Single lesson
Lot and His Daughters
Genesis 19:30–38
After leaving Zoar, Lot and his daughters lived in a cave, and a deeply troubled family act was later linked to the origins of Moab and Ammon.
Before you teach
After leaving Zoar, Lot went up into the hills with his two daughters. He was afraid to stay in Zoar, so they lived together in a cave. The older daughter said to the younger that their father was old and that there was no man on the earth to come to them in the usual way. She proposed making their father drink wine so they could preserve their father’s family line.
Explain the central teaching of Lot and His Daughters, using two details from the reading. After leaving Zoar, Lot and his daughters lived in a cave, and a deeply troubled family act was later linked to the origins of Moab and Ammon.
Welcome: Lot and His Daughters
5 minIntroduce “Lot and His Daughters” and locate Genesis 19:30–38. After leaving Zoar, Lot and his daughters lived in a cave, and a deeply troubled family act was later linked to the origins of Moab and Ammon. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Genesis 19:30, Genesis 19:34, Genesis 19:38
Read and explain the passage
12 minAfter leaving Zoar, Lot went up into the hills with his two daughters. He was afraid to stay in Zoar, so they lived together in a cave.
That night they gave Lot wine. The older daughter went in and lay with her father. The passage says Lot did not know when she lay down or when she arose.
So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son and named him Moab, and the passage says he became the father of the Moabites. The younger daughter also had a son named Ben Ammi, and he became the father of the children of Ammon.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Lot and His Daughters”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Genesis 19:30, Genesis 19:36, Genesis 19:33, Genesis 19:35, Genesis 19:34, Genesis 19:38, Genesis 19:37
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with ““The older daughter said to the younger that their father was old and that there was no man on the earth to come to them in the usual way.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. After leaving Zoar, Lot and his daughters lived in a cave, and a deeply troubled family act was later linked to the origins of Moab and Ammon. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Genesis 19:31, Genesis 19:32, Genesis 19:34, Genesis 19:33, Genesis 19:35, Genesis 19:38, Genesis 19:37, Genesis 19:36
Make and respond: Choices and outcomes evidence map
12 minWork on “Lot and His Daughters: Choices and outcomes evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Lot and His Daughters” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Genesis 19:30, Genesis 19:34, Genesis 19:38
Closing: return to Lot and His Daughters
3 minRevisit Genesis 19:30–38. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Lot and His Daughters and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Genesis 19:30, Genesis 19:34, Genesis 19:38
Questions to explore
“The older daughter said to the younger that their father was old and that there was no man on the earth to come to them in the usual way.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?
The older daughter said to the younger that their father was old and that there was no man on the earth to come to them in the usual way. She proposed making their father drink wine so they could preserve their father’s family line.
Genesis 19:31, Genesis 19:32, Genesis 19:34
How does this moment affect the rest of the account: “That night they gave Lot wine.”?
That night they gave Lot wine. The older daughter went in and lay with her father. The passage says Lot did not know when she lay down or when she arose.
Genesis 19:33, Genesis 19:35, Genesis 19:34
“So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father.” How does this ending connect with the beginning?
So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son and named him Moab, and the passage says he became the father of the Moabites. The younger daughter also had a son named Ben Ammi, and he became the father of the children of Ammon.
Genesis 19:38, Genesis 19:37, Genesis 19:36
Make, think or respond
Lot and His Daughters: Choices and outcomes evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Words or actions”, “What happens next”, “Verse reference”.
- Read Genesis 19:30–38. Use “Lot and His Daughters” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Compare two actions or statements in the account and explain their different outcomes.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Lot and His Daughters connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Lot and His Daughters” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Genesis 19:30–38. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Genesis 19:30–38. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Genesis 19
30 Lot went up out of Zoar, and lived in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he was afraid to live in Zoar. He lived in a cave with his two daughters.
31 The firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on the earth to come in to us in the way of all the earth.
32 Come, let’s make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve our father’s family line.”
33 They made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father. He didn’t know when she lay down, nor when she arose.
34 It came to pass on the next day, that the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let’s make him drink wine again tonight. You go in, and lie with him, that we may preserve our father’s family line.”
35 They made their father drink wine that night also. The younger went and lay with him. He didn’t know when she lay down, nor when she got up.
36 Thus both of Lot’s daughters were with child by their father.
37 The firstborn bore a son, and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day.
38 The younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben Ammi. He is the father of the children of Ammon to this day.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.