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Genesis 19:33 - Drunkenness leads to tragic consequences?

Genesis 19:33 - בראשית 19:33

Hebrew Text

וַתַּשְׁקֶיןָ אֶת־אֲבִיהֶן יַיִן בַּלַּיְלָה הוּא וַתָּבֹא הַבְּכִירָה וַתִּשְׁכַּב אֶת־אָבִיהָ וְלֹא־יָדַע בְּשִׁכְבָהּ וּבְקוּמָהּ׃

English Translation

And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

Transliteration

Vatashkin et-avihen yayin balayla hu vatavo habkhira vatishkav et-aviha velo-yada beshikhva uvkuma.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַתַּשְׁקֶ֧יןָ אֶת־אֲבִיהֶ֛ן יַ֖יִן בַּלַּ֣יְלָה ה֑וּא וַתָּבֹ֤א הַבְּכִירָה֙ וַתִּשְׁכַּ֣ב אֶת־אָבִ֔יהָ וְלֹֽא־יָדַ֥ע בְּשִׁכְבָ֖הּ וּבְקוּׄמָֽהּ׃
וַתַּשְׁקֶ֧יןָ אֶת־אֲבִיהֶ֛ן יַ֖יִן בַּלַּ֣יְלָה ה֑וּא וַתָּבֹ֤א הַבְּכִירָה֙ וַתִּשְׁכַּ֣ב אֶת־אָבִ֔יהָ וְלֹֽא־יָדַ֥ע בְּשִׁכְבָ֖הּ וּבְקוּׄמָֽהּ׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context in Bereishit (Genesis 19:33)

This verse describes the actions of Lot's daughters following the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Fearing they were the last survivors on earth, they devised a plan to perpetuate their father's lineage by making him intoxicated and engaging in relations with him.

Rashi's Commentary

Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) explains that Lot's daughters mistakenly believed the entire world had been destroyed, similar to the Flood in Noach's time. They reasoned that it was their responsibility to repopulate the earth, justifying their actions as a mitzvah (commandment) under these extreme circumstances. However, Rashi notes that their reasoning was flawed because they were unaware that Zoar had been spared.

Moral and Halachic Implications

  • Ignorance of Lot: The verse emphasizes that Lot was unaware due to intoxication. The Rambam (Maimonides) discusses in Hilchot Issurei Biah that intoxication leading to illicit relations does not absolve one of responsibility, though Lot's exact level of awareness is debated.
  • Daughters' Intentions: The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 51:8) suggests their actions were driven by desperation, not malice, but still condemns the method as improper.

Ibn Ezra's Perspective

Ibn Ezra highlights the tragic irony: Lot, who once offered his daughters to the Sodomite mob (Bereishit 19:8), now becomes a victim of their initiative. This serves as a measure-for-measure consequence (middah k'neged middah) for his earlier flawed judgment.

Lessons from the Narrative

The Talmud (Nazir 23a) discusses how even actions with noble intentions can be sinful if performed improperly. Here, the daughters' desire to continue the lineage was commendable in motive, but their means violated Torah law. The story underscores the importance of consulting halachic authorities before taking drastic measures, even in crises.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Nazir 23a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the consequences of actions performed under the influence of wine, illustrating how intoxication can lead to unintended and severe outcomes.
📖 Horayot 10b
The verse is cited in a broader discussion about the moral and legal implications of actions taken without full awareness, using Lot's daughters as an example of complex ethical scenarios.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is happening in Genesis 19:33?
A: In Genesis 19:33, Lot's two daughters make their father drink wine until he is intoxicated. The older daughter then lies with him while he is unaware due to his drunken state. This event occurs after they flee Sodom and believe there are no other men left to continue their family line.
Q: Why did Lot's daughters do this?
A: According to Rashi and other traditional Jewish commentaries, Lot's daughters mistakenly believed that the entire world had been destroyed (like in the generation of the Flood) and that they were the only survivors. They thought it was their responsibility to repopulate the world through their father, as they saw no other way to continue humanity (Rashi on Genesis 19:31-32).
Q: How does Jewish tradition view this incident?
A: Jewish tradition generally views this as a tragic episode resulting from poor judgment and extreme circumstances. The Talmud (Nazir 23a) discusses how sometimes even improper actions can lead to significant outcomes (as these unions led to the nations of Moab and Ammon), but this doesn't justify the means. The daughters' intentions, while misguided, came from a desire to preserve life.
Q: Why is this story included in the Torah?
A: The Torah includes this story to show the origins of the Moabite and Ammonite nations (who later interact with Israel) and to demonstrate how even difficult family situations are part of Hashem's plan. It also serves as a lesson about the dangers of intoxication and improper judgment, as Lot's drunkenness led to this unfortunate situation.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Genesis 19:33 today?
A: We learn several lessons: 1) The importance of clear thinking and avoiding situations that impair judgment (like excessive drinking), 2) That even well-intentioned actions can be wrong if done improperly, and 3) That we should seek proper guidance (like from Torah scholars) before making drastic decisions, especially when we might be misreading a situation.