This verse from Genesis 19:34 describes a disturbing and desperate act by Lot's daughters after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Let's break it down:
"It came to pass on the next day...": This simply indicates the progression of time and that the following events occurred the day after the first incident of incest.
"...that the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father.": The elder daughter reveals that she had sexual relations with their father, Lot, the previous night. This happened because they got him drunk and he was unaware of what was happening.
"Let us make him drink wine again, tonight.": She proposes that they repeat the act of getting their father intoxicated with wine.
"You go in, and lie with him, that we may preserve our father’s family line.”": She instructs her younger sister to have sexual relations with their father as well. Their motivation, as they see it, is to preserve their father's lineage, which they believed was in danger of dying out because they thought there were no other men left on earth.
Interpretation and Significance:
Desperation: The daughters believe they are the last women on Earth and are driven by a desperate desire to continue their family line and prevent extinction. They are isolated and traumatized by the destruction of their home and society.
Incest: This verse depicts incest, which is considered taboo and morally reprehensible in most cultures and religions, including the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Moral Ambiguity: The narrative does not explicitly condemn the daughters' actions, but their motivations and the act itself are presented as morally problematic. It's left to the reader to grapple with the complexities of their situation.
Consequences: The offspring of these incestuous unions are Moab and Ben-Ammi, who become the ancestors of the Moabites and Ammonites, respectively. These nations are often portrayed as enemies of Israel in the Old Testament. This connects the daughters' actions to the origins of antagonistic groups.
In Summary:
This verse highlights a shocking and unsettling event born out of desperation and fear following the destruction of Sodom. It illustrates the daughters' extreme measures to ensure the continuation of their family line, albeit through incest. The narrative raises complex moral questions and connects these actions to the origins of rival nations to Israel. It serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of trauma and the desperate measures people may take in extreme circumstances.
This verse from Genesis 19:34 describes a disturbing and desperate act by Lot's daughters after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Let's break it down:
"It came to pass on the next day...": This simply indicates the progression of time and that the following events occurred the day after the first incident of incest.
"...that the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father.": The elder daughter reveals that she had sexual relations with their father, Lot, the previous night. This happened because they got him drunk and he was unaware of what was happening.
"Let us make him drink wine again, tonight.": She proposes that they repeat the act of getting their father intoxicated with wine.
"You go in, and lie with him, that we may preserve our father’s family line.”": She instructs her younger sister to have sexual relations with their father as well. Their motivation, as they see it, is to preserve their father's lineage, which they believed was in danger of dying out because they thought there were no other men left on earth.
Interpretation and Significance:
Desperation: The daughters believe they are the last women on Earth and are driven by a desperate desire to continue their family line and prevent extinction. They are isolated and traumatized by the destruction of their home and society.
Incest: This verse depicts incest, which is considered taboo and morally reprehensible in most cultures and religions, including the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Moral Ambiguity: The narrative does not explicitly condemn the daughters' actions, but their motivations and the act itself are presented as morally problematic. It's left to the reader to grapple with the complexities of their situation.
Consequences: The offspring of these incestuous unions are Moab and Ben-Ammi, who become the ancestors of the Moabites and Ammonites, respectively. These nations are often portrayed as enemies of Israel in the Old Testament. This connects the daughters' actions to the origins of antagonistic groups.
In Summary:
This verse highlights a shocking and unsettling event born out of desperation and fear following the destruction of Sodom. It illustrates the daughters' extreme measures to ensure the continuation of their family line, albeit through incest. The narrative raises complex moral questions and connects these actions to the origins of rival nations to Israel. It serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of trauma and the desperate measures people may take in extreme circumstances.