And there came, &c.— This perhaps might be rendered more properly, And the two angels [who had been with Abraham at noon] came to Sodom at even. And Lot sat at the gate of the city, according to the custom of those times, when the elders used to sit at the gates of cities to transact either public or private business. See ch. Genesis 34:20. Deuteronomy 21:19. Ruth 4:1. It is, however, probable, that Lot took his station at the gate for the purposes of hospitality, knowing the general corruption of the people, and the ill-treatment strangers might expect among them. And accordingly we find he invited these strangers to his house with the same respectful civility as Abraham had shewed to them before. And this seems the more probable, as the rites of hospitality were so sacred, and the virtue deemed so important in the first ages; when, there being no public inns (as is the case in the eastern countries in general at this day), unless a stranger came among hospitable people, he must have lodged in the street all night. See Judges 19:15. Among the Greeks and Romans also nothing was more sacred than the rites of hospitality, by means of which many friendships were contracted. AElian records a law of the ancient Lucanians, that if a stranger came to them after sun-set, and wanted to take shelter under any one's roof, and was not received, the master of the house was to be fined, and branded with the infamous name of an inhospitable. The angels, Joshua 19:2 refuse Lot's invitation, in order to give him an opportunity to display his hospitality, asserting that "they would not be troublesome to him, but would abide in the street, continue in the open air all night," which in those hot countries was not unusual, especially in summer.
REFLECTIONS.—We have, here, the angels' arrival at Sodom, and Lot's kind reception of them.
1. The two angels came to Sodom at even. The Lord sends his executioners of vengeance; and who shall stand before these ministers of flame?
2. Lot meets and presses them into his house. Singular in his piety, he is selected from the general ruin. He is earnest to solicit their company, and happy to entertain them liberally. He had seen no such visitants at Sodom for a long time. Note; Good men deserve a hearty welcome. We cannot be too pressing on such to favour us with their company.
3. The angels at first seem courteously to excuse themselves, but at last yield to his solicitations. Note; (1.) Every invitation which is given us must not be hastily complied with, lest we should seem to run, where we should wait to be drawn. (2.) Those who are hearty solicitors, however they may fail with men, shall prevail with God.