: i.e. curiously. Compare Isaiah 63:5 and Genesis 19:28. Same word as in Genesis 19:17.
became. Same word as Genesis 1:2, "the earth became. "
looked toward. A different word from Genesis 19:27. Abraham bent forward and looked with awe and grief.
smoke. It does not say he saw the cities, but only the smoke.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.
remembered. Lot's deliverance due to Abraham's prayer. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
cities = the city. Figure of speech Heterosis (of Number). App-6.
nor = but. This clause is one marked with the "fifteen extraordinary points" calling attention to the ancient readings "he did know when she arose. "See App-31.
Ben-ammi. Hebrew. son of Ammi = "the god Am". See on Genesis 14:5 and Deuteronomy 2:20. Begotten in shame, both had a shameful history. Deuteronomy 23:3, Deuteronomy 23:4. Compare Judges 10:10; Judges 11:4, Judges 11:15. Numbers 21:29. Deuteronomy 2:19; Deuteronomy 3:16. 2 Chronicles 20:1.
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