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Lot
He chose the best-looking land, and had to be dragged out of it.
Old and New Testament · c. 2000–1800 BC · Genesis, Luke, 2 Peter · Also known as Nephew of Abraham
About Lot
Lot was Abraham’s nephew, and travelled with him from Haran to Canaan. When their herds grew too large to share the land, Abram let Lot choose first, and Lot chose the well-watered plain of the Jordan, near the wicked city of Sodom. Abram later rescued him from raiders. When God sent angels to destroy Sodom, Lot lingered, and the angels took him by the hand and led him out. His wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. The New Testament calls him "just Lot," troubled by the wickedness around him.
Sodom and Gomorrah became a byword in the Bible for wickedness and judgement. The Moabites and Ammonites, Israel’s neighbours east of the Jordan, traced their origins to Lot (Genesis 19:37-38). Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David, was a Moabite.
The story
Let there be no strife
Abram and Lot had so many flocks that "the land was not able to bear them." When their herdsmen quarrelled, Abram said, "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee… for we be brethren." He let Lot choose first.
Genesis 13:5-9
Toward Sodom
Lot looked out and saw "all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where… even as the garden of the LORD." He chose it and "pitched his tent toward Sodom." But "the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly."
Genesis 13:10-13
Escape for thy life
Two angels came to Sodom to warn Lot that the city would be destroyed. At dawn "he lingered," so the angels took him, his wife and daughters by the hand, "the LORD being merciful unto him," and brought them out. "Escape for thy life; look not behind thee." Then fire and brimstone fell on Sodom and Gomorrah.
Genesis 19:12-25
A pillar of salt
"But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." Centuries later Jesus warned his hearers, "Remember Lot’s wife."
Genesis 19:26; Luke 17:32
Key moments
- Leaves Haran with Abram: "And Lot went with him." (Genesis 12:4)
- Chooses the plain: Pitches his tent toward Sodom. (Genesis 13:11-12)
- Rescued by Abram: After being taken captive. (Genesis 14:14-16)
- Led out of Sodom: "The LORD being merciful unto him." (Genesis 19:16)
- His wife looks back: A pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:26)
Questions about Lot
In meetBible these answers are given in Lot’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Why did your wife turn into salt?
The angels had warned us, "look not behind thee." Genesis says, "his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." It doesn’t say why she looked back, or what she felt. Jesus later used her as a warning about clinging to the life you’re leaving: "Remember Lot’s wife."
Why did you choose to live near Sodom?
Abram let me choose, and I looked at the plain of the Jordan: "it was well watered every where… even as the garden of the LORD." I chose it and pitched my tent toward Sodom. Genesis adds at once that "the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly." It doesn’t record whether I knew that when I chose.
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with Genesis 13; 19.