‘And the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. And Lot saw them and rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.'
Compare Genesis 18:1-2. What a contrast. Abraham sat in the door of his tent, a place of thought and meditation and repose. Lot sits in the gate of Sodom, a place of evil thoughts, sensuousness and perverted activity. Abraham runs to meet his guests. Lot merely stands up for them, although both bow themselves to the ground in welcome. While Lot is not to be faulted he is shown as lacking the effusiveness of Abraham. This is surely not accidental. It is intended to bring out their differing attitudes of heart towards God which is brought out in their attitude to distinguished strangers.
Sitting in the gate of the city suggests Lot was involved with the ‘elders' who helped to rule Sodom (compare Ruth 4:1-2). He would have obtained much reflected credit from Abraham's activity in Genesis 14. He is now well settled in Sodom and had put down his roots, regardless of the behaviour of its inhabitants. After all it was ‘business'. By many that is taken as excusing anything.
The gate of the city is probably a tower gate, possibly with two gates (compare 2 Samuel 18:24) so that there is a space between the gates, protecting the way in. During the day it would be used for business and as a courtroom for the trial in public of local offenders. In the evening men would gather there, especially the elders of the city.
His concern for them constrains him to welcome the new arrivals. He even hopes to save them from the fate worse than death that he knew might await them.
Some point to the speed of the men's passage. In the middle of the day they are at the oaks of Mamre. By evening they are at the gates of Sodom, forty miles away along a difficult road. But it may not be the same day. They may well have travelled through the night and even the following night. The mention of evening is to bring out that they will spend the night there rather than to stress the time. However, it is true that angels are not constrained like others.
‘And he said, “Behold now my lords, turn aside I beg you into your servant's house, and stay all night, and wash your feet, and you shall rise early and go on your way”.'
This again compares with Abraham's welcome. Much the same hospitality, but in what different circumstances. Unlike Abraham he dare not leave them outside.
“My lords” contrasts with ‘my lord' (18:3). Lot only has angels to address. He is not ‘the friend of Yahweh' (compare James 2:23).
‘And they said, “No but we will abide in the street all night”.'
The men are making clear that they had not come specifically to see Lot. They were there to check out the city. Again this is in contrast to the personal approach to Abraham. The test is to be a genuine one. Sodom is being given a chance, even though a slight one.
Perhaps they were also testing out Lot, for Lot knew what a dangerous place the street in Sodom was for strangers. It is to his credit that he would not be restrained. There is still much good in him. This is in deliberate contrast to the men of the city. He does not realise that he is passing God's test and proving himself the only one who is ‘righteous'.