Lot's wife
In the Bible, the wife of Lot is a figure first mentioned in Genesis 19. The Book of Genesis describes her turning into a pillar of salt as soon as she looked back at Sodom. She is called "Ado" or "Edith" in some Jewish traditions, but is never actually named in the Bible. She is also referred to in the New Testament at Luke 17:32.
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Genesis narrative [edit]
The narrative of Lot's wife begins in Genesis 19 after two angels arrive in Sodom, during the evening, and spend the night at Lot's home. When dawn breaks, Lot's visiting angels urge him to get his family and flee, so as to avoid being caught in the impending disaster for the iniquity of the city. However, Lot delays which prompts the visitors to grab his hand and his family's hands and to lead them out of the city. The command was given, Flee for your life! Do not look behind you, nor stop anywhere in the Plain; flee to the hills, lest you be swept away. Lot objects to the idea of fleeing to the hills and requests safe haven at a nearby little town.[1] The request is granted and the town becomes known as Zoar. Traveling behind her husband, Lot's wife looked back, thereupon turning into a pillar of salt.[2]
Composition [edit]
The Hebrew verb used for Lot's wife "looking" back is נבט, nāḇaṭ. Her looking back to Sodom differs in word usage to Abraham "looking" שקף, šāqap to Sodom in (18:16).[3]
Pillar of salt [edit]
A pillar of salt that is commercially named "Lot's wife" is located near the Dead Sea at Mount Sodom in Israel. The Mishnah states that a blessing should be said at the place where the pillar of salt is.[4] Other pillars are said to be at the crossing of the Red Sea as well as at the Wall of Jericho.[5]
A sea-stack formation in Marsden Bay, UK, is also called 'Lot's Wife' because of the shape and location of the feature. Large amounts of salts were deposited in the shallow tropical Zechstein Sea that extended from the Pennines over to Germany and Poland in Europe during the Permian period. Subsequent dissolution of these salts caused collapse (brecciation) of the overlying Magnesian Limestone rock layers that predominantly make up the cliffs today, providing much of their distinctive appearance and properties.
Jewish commentaries [edit]
In Judaism, one common view of Lot's wife turning to salt was as punishment for disobeying the angels' warning. By looking back at the "evil cities" she betrayed her secret longing for that way of life. She was deemed unworthy to be saved and thus turned to a pillar of salt.[6]
Another accepted view in the Jewish exegesis of Genesis 19:26, is that when Lot's wife looked back, she turned to a pillar of salt upon the sight of God who was descending down to rain destruction upon Sodom and Gomorrah.[4]
A Jewish legend gives one reason for Lot's wife looking back, and that was to check if her daughters, who were married to men of Sodom, were coming or not. Instead, she saw God descending in order to rain fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Thus, the sight of God turned her into a pillar of salt.[4]
Another Jewish legend says that because Lot's wife sinned with salt, she was punished with salt. On the night the two angels visited Lot, he requested of his wife to prepare a feast for them. Not having any salt, Lot's wife asked of her neighbors for salt which so happened to alert them of the presence of their guests, resulting in the mob action that endangered Lot's family.[4]
In the Midrash, Lot's wife is given the name Edith.[2]
The Jewish historian Josephus claimed to have seen the pillar of salt which was Lot's wife.[7] Its existence is also attested to by the early Church Fathers Clement of Rome and Irenaeus.[8]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
Footnotes [edit]
- ^ Schwartz 2004, p. 465.
- ^ a b Schwartz 2004, p. 466.
- ^ Hamilton 1995, p. 49.
- ^ a b c d Schwartz 2004, p. 467.
- ^ Schwartz 2004, p. 467: (Talmud B. Ber. 54a).
- ^ Scharfstein, Sol (2008). Torah and commentary : the five books of Moses : translation, rabbinic and contemporary commentary. Jersey City, NJ: KTAV Publishing. p. 71, #26. ISBN 9781602800205.
- ^ Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews. Book I. Chapter 11. Verse 4.Retrieved from: http://sacred-texts.com/jud/josephus/ant-1.htm
- ^ Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews. Book I. Endnote Number 23. Retrieved from: http://sacred-texts.com/jud/josephus/ant-1.htm#EndNote%20ANT%201.23b
Bibliography [edit]
- Schwartz, Howard (2004). Tree of Souls:The Mythology of Judaism: The Mythology of Judaism (illustrated, annotated ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195086791.
- Hamilton, Victor P. (1995). The book of Genesis (2nd. ed.). Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans. ISBN 9780802823090. More than one of
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