Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
(Heb. goral, a “pebble”), a small stone used in casting lots (Num. 33:54; Jonah 1:7). The lot was always resorted to by the Hebrews with strictest reference to the interposition of God, and as a method of ascertaining the divine will (Prov. 16:33), and in serious cases of doubt (Esther 3:7).
Thus the lot was used at the division of the land of Canaan among the serveral tribes (Num. 26:55; 34:13), at the detection of Achan (Josh. 7:14, 18), the election of Saul to be king (1 Sam. 10:20, 21), the distribution of the priestly offices of the temple service (1 Chr. 24:3, 5, 19; Luke 1:9), and over the two goats at the feast of Atonement (Lev. 16:8). Matthias, who was “numbered with the eleven” (Acts 1:24-26), was chosen by lot. This word also denotes a portion or an inheritance (Josh. 15:1; Ps. 125:3; Isa. 17:4), and a destiny, as assigned by God (Ps. 16:5; Dan. 12:13).
Lot, (Heb. lot), a covering; veil, the son of Haran, and nephew of Abraham (Gen. 11:27). On the death of his father, he was left in charge of his grandfather Terah (31), after whose death he accompanied his uncle Abraham into Canaan (12:5), thence into Egypt (10), and back again to Canaan (13:1). After this he separated from him and settled in Sodom (13:5-13). There his righteous soul was “vexed” from day to day (2 Pet. 2:7), and he had great cause to regret this act. Not many years after the separation he was taken captive by Chedorlaomer, and was rescued by Abraham (Gen. 14).
At length, when the judgment of God descended on the guilty cities of the plain (Gen. 19:1-20), Lot was miraculously delivered. , Lot’s wife. ” From the words of warning in Luke 17:32, “Remember Lot’s wife,” it would seem as if she had gone back, or tarried so long behind in the desire to save some of her goods, that she became involved in the destruction which fell on the city, and became a stiffened corpse, fixed for a time in the saline incrustations. , as some think, of asphalt.
) Lot and his daughters sought refuge first in Zoar, and then, fearing to remain there longer, retired to a cave in the neighbouring mountains (Gen. 19:30). Lot has recently been connected with the people called on the Egyptian monuments Rotanu or Lotanu, who is supposed to have been the hero of the Edomite tribe Lotan.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(literally a pebble). The custom of deciding doubtful questions by lot is one of great extent and high antiquity. Among the Jews lots were used with the expectation that God would so control them as to give a right direction to them. They were very often used by God’s appointment. “As to the mode of casting lots, we have no certain information. ” “Very commonly among the Latins little counters of wood were put into a jar with so narrow a neck that only one could come out at a time.
After the jar had been filled with water and the contents shaken, the lots were determined by the order in which the bits of wood, representing the several parties, came out with the water. in other cases they were put into a wide open jar, and the counters were drawn out by the hand. Sometimes again they were cast in the manner of dice. ”—Lyman Abbott. (veil or covering), the son of Haran, and therefore the nephew of Abraham. ) His sisters were Milcah the wife of Nahor, and Iscah, by some identified with Sarah.
haran died before the emigration of Terah and his family from Ur of the Chaldees, ver. 28, and Lot was therefore born there. He removed with the rest of his kindred to Charran, and again subsequently with Abraham and Sarai to Canaan. ch. (Genesis 12:4,5) With them he took refuge in Egypt from a famine, and with them returned, first to the “south,” ch. (Genesis 13:1) and then to their original settlement between Bethel and Ai.
vs. (Genesis 13:3,4) But the pastures of the hills of Bethel, which had with ease contained the two strangers on their first arrival, were not able any longer to bear them, so much had their possessions of sheep, goats and cattle increased. Accordingly they separated, Lot choosing the fertile plain of the Jordan, and advancing as far as Sodom. (Genesis 13:10-14) The next occurrence in the life of Lot is his capture by the four kings of the east and his rescue by Abram. ch. (Genesis 13:14) The last scene preserved to us in the history of Lot is too well known to need repetition.
He was still living in Sodom, (Genesis 19:1) ... from which he was rescued by some angels on the day of its final overthrow. he fled first to Zoar, in which he found a temporary refuge during the destruction of the other cities of the plain. Where this place was situated is not known with certainty. [Zoar] The end of Lot’s wife is commonly treated as one of the difficulties of the Bible; but it surely need not be so. It cannot be necessary to create the details of the story where none are given. On these points the record is silent.
The value and the significance of the story to us are contained in the allusion of Christ. (Luke 17:32) Later ages have not been satisfied so to leave the matter, but have insisted on identifying the “pillar” with some one of the fleeting forms which the perishable rock of the south end of the Dead Sea is constantly assuming in its process of decomposition and liquefaction. From the incestuous intercourse between Lot and his two daughters sprang the nations of Moab and Ammon.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898) & Schaff's Bible Dictionary
LOT (a covering, veil), the son of Ilaran and nephew of Abraham, was born in Ur, a city of Chaldea, where his father died, and followed, with Abraham and Terah, to Mesopotamia, where the latter died at Haran. Gen 11:31-32, thence to Canaan, Gen 12:4-5, and probably also to Egypt. After the return from Egypt the herds of Abraham and Lot had greatly increased. The tract of land they occupied was inconveniently small; strife arose between their herdmen, and Abraham proposed they should separate, leaving the choice to Lot whether he would go eastward or westward.
Lot chose that region of the valley of the Jordan in which Sodom and Gomorrah were situated, but thereby he became involved in the warfare waged by Chedorlaomer against the two cities, was carried away as a prisoner of war, and was only rescued by the valor of Abraham, who attacked and defeated Chedorlaomer. Lot returned to Sodom, and, though he loathed the life of perdition which was led in that city, he remained there and chose his sons-in-law among the Sodomites. " Gen 19:26. Lot removed from Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, after which he disappears from history.
The nations of the Ammonites and Moabites descended from him.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
Lotan, wrapt up; hidden; covered; myrrh; rosin