The Hebrew Scriptures: Destruction of Sodom
Traditionally, it is viewed that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for being wicked. They had many vices, including homosexuality – which was demonstrated when the men of Sodom tried to gang rape two male angelic visitors.
Consequently Jehovah said: “The cry of complaint about Sod´om and Go•mor´rah, yes, it is loud, and their sin, yes, it is very heavy. I am quite determined to go down that I may see whether they act altogether according to the outcry over it that has come to me, and, if not, I can get to know it.”
At this point the men turned from there and got on their way to Sod´om.
Now the two angels arrived at Sod´om by evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sod´om. When Lot caught sight of them, then he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the earth. And he proceeded to say: “Please, now, my lords, turn aside, please, into the house of YOUR servant and stay overnight and have YOUR feet washed. Then YOU must get up early and travel on YOUR way.” To this they said: “No, but in the public square is where we shall stay overnight.” But he was very insistent with them, so that they turned aside to him and came into his house. Then he made a feast for them, and he baked unfermented cakes, and they went to eating.
Before they could lie down, the men of the city, the men of Sod´om, surrounded the house, from boy to old man, all the people in one mob. And they kept calling out to Lot and saying to him: “Where are the men who came in to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have intercourse with them.”
Finally Lot went out to them to the entrance, but he shut the door behind him. Then he said: “Please, my brothers, do not act badly. Please, here I have two daughters who have never had intercourse with a man. Please, let me bring them out to YOU. Then do to them as is good in YOUR eyes. Only to these men do not do a thing, because that is why they have come under the shadow of my roof.” At this they said: “Stand back there!” And they added: “This lone man came here to reside as an alien and yet he would actually play the judge. Now we are going to do worse to you than to them.” And they came pressing heavily in on the man, on Lot, and were getting near to break in the door. So the men thrust out their hands and brought Lot in to them, into the house, and they shut the door. But they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, from the least to the greatest, so that they were wearing themselves out trying to find the entrance. – Genesis 18:20-19:11
Sodom was destroyed because of the inhospitality of its citizens, not because of homosexuality. This is based on two assumptions: firstly, Lot was violating the customs of Sodom by entertaining guests without the permission of the city’s elders, thus prompting the demand to bring the men out “so we many know them.” The words “to know” do not necessarily have a sexual connotation.
The Hebrew word used, yada, appears in the Hebrew Scriptures 943 times, but carries sexual connotations only about 10 of those times. Therefore, the Sodomites had no sexual intentions toward Lot’s visitors.
Response #1
This argument makes no sense. Read the passage. If men of Sodom innocently say “Bring them out to us that we may [get to know] them,” why does Lot respond with “Please, my brothers, do not act badly”?
If the men simply want to “get to know” his guests, the next thing Lot says seems totally insane. He says “Please, here I have two daughters who have never had intercourse with a man. Please, let me bring them out to YOU. Then do to them as is good in YOUR eyes. Only to these men do not do a thing, because that is why they have come under the shadow of my roof.” If the men of the City only wanted social knowledge of his guests, why does he offer his two daughters as a substitute to them for sex? And why does he say “to these men do not do a thing” if they only had innocent intentions?
Additionally, if the men wanted social knowledge, was it really necessary to form a “mob” and “surround the house”? If they only wanted innocent social knowledge, why was Lot so desperately trying to protect them? Why did this mob try to “break in the door”? And, most puzzling, after the Sodomites refused the offer of Lot’s daughters, why did they then shout “Now we are going to do worse to you than to them!”? Surely this confirms their intentions toward the two visitors were bad from the start! And finally, why was this mob that “simply wanted social knowledge” then stricken with blindness by the angels in order to escape?
We’re missing another important point – Boswell claims that Sodom was destroyed for inhospitality. If the men had innocent intentions and simply wanted to “get to know” his guests, why were they then destroyed for trying to be hospitable? Whose rudeness was being judged – Lot’s or Sodom’s citizens?
Finally, as for the Hebrew word used, yada, it’s interesting that the “gay Christians” accept that it’s used in a sexual way 10 times in the Bible. So why not here too? Can we pick-and-choose what a word means to suit ourselves, and completely ignore the context? Can we also ignore what the rest of the Bible says of Sodom? Jude 7 says they were destroyed, not for inhospitality, but because they "committed fornication excessively and [went] out after flesh for unnatural use". In fact, if we were to retranslate it without sexual connotations, the whole series of events would make no sense. This theory is illogical, wraps itself up in knots, and contradicts itself. As Author Joe Dallas says “This theory raises more questions than it answers.”
Personal note: It has come to my attention that some "gay christians" dismiss this theory entirely and are quite embarrased that some others of their kind still support it!
Erroneous Gay Argument #2
Sodom was destroyed for attempted rape, not homosexuality. They may have tried to humiliate the two men in the way assaults are committed on vanquished enemies; a bit like prison rape today.
Response #2
This is definitely true, in part. They were proposing rape. However, let’s refer back to the scriptures. It says “the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, from boy to old man, all the people in one mob.” If “all the people” were willing to take part in a gay gang rape “from boy to old man”, that suggests to me that homosexual practices were common among them. It seems logical.
Additionally, extra-biblical evidence also shows that the Sodomites have always been regarded primarily as homosexuals. The ancient historians Philo and Josephus both claimed this in their writings. So the Sodomites have been widely regarded as homosexuals for at least 2,000 years – whereas some gay theologists claim it’s a modern misinterpretation that only arose during the middle ages!
Erroneous Gay Argument #3
According to Ezekiel 16:49, “This is what proved to be the error of Sodom … Pride, sufficiency of bread and the carefreeness of keeping undisturbed … and the hand of the afflicted one and the poor one she did not strengthen.” These have nothing to do with homosexuality.
Response #3
The bibles of the Pro-Gay theologians must end with this verse, since the next verse, Ezekiel 16:50 mustn’t be in their Bibles. It says “And they continued to be haughty and to carry on a detestable thing before me, and I finally removed them, just as I saw [fit].”
The same Hebrew word used for “detestable” is used in verses 22 and 58 of the same chapter alongside prostitution and sexual “loose conduct.” So it’s quite obvious what Ezekiel was referring to when he said they carried on a “detestable thing before” Jehovah.
Later, the Bible expands on this description in the book of Jude, saying the cities of “Sodom and Gomorrah after they … had committed fornication excessively and gone out after flesh for unnatural use, are placed before [us] as a [warning] example by undergoing the judicial punishment of everlasting fire.”
Erroneous Gay Argument #4
The Sodomites simply wanted to “get to know” his guests (see Gay Argument #1). They were not homosexuals. If they were, why didn’t Lot offer himself to them instead of his two daughters?
Response #4
This argument isn’t used very often because it's the weakest one. The men did want to indulge in homosexuality. We know this from the passage itself.
To illustrate: If a gay man is especially lusting after another particular man, and is instead offered sex with a woman, would he say yes or no? He’d say “No!”
So, how did the men of Sodom respond to Lot’s offer of his daughters? They said no! Not only did they not accept Lot's offer, but they said “’Stand back there!’ And they added: ‘This lone man came here to reside as an alien and yet he would actually play the judge. Now we are going to do worse to you than to them!’” – Genesis 19:9
That definitely sounds like a “no” to me!
Additionally, this argument doesn’t make any sense. Lot was the only person protecting his home and his visitors. Why, therefore, would he go and surrender himself to the mob? If he did so, there would be nothing to stop the mob from entering his home and taking the two visitors away! To illustrate: Surely an army defending a city wouldn’t surrender themselves to the enemy in order to protect it!
Of course, this is also forgetting that Lot was an old man and would have been a pathetic substitute for the two perfect materialised angels.
Erroneous Gay Argument #5
The Sodomites were homosexuals, but they did not have the modern monogamous gay relationships that we see today in the Gay Christian movement.
Response #5
This implies that “gay Christians” do lead morally clean monogamous relationships. This is not the case. Please see the introductory article, paragraphs 11 to 14. Additionally, the Bible condemns all sex outside of heterosexual marriage. “Let marriage be honourable among all, and the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers” says the Bible. – Hebrews 13:4
Conclusion
The people in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were wicked. One of their most visible vices was homosexuality. It was for that, along with other things, they were destroyed.
Even if the sodomites weren’t homosexuals (which they evidently were), it does not change Jehovah God’s purpose that sexual relations are only to be enjoyed between a man and his wife; indeed that is what sex was designed and created for. The gay lifestyle is totally incompatible with the scriptures. Can a person leading a life as a homosexual really be obeying the words of Colossians 3:5? “Deaden, therefore, YOUR body members that are upon the earth as respects fornication, uncleanness, [and] sexual appetite.” Additionally at Galatians 5:19, 21 the Bible says “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct … those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.” Do these scriptures remind you of the gay lifestyle?
The only places that homosexuality is mentioned in the bible are negative. It is never put in a good light. The men of Sodom “committed fornication excessively and [went] after flesh for unnatural use.” (Jude 7) The modern gay lifestyle is similarly immoral and thoroughly corrupt.
Therefore, is it really so difficult to accept that the men of Sodom were homosexuals?
Personal note: I’ve noticed that some pro-gay theologists and apostates will use ALL FIVE arguments to support their stance – despite that the five arguments contradict each other! This shows that they’re not really bothered about “worshiping him … with spirit and truth.” – John 4:24. They simply want to “win” an argument – even if it means contradicting themselves. When they’ve decided what to believe, can someone please let me know? Thanks!
< Back to Creation in Genesis | Main Menu | NEXT: The Mosaic Law >