You Have Questions.  The Bible Has Answers.

Who saw Lot's wife turn into a pillar of salt?


Who saw Lot's wife turn into a pillar of salt?

 

Q. Who saw Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt? It couldn't have been anyone in the city as they were destroyed. It couldn't have been her family as they were running ahead of her.

A. Sometimes we simply have to take God at his word. A similar question would be: Who saw God create the animals and Adam? Also, we have no record of anyone having seen Jonah swallowed by the fish, or of his having been vomited out onto dry land.

But regarding your question, it is entirely possible Lot may have seen the demise of his wife. It is natural for the person in the lead to glance back to insure the rest were following him. But the verb "look" in Genesis 19:17, and again in verse 26, didn't refer to a quick glance, but to gaze or look intently at.

"And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. . . .

The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." (Genesis 19:14-17, 23-26)

It seems Mrs. Lot stopped running to gaze at the destruction of the city. As she stood transfixed, most commentators agree some of the molten sulphur ("brimstone" verses 24) likely rained down on her, and crystallized her into a pillar. This is what Lot would have seen when he glanced back.

Answer Given By: Les Turvey

 
Pictures / Charts related to Noah's Ark
Scale model of Ark  -  Picture of Ark's Animal Cages  -  How Animals were fed on Ark
Inside Cross-section of Ark  -  Life Spans from Adam to Noah
 
Book of Genesis Bible Studies


 
 
 
Visit the BEST Web Sites!
 
 
 

THE Bible Study Web Site at BibleStudy.org
You Have Questions.  The Bible Has Answers.