Behind the Door

1The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed with his face to the ground.

2And he said, “Please, my lords, turn aside to your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet. Then you may rise early and go on your way.” But they said, “No, but we will spend the night in the square.”

3But he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house. He prepared a feast for them, baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

4Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house—from young to old, all the people from every quarter.

5And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we may know them.”

6Lot went out to them at the entrance and shut the door behind him.

7And he said, “Please, my brothers, do not do evil.”

8Look, please, I have two daughters who have not known a man. Please let me bring them out to you, and do to them as is good in your eyes. Only to these men do nothing, for they have come under the shadow of my roof.

9And they said, “Get back!” Then they said, “This one came to live as a foreigner, and now he keeps acting as judge! Now we will treat you worse than them.” And they pressed very hard against the man, against Lot, and came near to break down the door.

10But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them, and shut the door.

11And they struck the men who were at the entrance of the house with blindness, from the least to the greatest, so that they wore themselves out trying to find the doorway.