SODOM AND GOMORRAH – Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

two cities usually cited together in the Bible, near the Dead Sea. In the times of the patriarch Abraham, these two cities with Admá, Seboyim and Soar, formed the Pentapolis, Gn 14, 2-3. It is said that when Abraham and Lot separated, the former went to Canaan, and the latter settled in the plain of the Jordan and pitched his tents as far as the city of S., whose inhabitants were dissolute, Gn 13, 10-13. In Gn 14, 1-14, the defeat of the allied kings, Bera, king of S., Birsá, king of Gomorrah, Sinab, king of Admá, Shemeber, king of Seboyim, and the king of Soar, at the hands of of another coalition of kings formed by Amraphel, king of Senaar, Aryok, king of El.lasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goyim. The kings of S. and Gomorrah fell into the bitumen pits in the region and the rest fled to the mountains. These two cities were sacked by the victors, who also took Lot prisoner. Abraham then set out in pursuit, rescued his brother, and recovered the booty, which he delivered to the king of S.

In Gn 19 1-29, the destruction of S. and Gomorrah, of the cities of the Pentapolis, except Soar, is narrated by a rain of brimstone and fire commanded by Yahweh, due to the corruption reigning there, of which They saved Lot and his family, who had been warned by angels. When leaving, they were warned not to look towards the cities because they could die; Lot’s wife did it and she was turned into a pillar of salt.

Today there is evidence of the existence of these cities and that they were devastated by a natural catastrophe, in which earthquakes, explosions of gases, oil, bitumen and fires occurred, phenomena that occurred in the Dead Sea region, under whose waters, possibly, the remains of these cities must be found.

This event, which in Scripture is considered a judgment of God, is constantly evoked as a lesson for the people of Israel.

In Dt 29 22, Yahweh reminds Israel that this can happen to them if they are unfaithful and fail to comply with his commandments and precepts. Isaiah predicts that Babylon will be destroyed like S. and Gomorrah, Is 13, 19. Jeremiah announces the same thing for Edom, Jr 49, 18. Amos announces to Israel a punishment like that of these two cities, for their infidelity, Am 4, 11 The prophet Ezekiel speaks of corruption, social injustice, the dissolute lifestyle of S. and Gomorrah, as causes of their destruction, Ez 16, 48-50.

Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003

Source: Digital Bible Dictionary

No trace of Sodom and Gomorrah has been found; but the site is believed to be in the area now submerged under the waters of the Dead Sea, south of the el-Lisan (‘the tongue’) peninsula. This area was undoubtedly known as the Valley of Siddim, originally a fertile plain irrigated by 5 streams, which now flow from the east and southeast to this part of the Dead Sea. This is implied in the explanation, “the valley of Siddim, which is the Salt Sea” (Gen. 14:3).
Along the southern end of the western side of the Dead Sea is the 213m mount known as Jebel Usdum (“Mount of Sodom”). of height, constituted mainly by a mass of crystalline salt of ca. 8 km. long. Its name reflects the tradition that Sodom was located in this area.
The destruction of Sodom, Gomorrah, and other cities in the valley may have been the result of lightning igniting the oil and gas leaks that were abundant in the region. About 8 km. from the shore of the Dead Sea at an elevation of one hundred and fifty-two meters. , southeast of the Lisan peninsula is *Bad ed-Drá, which served as a holy place for the inhabitants of the area. Ceramics indicate that the site was frequented from ca. 2300 to ca. from 1900 BC AD This seems to indicate that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed ca. 1900 BC of JC, during the time of the life of Abraham. From neighboring Hebron, Abraham looked in the direction of Sodom and Gomorrah and saw “the smoke going up from the earth like the smoke of a furnace.”
BIBLIOGRAPHY: J. Penrose Harland, †œSodom and Gomorrah; The Location and Destruction of the Cities of the Plain† , BA V, 1942, pp. 17–32; BA, VI, 1943, pgs. 41–54.

Source: Archaeological Biblical Dictionary

Cities that were in the plain of the Jordan. They are sometimes mentioned together with the cities of †¢Adma, †¢Zeboim and †¢Bela or †¢Zoar, which are spoken of as being part of the S border of Canaan (Gen 10:19). The exact location of these cities is unknown, but it is known that they were near the valley of †¢Sidim. Most scholars understand that this valley was slowly flooded by the waters of the Dead Sea. For a long time it was thought that the ruins of S. and G. must be there. But recently the waters have receded, which has allowed archaeological investigations to be carried out that have not yielded any results. Instead, ruins have been found near the shores of the Dead Sea, at its S end, where it is now speculated that these cities once stood. The findings indicate that these ruins correspond to cities that were destroyed by fire and a great cataclysm. Among the tablets discovered in †¢Ebla, some mention the cities of S. and G.

†¢Lot, separating from Abraham, went to live in Sodom. An alliance of kings from the N, made war against S. and G., which were defeated. Lot was taken prisoner, and was later ransomed by Abraham (Gen 14:1-24). But S. and G. are described in the Bible as extremely morally corrupt (“But the men of Sodom were very wicked and sinners against the Lord”); to the point that God decided to destroy them. The angels sent for this purpose witnessed how the men of Sodom wanted to sexually abuse them (“Bring them out so that we may know them”). The term †¢sodomite was coined based on this story. They barely managed to get Lot out, along with his family. Then “the Lord rained upon S. and G. brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.”) Violating the command of the angels, Lot’s wife began to contemplate the spectacle and died, turned into a “pillar of salt” (Gen 19:26).
then, the destruction of S. and G. has remained as an example of the effects of the wrath of God (Deu 29:22-24). When the leaders of the people in Jerusalem dedicated themselves to living in injustice and corruption, the prophets compare them to Sodom (“Hear ye the word of the Lord, you princes of Sodom”). As much Jerusalem (Jer 23:14), like Babylon (Jer 50:40), Moab and Amón (Sof 2: 9), are compared with S. for the sins of him, announcing punishment on them. A divine judgment that leaves a nation desolate is described by saying that it will be “like Sodom” (“And Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms and the ornament of the greatness of the Chaldeans, will be like S. and G., whom God has overthrown”) .
Lord Jesus, speaking of any city that did not receive his disciples, said: “Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city” (Matt 10 :15; Mark 6:11; Luke 10:12). The city of Jerusalem, “where also our Lord was crucified,” is called, “in a spiritual sense…Sodom and Egypt” (Rev 11:8). But it will be replaced by a “new Jerusalem, which” will come down “out of heaven from my God” (Rev 3:12; Rev 21:2; Rev 21:10).

Source: Christian Bible Dictionary

In the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea plain there were five cities, all of which were destroyed except Zoar, which was a small place.
These cities are studied together, because most biblical passages refer to both, and because when Sodom is cited separately, it probably refers to typical conditions, since both suffered the same punishment. We do not know exactly where they were located. Some think that they were in a place on the plain, not far from the Dead Sea; but it is very likely that the Dead Sea covered the site. Other writers think that the site was in the southern part of this sea, while others think that it was in the center or in the northern part and lately it has been said that they were in the southern part of the
Dead Sea. Probably in the not too distant future, work will begin to discover these ancient cities. What we do know is that in the time of Abraham and Lot it was a pleasant plain, well mowed and fertile.
The people of Sodom were wicked, so the sin, particularly related to sex, came to be known as sodomy and those who practiced it were known as sodomites. They frequently committed these sins in their acts of idol worship. There were prostitutes who belonged to the sanctuaries of the pagan gods and consecrated to impure worship. Such people and worship were hated and could not be identified with the pure worship of God. The presence of a sodomite was hateful before God and dangerous to Israel (Deuteronomy 23:17,
18). The presence of these people indicates the degeneration that existed at the time of Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:24). Asa sought to remove them (1 Kings 15:12);
Jehoshaphat removed them from the land (1 Kings 22:46, 47); Josiah found them “in the house of the Lord” and removed them (2 Kings 23:7). The fact that the word is feminine denotes a woman consecrated to impure worship (see Gen. 38:21, 22;
Hosea 4:14; Deuteronomy 23:17). He refers to this sin directly and indirectly (Genesis 13:13; 19:6, 7; Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 18:22;
20:10-21; Romans 1:26-28).
It is mentioned first, Genesis 10:19.
Lot chose the plain of the Jordan, Genesis 13:1-13; 2:12 p.m.
Here happened the battle of the kings and the capture of Lot, Genesis 14.
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed and Lot was saved, Genesis 18:16-
19:29.
Used as a warning by Moses, Deuteronomy 29:23; 32:32; by
Isaiah 1:9, 10; 13:19; by Jeremiah 23:14; 49:18; 50;40; by Amos, 4:11; by Zephaniah 2:9; by Jesus, Matthew 10:15; 11:24; Luke 17:29; by Paul, Romans 9:29; by Peter, 2 Peter 2:6; by Jude, 4, 7. Used in type form, Rev 11:18.

Source: Geographic Dictionary of the Bible

Sodom, a city of Pentapolis (Wisdom 10,6; Genesis 14,2): Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Seboyim and Bela—later called Soar (Gen. 19,22). They were located “in the country near the Jordan2 (Gen. 13,10), but their exact location is unknown (cf. Gen. 14,3.8.10.17; 19,20-22.30.37; Deut. 34,3). Flavius ​​Josephus identifies Soar with “Zoara of Arabia” at the southern end of the Dead Sea (“Bel. Jud.”, IV, VIII, 4; cf. “Ant. Jud.”, I, XI, 4; XIII, XV, 4; XIV, I, 4). Conder identifies it with Tell esh-Shaghur, seven miles north of the Dead Sea; Burkhard, Wetstein, and others with Chirbet es-Safich, three miles south of the Dead Sea; E. Robinson places it in Lisan, etc.

Due to the unnatural sins of its inhabitants, Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Seboyin were destroyed by “brimstone and fire from Yahweh” (Gen. 13,13; 18,20; 19,24.29; Hosea 11,8). Since then, their names are synonymous with unrepentant sin, and their fall…

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