22. Sons of Belial. Literally, “sons of worthlessness.” The expression was used to describe worthless, evil, low-minded, lawless fellows, vile scoundrels. In later times the word Belial came to be used as a proper name, a synonym for Satan (2 Cor. 6:15), but it is doubtful whether it had that signification here. Hence the word should perhaps be translated and not written as a proper name.
Beset the house. The resemblance between this and the equally repulsive narrative of Gen. 19:8 is close. These men were worse than brutes. Their unnatural lust and infamy were recalled with horror for centuries (see Hosea 9:9; 10:9).