Genesis 19:9

And he will needs be a judge. Lot’s attempt to frustrate their evil purpose served only to enrage the Sodomites. They would not have anyone telling them what they should do, particularly a foreigner. If Lot had been appointed a judge, as has been suggested (see v. 1), they felt it was high time to get rid of him. It would seem from their language that either as a judge or as a private citizen he had admonished them to amend their evil ways. In their unreasoning rage they therefore threatened to deal with Lot in a more fearful way than they had planned to do with his guests, should he presume to stand longer in their way. It was only the restraining power of God, together, perhaps, with their momentary hesitancy to lay hands on a man whose righteous example had stirred a faint feeling of respect in their debased minds, that prevented the mob from tearing him to pieces on the spot.