Genesis 19:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, observe how the Scriptures, after clearly presenting the narrative, elucidate the motivations of the daughters of the righteous man, providing ample justification for both their actions and their father, ensuring that neither he nor his daughters should be condemned in light of such an event, which might otherwise be misinterpreted as resulting from licentiousness. How, then, does the Scripture vindicate the daughters of the righteous man? ‘She said, saith the elder to the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth that shall come in unto us according to the custom of all the earth.’ Reflect on their intention, and you shall absolve them of any blame. They believed that all humanity had been utterly extinguished and that no man remained; furthermore, they recognized their father's advanced age.

However, Lot had received divine warning from the angels that only their locality would face destruction, not the whole earth. We must recognize the folly of drunkenness, which leads us away from virtue. The very things we guard against when sober, we may unwittingly permit when intoxicated. Alcohol not only inflames desires and incites the fleshly passions, but it also clouds judgment, overtakes the spirit, and dulls awareness. Those who engage excessively with wine lose track of their words and actions, as if they were in a stupor. When they err due to such indulgence, wise judges may choose to treat their offenses leniently, often attributing them to carelessness. How disreputable their behavior and unsteady steps! Many consider themselves robust; yet are they mightier than Lot or more temperate than Noah? Scripture doesn't aim to expose the faults of these ancestors, who, as noted, succumbed to wine; rather, it instructs us on what to avoid. One lay exposed, while the other permitted his daughters to be misled. Even the righteous Noah was misled, having yet to recognize the effects of wine: but you have been cautioned not to remain uninformed! Lot placed his trust in his daughters, and, swayed by age and intoxication, unwittingly consented to incest; but you must partake wisely so as to steer clear of sin. The patriarchs instruct you not only for your education but as a warning against potential deception. This is why the theme of drunkenness recurs, serving as a reminder to exercise vigilance.

Witnessing the destruction of the four cities and the engulfing of the inhabitants of Sihor by the earth (which means "to swallow"), they came to the conclusion that humanity was completely doomed. Faced with such desolation, and anticipating the frailty of old age, they sought to preserve their family line and find solace for themselves. With this perspective, and devoid of any selfish desires, they used wine to rob their father of awareness, leading him to unknowingly provide them with offspring.

Why did God not stop the immoral act of incest? He foresaw the evil nature of that generation. The Moabites worshipped Hamos and the Ammonites honored Melchol. To prevent the Israelites from adopting the sinful practices of these nations, as they had done with other similar peoples, God hindered this illicit union, intending to render them detestable to the Jews. This was conveyed by the Almighty through Moses, who instructed, "Let no Ammonite or Moabite enter the temple of the Lord, even to the tenth generation… and not even unto the ages" (Deuteronomy 23:3).