With Lot offering his two virgin daughters as substitutes, it clearly was immoral sexual intercourse that the men of the city had in mind. As a consequence, the two angels destroyed all five cities of the plain. Lot had two older daughters that had earlier married, but his sons-in-law did not believe his warning.

Yehovah promised Abraham that He would not destroy Sodom if ten righteous people could be found there. Including the sons-in-law, there were only eight righteous people in the whole city.