Well, yes, back then, that was seen as a virtue. The idea was that he, as a good host, was willing to bear the cost of ensuring his guest’s well-being.
Keep in mind, this is the same setting where a farher is told to kill his son, and it’s treated as a sacrifice by the father. The patriarch is the only one who fully counts as a person.
The realization that much of the bible was written by and for people who kept other people as property, considered all women and children to be property by default, and was itself - at least partially - an attempt to justify this practice through religious sophistry is what led me to become an atheist when I was growing up. I started reading the bible because I was confused and wanted moral clarity, but it turned me off of Christianity entirely, even though I do still hold some fondness for the story of Jesus.
The part with the crowd is meant to depict him as dedicated to hospitality, as was the duty of a host.
and he bribed the crowd to go away by offering up his daughters for a massive train.
Think they consented to that? Like, Okay. he’s a good host. He chose to be a good host at the cost of protecting his own daughters.
Well, yes, back then, that was seen as a virtue. The idea was that he, as a good host, was willing to bear the cost of ensuring his guest’s well-being.
Keep in mind, this is the same setting where a farher is told to kill his son, and it’s treated as a sacrifice by the father. The patriarch is the only one who fully counts as a person.
The realization that much of the bible was written by and for people who kept other people as property, considered all women and children to be property by default, and was itself - at least partially - an attempt to justify this practice through religious sophistry is what led me to become an atheist when I was growing up. I started reading the bible because I was confused and wanted moral clarity, but it turned me off of Christianity entirely, even though I do still hold some fondness for the story of Jesus.