Like his uncle Abraham, Lot has opportunity to play host to two angels (19:1–11). Even before they can retire for the night, Lot’s house is surrounded by the townspeople, who demand that Lot hand over his guests so that the townspeople, as the NIV puts it bluntly, might “have sex with them” (19:5). This clearly points to the fact that part of the sin of the Sodomites is sexual depravity.

Lot offers to turn over his two daughters as surrogates for the two angels. Perhaps he considers this the lesser of two evils. As host he must allow no harm to come upon his guests while they are under his roof. That was an ancient Near Eastern law of hospitality. This does not mean that Lot was justified in his action. Here the daughters are used, but in verses 30–38 the tables are turned and they are the …