The daughters devised a plan to get their father drunk. They were able to have intercourse with him on two consecutive nights. In the text, it is said that Lot was so drunk that he was not aware when his daughters lay down or got up. This was not an act to be viewed as normal and his drunkenness was seen as justification for such an act. This article reveals the outcome of this act.
However, in their times, family members did participate in intermarriages, especially between nieces and nephews. This was a way to keep their bloodlines pure. Another example of this in the Bible is the marriage between Abraham and his half-sister. Yet, for the daughters, having intercourse with their father was not the ideal option. They felt that it was completely necessary under their circumstances to respond with this plan.
Each of the daughters gave birth to a child. The oldest daughter conceived Moab, who would become the ancestor of the Moabites. The youngest daughter gave birth to Ben-Ammi, who would become father of the Ammonites.
The tale of Lot and his daughters is found in Genesis 19:30-38:
” 30 Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave.
31 One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children”as is the custom all over the earth.
32 Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father.”
33 That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.
34 The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I slept with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.”
35 So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.
36 So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father.
37 The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today.
38 The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today.”
In Conclusion
Overall, despite the flaws that Lot is depicted as having, Christians see him as a righteous man.