Genesis 19:30-38
New Catholic Bible
30 Degeneration of Lot’s Children.[a] Lot then left Zoar and went to live in the mountains together with his two daughters, for they were afraid to stay in Zoar. He lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 The older one said to the younger one, “Our father is getting old and there is no one in this territory to marry us as happens all over the earth. 32 Come, we will give wine to our father and then lie with him; thus we will provide descendants for our father.”
33 That night they gave wine to their father, and the older sister laid with her father. He did not realize what was happening, not even when she lay down or when she got out of bed. 34 The next day the older sister said to the younger, “Behold, yesterday I slept with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight as well and you can sleep with him. Thus, we will provide descendants for our father.” 35 That night as well they made their father drink wine, and the younger sister slept with him. He did not realize what had happened, not even when she lay down or when she got out of bed.
36 Thus, the two daughters of Lot conceived children for their father. 37 The older sister gave birth to a son whom she called Moab, “from my father.” He is the forefather of the present-day Moabites. 38 The younger sister also gave birth to a son, and she called him Ben Ammi, “son of my people.” He is the forefather of the present-day Ammonites.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 19:30 Since it was regarded as a dishonor and a curse not to have children, the daughters, being without husbands, make up for their state by a primitive makeshift. It is in this way that the story explains the origin of the Moabites and Ammonites, neighbors and enemies of Israel, who are remembered as being the fruit of the cursed cities. The condemnation of incest is implicit in the story, not only because it was condemned by the laws of Mesopotamia and the conscience of the time but also because Lot is made drunk in order to prevent his resistance (see also Lev 18:7).
