Meaning of LOT

"hidden, dark in color."
Son of Haran, the brother of Abraham; he accompanied his uncle from Mesopotamia to Canaan (Gen. 11:31; 12:5). With him he went to Egypt and with him he returned (Gen. 13:1).

Owners of large flocks, the shepherds of both began to complain. Abraham advised him that it would be better to go their separate ways and invited him to choose the pastures he wanted.

Selfishly, Lot chose the fertile Jordan Valley, and pitched his tents closer and closer to Sodom, until he finally took up residence there.

He did not take into account the character of his inhabitants nor the consequences that his example could have on his family. However, from the NT we know that he remained personally upright, grieving for their wickedness (2 Pet. 2:8).

During the campaign of Chedorlaomer and his allies, Lot was taken prisoner. He owed his deliverance to Abraham's courage and skill (Gen. 13:2-14:16). Two angels, sent to Sodom, warned Lot that the city was going to be annihilated.

The attitude of the populace towards foreigners revealed the extent to which this punishment was deserved. Lot escaped destruction with his two daughters. While fleeing, his wife, turning to look at the city, was caught in the deluge of fire and salt.

The warning of Lk. 17:31-32 suggests that it was his clinging to his earthly possessions that caused him to lose the possibility of his salvation. Lot's two sons-in-law stayed in Sodom and died (Gen. 19:1-29).

Shortly after, under the influence of wine, Lot committed incest with his two daughters, thereby becoming the father of Moab and Ben-ammi, who had the Moabites and Ammonites as descendants, respectively.