Genesis 19:32Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They express concern that our lineage might come to an end and that we could be left without a legacy, as the ancients were deeply committed to ensuring their descendants would continue through the generations. They fear that if we do not take action, we might be completely lost, especially since our father is advancing in years and there is no one to join with him for the continuation of our family line. Thus, one advises the other that to prevent this from occurring, they should provide their father with wine to drink. This is because their father would never accept the proposition from his daughters, which is evident from the subsequent passages in Holy Scripture. Therefore, they plan to employ cunning through the use of wine.

Let us intoxicate our father with wine, and through him, we will bring forth descendants, just as the second world originated from Noah's lineage and the first world arose from Adam and Eve. They were not deprived of wine, for everything that existed in Sihor was granted to them as their inheritance.

Lot, a beloved servant of God who found salvation in the mountains, stood as the sole just individual amidst countless multitudes. His daughters, seeking to preserve the human lineage, caused him to become inebriated. Though driven more by a desire for procreation than by carnal craving, they understood that the righteous man would not have engaged in such actions had he not been under the influence of wine.

The daughters of Saint Lot acted in a manner that can be seen as justified, believing that devastation had not only come upon neighboring territories but upon the entire world. They remained with their father after all others had perished. In their desperation to ensure the continuation of humanity, they sought to bear children through their father, viewing this as a means to sustain the human lineage rather than an act of lust. This should not be viewed as a sinful act. For, much like Eve, who was taken from her husband—a rib from his side, becoming bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh—she was united with him for the sake of future generations.

Why is Lot not held accountable for engaging in incest with his daughters? It is common for people to pardon those who have erred out of ignorance. Thus, it would be unfair to accuse Lot of such immorality, for he was unaware of his actions. His drunken state certainly warrants criticism, yet it can be seen as somewhat justifiable; having been abruptly bereaved of everything he cherished, including his wife, he unknowingly allowed his daughters to provide him with wine, believing it to be a means of solace. The daughters themselves carry no blame. Witnessing the utter destruction of the four cities and surrounding regions engulfed in flames and seeing the inhabitants of Sihor consumed by the earth, they feared that humanity was entirely doomed.

We will be given children by our Father. While this intention is commendable, it does not excuse wrongful actions. The account of Lot's incest in Holy Scripture, which neither condemns nor endorses the act, serves as a reminder for us to focus more on self-examination than on judging others (1 Corinthians 11:31). Origen expresses concern, stating, "I fear that this incest could be purer than the purity of many."