Vulgate:טֶרֶם יִשְׁכָּבוּ וְאַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר אַנְשֵׁי סְדֹם נָסַבּוּ עַל־הַבַּיִת מִנַּעַר וְעַד־זָקֵן כָּל־הָעָם מִקָּצֶה׃
וַיִּקְרְאוּ אֶל־לֹוט וַיֹּאמְרוּ לֹו אַיֵּה הָאֲנָשִׁימ אֲשֶׁר־בָּאוּ אֵלֶיךָ הַלָּיְלָה הֹוצִיאֵם אֵלֵינוּ וְנֵדְעָה אֹתָם׃
[4] prius autem quam irent cubitum viri civitatis vallaverunt domum a puero usque ad senem omnis populus simul
[5] vocaveruntque Loth et dixerunt ei ubi sunt viri qui introierunt ad te nocte educ illos huc ut cognoscamus eos
[4] But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
[5] And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
NIV:
[4] Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house.NRSV:
[5] They 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."
[4] But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house;
[5] and they called to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, so that we may know them.’
Commentary:
This is one of the more famous verses used to condemn homosexuality. To do so, some rather important details have to be overlooked, as well as Biblical and extra-Biblical commentary on the passage. I would say that the people of Sodom were condemned for stuff equated as much worse than alleged homosexuality, but in the end it is homosexuality that gets the blame.
Let's look first at the term "sodomite". It is a term that developed in the Middle Ages to refer to the men of Sodom. The meaning of the word is unequivocally connected to "buggery" and the concept of homosexuality in the Middle Ages. It has stuck with the English language and is often used in a derogatory manner to classify all homosexuals and condemn them.
Before homosexuality takes one for the team, let's review the passage the story and look at how it has been interpreted.
A summary of what happens:
Let's look first at the term "sodomite". It is a term that developed in the Middle Ages to refer to the men of Sodom. The meaning of the word is unequivocally connected to "buggery" and the concept of homosexuality in the Middle Ages. It has stuck with the English language and is often used in a derogatory manner to classify all homosexuals and condemn them.
Before homosexuality takes one for the team, let's review the passage the story and look at how it has been interpreted.
A summary of what happens:
- Lot, Abraham's nephew, moves to Sodom rather than remaining a nomad living in tents.
- Sodom is proclaimed to be a wicked city by God, and God tells Abraham that it will be destroyed for its wickedness.
- Abraham speaks with God and it is decided that God will be merciful if a righteous person is found in the city.
- Enter two Angel ambassadors from God. The Angels come to Lot in the city, although Lot is not aware that they are Angels. Lot is hospitable to the guests.
- While in Lot's care, the men "old and young" of Sodom learn that he has let in strangers and was caring for them.
- They gather around Lot's house and demand that Lot release the men so that they may "know" the strangers. Although some argue that this is not sexual, the context makes it clear that it is a sexual "knowledge".
- Lot pleads with the crowd to not do this, and offers up his virgin daughters instead. This did not please the men of Sodom.
- The Angels blind the men of Sodom and escape, warning Lot to leave because God would destroy Sodom and all the inhabitants.
First of all, who is the mob? The mob is said to be all the men, old and young, and in some translations "the entire populous", from the entire city. As a group of people is only listed in masculine form, it in theory could even mean the women, but let's leave them out for now...just men.
My first question: Is Sodom 100% Gay? This would be an amazing astonishing discovery that there was a Gay City where all the men were Gay, even the boys and old men. I don't believe it; this would be highly unlikely.
The Bible does not say "some men" or "certain men". It says all. There is something going on here more than a bunch of gays wanting to have sex.
The next important thing to consider is that Lot offers his daughters. If this were a group of gay men, why the heck would they want Lot's daughters? Lot does not appear to think that these people are men who go only for other men.
Now how about what they wanted to do to Lot's guests: These guests were outsiders, strangers, possibly feared as enemies. The men of Sodom came not to have a gay orgy, but to rape these outsiders, and show their dominance over them. Rape is characterized as brutal, against the will of the person being penetrated, and violent.
Rape is a violent sin, be it homosexual or heterosexual. This may be very important.
What bothers me is that Lot is willing to let his daughters be raped. I've always wondered why this was never addressed. It disgusts me.
Consider this article that I found on "Would Jesus Discriminate?" relaying a report of a beating in Brooklyn:
That being said, let's see what other passages say about Sodom and Gomorrah.
Ezekiel 16:49-50 (NRSV)
Luke 10: 7-42 (NRSV)
The final passage related to this that must be dealt with is Jude 7:
If one recalls, the messengers who visited Lot in Genesis were not human. They were Angels. The mating of man with angel is what is being spoken about.
I personally think that Sodom and Gomorrah is about gross inhospitably manifesting in forced gang rape, and even worse, upon two Angels. I would go so far as to say, if Genesis referred to the messengers as female, the sin of Sodom would be the same. It is interesting to note that in Matthew 22:30, it is suggested that Angels do not adhere to specific genders...so who knows what manner of creature Lot gave hospitality to.
In the end, the real lesson of Sodom is this from Hebrews 13:2:
My first question: Is Sodom 100% Gay? This would be an amazing astonishing discovery that there was a Gay City where all the men were Gay, even the boys and old men. I don't believe it; this would be highly unlikely.
The Bible does not say "some men" or "certain men". It says all. There is something going on here more than a bunch of gays wanting to have sex.
The next important thing to consider is that Lot offers his daughters. If this were a group of gay men, why the heck would they want Lot's daughters? Lot does not appear to think that these people are men who go only for other men.
Now how about what they wanted to do to Lot's guests: These guests were outsiders, strangers, possibly feared as enemies. The men of Sodom came not to have a gay orgy, but to rape these outsiders, and show their dominance over them. Rape is characterized as brutal, against the will of the person being penetrated, and violent.
Rape is a violent sin, be it homosexual or heterosexual. This may be very important.
What bothers me is that Lot is willing to let his daughters be raped. I've always wondered why this was never addressed. It disgusts me.
Consider this article that I found on "Would Jesus Discriminate?" relaying a report of a beating in Brooklyn:
On August 9, 1997 in New York City, two white police officers were strip-searching a black Haitian immigrant named Abner Louima and grew angry with him. They dragged him into a bathroom and, while one officer held him down, the other repeatedly rammed a broken broom up Louima’s rectum. While they did this, the officers reportedly yelled things like, “We’re gonna teach you n****rs to respect police officers!” -Christopher John Farley, A Beating In Brooklyn, Time.com: Time Magazine Archive, August 25, 1997.One does not have to argue that the brutality came out of hate of the outsider, rather than out of homosexual love. This modern incident is strikingly similar to what I believe was the intentions of the men of Sodom.
That being said, let's see what other passages say about Sodom and Gomorrah.
Ezekiel 16:49-50 (NRSV)
[49] This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. [50] They were haughty, and did abominable things before me; therefore I removed them when I saw it.The emphasis seems to be on neglecting the poor and needy, and of being prideful. It does not appear to be about sex.
Luke 10: 7-42 (NRSV)
Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you." But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11“Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.” 12I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.One must take note that Jesus is referring to cities being inhospitable to the 70 he has commissioned to go out and spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Sex is not even suggested here. He references Sodom and the messengers sent by God. As God dealt greatly to Sodom for those who would rape visitors, it will be worse for those who do not even welcome his disciples. That's a tough passage in itself, but still it does not refer to sex or homosexuals, it is about the way Sodom dealt with its visitors.
The final passage related to this that must be dealt with is Jude 7:
just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.First of all, we need to look at the context. One sees mention of the "angels"/fallen angels/Nephilim who came down in the Genesis and fell in love with mankind and had children...giants allegedly. Next there is Sodom mentioned with "strange flesh", or "unnatural flesh", or "other flesh". Next we see the Archangel Michael coming to set things right.
If one recalls, the messengers who visited Lot in Genesis were not human. They were Angels. The mating of man with angel is what is being spoken about.
I personally think that Sodom and Gomorrah is about gross inhospitably manifesting in forced gang rape, and even worse, upon two Angels. I would go so far as to say, if Genesis referred to the messengers as female, the sin of Sodom would be the same. It is interesting to note that in Matthew 22:30, it is suggested that Angels do not adhere to specific genders...so who knows what manner of creature Lot gave hospitality to.
In the end, the real lesson of Sodom is this from Hebrews 13:2:
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
