John Calvin Commentary Genesis 19:4

"But before they lay down, the men of the city, [even] the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both young and old, all the people from every quarter;" — Genesis 19:4 (ASV)

Before they lay down. Here, in a single crime, Moses sets before our eyes a vivid picture of Sodom. For it is therefore obvious how devilish was their agreement in all wickedness, as they all so readily conspired to commit the most abominable crime. The greatness of their iniquity and shamelessness is apparent from the fact that, as a united group, they approach as enemies to besiege Lot's house.

How blind and impulsive is their lust; since, without shame, they rush together like brute animals! How great their fierceness and cruelty; since they insultingly threaten the holy man and proceed to all extremes! Therefore, we also infer that they were not corrupted by only one vice, but were given over to complete boldness in crime, so that they had no sense of shame left.

And Ezekiel (as mentioned earlier) accurately describes from what beginnings of evil they had proceeded to this extreme depravity (Ezekiel 16:49). What Paul says also refers to the same point: that God punished the ungodliness of men when He cast them into such a state of blindness that they gave themselves up to abominable lusts and dishonored their own bodies (Romans 1:18).

But when the sense of shame is overcome and lust is given free rein, a vile and outrageous savagery necessarily follows, and many kinds of sin are mixed together, so that a most confused chaos results. But if this severe vengeance of God fell upon the men of Sodom in such a way that they became blind with rage and prostituted themselves to all kinds of crime, certainly we will hardly be treated more mildly, whose iniquity is less excusable because the truth of God has been more clearly revealed to us.

Both old and young. Moses omits many things which may naturally come to the reader's mind: for instance, he does not mention who had incited the multitude. Yet it is probable that some fanned the flame; nevertheless, from this we perceive how readily they were inclined to commit iniquity, since, as if at a given signal, they immediately assemble. It also shows how completely they were lacking all remaining shame; for neither did any seriousness restrain the old, nor any decency, suitable to their age, restrain the young. Finally, he suggests that all regard for honor was gone and that the order of nature was corrupted, when he says that young and old rushed together from the farthest parts of the city.