Mamaditto speaks in blue.
***********************
Many people carelessly proclaim that God destroyed
the city of Sodom because of homosexuality. A careful look however, reveals that
this is unlikely. The conclusion that
Sodom was destroyed because of homosexuality is arrived at by utilizing
principles of hermeneutics - the analysis of Scripture based on language,
context, culture & history. This system is not "careless" by any means.
(Notice how they start by planting the idea that those who disagree with them
have a problem?)
Two angels were sent to Sodom by God, where Lot,
Abraham's nephew, persuades the divine travelers to stay in his home. It is
important to note that travelers depended on the kindness of strangers. Ancient
hospitality codes required people to offer food, shelter and protection to
people who were traveling. Without these codes travel would have been difficult,
if not impossible. This paragraph is OK.
After the angels ate and were preparing for bed, all of the people of Sodom converged on Lots home, demanding that the angels come out so that the towns people might know (rape) them. In an effort to protect his guests, Lot denies the angry mob access to the angels, but offers his two virgin daughters instead. This suggests Lot knew his neighbors to be heterosexual. The townspeople refuse, and charge at Lot in an attempt to gain access to the angels. At this point the angels pull Lot back inside the house and render the angry crowd blind so they cannot find the door. The angels then warn Lot to gather his family and leave the city because it will soon be destroyed. The Biblical text does not say the mob was angry. Also, the crowd was only composed of males. (vs. 4). They refused Lot's offer of his daughters & insisted he hand over (what they thought were) men (vs.9), so it is doubtful they were strictly heterosexual. In addition, the word know (Heb. yada) is not used to indicate rape, but sex within traditional marriage (cf. Gen 4:1). The same word is again used in the negative by Lot when he refers to his virgin daughters "which have not known man." (vs. 8) There are other Hebrew words used to describe rape as in 2 Sa 13:14 where Amnon overpowered Tamar and "forced her and lay with her." (Heb. anab & shakab)
Much confusion over this passage has to do with the phrase to know them. The Hebrew word yada (to know) has several different meanings throughout the Bible. In most cases it means to "have thorough knowledge of." In many cases it means "to check the credentials of "and in some cases may mean to "have sex with". In this case, however, it is clear that the townspeople wanted to harm the strangers and because of ancient hospitality codes, Lot felt compelled to protect his guests. The townspeople wanted to perform an act of violence by raping the angels, a grave violation of ancient hospitality codes. It is true yada has a wide range of meanings depending on the context. However, when it comes to sex, the word signifies marital relations. Other Hebrew words are used to describe rape and other immoral sex acts. The wording of Gen 19 implies the Sodomites had in mind consensual sex, not rape. There is no mention that they intended to harm the angels.
Homosexual rape was not uncommon. Kings of conquered tribes were sometimes raped by the invading army as the ultimate symbol of defeat and humiliation. The men in these armies were not homosexual, they were heterosexuals performing an act of violence. Never in any culture has more than a minority of the population been homosexual, and it is unlikely that all of the men in these armies or all the men of Sodom were gay. Even if this is true, it does not disprove the fact that the God of Israel enjoins mankind from sexual activity outside the confines of marriage between one man and one woman for life. (Mt 19: 4,5)
Unfortunately, some people have focused on rape as a sexual act, rather than an act of violence, and have missed the point completely. The reason for Sodom's destruction is made clear in Eze 16:48-50. According to Ezekiel, the sins of Sodom were pride, laziness, being inhospitable, neglecting the needs of the poor, greed and idolatry (the worshipping of idols). Nothing about homosexuality is mentioned, nor is it mentioned in any other passage of Scripture which refers to the account of Sodom. The above study of the Hebrew words yada, anab & shakeb validates that the sin of Sodom was homosexuality, not rape. The Prophet Ezekiel cites "abomination" in vs. 50 along with the other sins listed in the passage. The Hebrew word for "abomination" is tow'ebah and it is the same word used in Lev 22:18 where God prohibits the Israelites from engaging in homosexual relations. Strong's Concordance has a total of 48 references for Sodom in the Bible - 39 in the OT and 9 in the NT.
For the record they are:
Gen10:19;13:10,12,13;14:2,8,10,11,12,17,21,22;18:16,20,22,26; 19:1,4,24,28.
Dt 29:23;32:32.
Isa 1:9,10;3:9;13:19.
Jer 23:14;49:18;50:40.
La 4:6.
Eze 16:46,48,49,53,55,56.
Am 4:11.
Zep 2:9.
Mt 10:15;11:23,24.
Mk 6:11.
Lk 10:12;17:29.
Ro 9:29.
2 Pe 2:6.
Jude7
Rev11:8
Furthermore, the above assertion "nor is it mentioned in any other passage of Scripture which refers to the account of Sodom" is disingenuous. After Gen 19, Sodom is used by the Biblical writers as a reference point for wickedness, destruction and God's judgement. The fact that homosexuality per se is not specifically mentioned is irrelevant since it is already established as one of the sins for which Sodom was obliterated. In fact, the English word for homosexual sex - sodomy - is derived from the notorious reputation of this ancient city.
After the angels ate and were preparing for bed, all of the people of Sodom converged on Lots home, demanding that the angels come out so that the towns people might know (rape) them. In an effort to protect his guests, Lot denies the angry mob access to the angels, but offers his two virgin daughters instead. This suggests Lot knew his neighbors to be heterosexual. The townspeople refuse, and charge at Lot in an attempt to gain access to the angels. At this point the angels pull Lot back inside the house and render the angry crowd blind so they cannot find the door. The angels then warn Lot to gather his family and leave the city because it will soon be destroyed. The Biblical text does not say the mob was angry. Also, the crowd was only composed of males. (vs. 4). They refused Lot's offer of his daughters & insisted he hand over (what they thought were) men (vs.9), so it is doubtful they were strictly heterosexual. In addition, the word know (Heb. yada) is not used to indicate rape, but sex within traditional marriage (cf. Gen 4:1). The same word is again used in the negative by Lot when he refers to his virgin daughters "which have not known man." (vs. 8) There are other Hebrew words used to describe rape as in 2 Sa 13:14 where Amnon overpowered Tamar and "forced her and lay with her." (Heb. anab & shakab)
Much confusion over this passage has to do with the phrase to know them. The Hebrew word yada (to know) has several different meanings throughout the Bible. In most cases it means to "have thorough knowledge of." In many cases it means "to check the credentials of "and in some cases may mean to "have sex with". In this case, however, it is clear that the townspeople wanted to harm the strangers and because of ancient hospitality codes, Lot felt compelled to protect his guests. The townspeople wanted to perform an act of violence by raping the angels, a grave violation of ancient hospitality codes. It is true yada has a wide range of meanings depending on the context. However, when it comes to sex, the word signifies marital relations. Other Hebrew words are used to describe rape and other immoral sex acts. The wording of Gen 19 implies the Sodomites had in mind consensual sex, not rape. There is no mention that they intended to harm the angels.
Homosexual rape was not uncommon. Kings of conquered tribes were sometimes raped by the invading army as the ultimate symbol of defeat and humiliation. The men in these armies were not homosexual, they were heterosexuals performing an act of violence. Never in any culture has more than a minority of the population been homosexual, and it is unlikely that all of the men in these armies or all the men of Sodom were gay. Even if this is true, it does not disprove the fact that the God of Israel enjoins mankind from sexual activity outside the confines of marriage between one man and one woman for life. (Mt 19: 4,5)
Unfortunately, some people have focused on rape as a sexual act, rather than an act of violence, and have missed the point completely. The reason for Sodom's destruction is made clear in Eze 16:48-50. According to Ezekiel, the sins of Sodom were pride, laziness, being inhospitable, neglecting the needs of the poor, greed and idolatry (the worshipping of idols). Nothing about homosexuality is mentioned, nor is it mentioned in any other passage of Scripture which refers to the account of Sodom. The above study of the Hebrew words yada, anab & shakeb validates that the sin of Sodom was homosexuality, not rape. The Prophet Ezekiel cites "abomination" in vs. 50 along with the other sins listed in the passage. The Hebrew word for "abomination" is tow'ebah and it is the same word used in Lev 22:18 where God prohibits the Israelites from engaging in homosexual relations. Strong's Concordance has a total of 48 references for Sodom in the Bible - 39 in the OT and 9 in the NT.
For the record they are:
Gen10:19;13:10,12,13;14:2,8,10,11,12,17,21,22;18:16,20,22,26; 19:1,4,24,28.
Dt 29:23;32:32.
Isa 1:9,10;3:9;13:19.
Jer 23:14;49:18;50:40.
La 4:6.
Eze 16:46,48,49,53,55,56.
Am 4:11.
Zep 2:9.
Mt 10:15;11:23,24.
Mk 6:11.
Lk 10:12;17:29.
Ro 9:29.
2 Pe 2:6.
Jude7
Rev11:8
Furthermore, the above assertion "nor is it mentioned in any other passage of Scripture which refers to the account of Sodom" is disingenuous. After Gen 19, Sodom is used by the Biblical writers as a reference point for wickedness, destruction and God's judgement. The fact that homosexuality per se is not specifically mentioned is irrelevant since it is already established as one of the sins for which Sodom was obliterated. In fact, the English word for homosexual sex - sodomy - is derived from the notorious reputation of this ancient city.
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