Title: Sodom and Gomorrah
1Sodom and Gomorrah
2Areas Once Fertile
A glimpse is also afforded of the Jordan Valley
which is seen in tropical abundance "well watered
everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the
land of Egypt" (Gn 1310).24 Archaeological
investigations have not only made it reasonably
certain that at that time many more lateral
streams flowed in the Jordan than there are
today, but also that it was intensively
developed, in spite of its present summer heat
and mosquito-breeding swamps.25
3Areas Once Fertile
The "novel" of Sinuhe, dating from the twentieth
century B.C., describes the highland of
Palestine-Syria as a land of figs and vines,
having more wine than water. "Plentiful was its
honey, abundant its oil and all fruits were on
its trees. There was barley in it and wheat, and
countless cattle of all kinds."
4Areas Once Fertile
Many square miles of former tamarisk groves are
now clearly visible under the sea water south of
El Lisan, Albright, AASOR, VI (1926), 14.
5The Fertile Land Flowing With Milk and Honey
Today, most of the olive plantations are found in
Samaria and in the Galilee. We know, from the
remains of the olive presses, that in ancient
times olives were grown almost all over the
country.
6The Fertile Land Flowing With Milk and Honey
Mishnaic and Talmudic literature is filled with
detailed references to wine harvests, production,
and consumption, and archaeologists are
constantly unearthing the remains of ancient wine
presses at digs around the country.
7Josephus
- An early record of these cities is provided by
Josephus in his Wars of the Jews, Book IV,
Chapter VIII - Now this country is then so sadly burnt up,
that nobody cares to come at it... It was of old
a most happy land, both for the fruits it bore
and the riches of its cities, although it be now
all burnt up. It is related how for the impiety
of its inhabitants, it was burnt by lightning in
consequence of which there are still the
remainders of that divine fire and the traces
(or shadows) of the five cities are still to be
seen . . . .
8Archaeologists
- "Now, brimstone is brimstone, even though used in
a miracle. And a region on which brimstone was
rained will show brimstone. Well, it does we
picked up pure sulfur, in pieces as big as the
end of my thumb. It is mixed with the marl of the
mountains on the west side of the sea, and now is
to be found scattered along the shore of the sea
even on the east side, some four or five miles
distant from the ledge that contains the stratum.
It has somehow scattered far and wide over this
Plain." (Explorations at Sodom", by Dr. Melvin
Grove Kyle, 1928, pp. 52-53.)
9The Historical Common Understanding
Dt 2923and that the whole land of it is sulfur,
and salt, and a burning, that it is not sown, nor
bears, nor any grass grows therein, like the
overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and
Zeboiim, which Yahweh overthrew in his anger, and
in his wrath Dt 3232For their vine is of the
vine of Sodom, of the fields of Gomorrah. Their
grapes are grapes of gall, Their clusters are
bitter. Is 19,109 Unless Yahweh of Armies had
left to us a very small remnant, we would have
been as Sodomwe would have been like
Gomorrah.10 Hear the word of Yahweh, you rulers
of Sodom! Listen to the law of our God, you
people of Gomorrah!
10The Historical Common Understanding
Is 39The look of their faces testify against
them. They parade their sin like Sodom.They
dont hide it. Woe to their soul!For they
have brought disaster upon themselves. Is
1319Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty
of the Chaldeans pride, will be like when God
overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. Jr 2314In the
prophets of Jerusalem also I have seen a horrible
thing they commit adultery, and walk in lies
and they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so
that none does return from his wickedness they
are all of them become to me as Sodom, and its
inhabitants as Gomorrah.
11The Historical Common Understanding
Jr 4918As in the overthrow of Sodom and
Gomorrah and the neighbor cities of it, says
Yahweh, no man shall dwell there, neither shall
any son of man sojourn therein. Jr 5040As when
God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor
cities of it, says Yahweh, so shall no man dwell
there, neither shall any son of man sojourn
therein. Lm 46For the iniquity of the daughter
of my people is greater than the sin of
Sodom,That was overthrown as in a moment, and no
hands were laid on her.
12The Historical Common Understanding
Am 411I have overthrown some of you, as when
God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,and you were
like a burning stick plucked out of the fire
yet you havent returned to me, says Yahweh. Zp
29Therefore as I live, says Yahweh of Armies,
the God of Israel, surely Moab will be as Sodom,
and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, a
possession of nettles, and salt pits, and a
perpetual desolation. The remnant of my people
will plunder them, and the survivors of my nation
will inherit them. Mt 1015Most certainly I
tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land
of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than
for that city.
13The Historical Common Understanding
Mt 1123,2423 You, Capernaum, who are exalted to
heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the
mighty works had been done in Sodom which were
done in you, it would have remained until this
day.24 But I tell you that it will be more
tolerable for the land of Sodom, on the day of
judgment, than for you. Mk 611Whoever will not
receive you nor hear you, as you depart from
there, shake off the dust that is under your feet
for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell
you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and
Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that
city! LK 1012I tell you, it will be more
tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that
city. Lk 1729but in the day that Lot went out
from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the
sky, and destroyed them all.
14The Historical Common Understanding
Rm 929As Isaiah has said before,Unless the
Lord of Armies had left us a seed, we would
have become like Sodom,and would have been made
like Gomorrah. 2Pt 26and turning the cities of
Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to
destruction, having made them an example to those
who would live ungodly Jd 17Even as Sodom and
Gomorrah, and the cities around them, having, in
the same way as these, given themselves over to
sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh,
are set forth as an example, suffering the
punishment of eternal fire. Rv 118Their dead
bodies will be in the street of the great city,
which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt,
where also their Lord was crucified.
15Civilization Removed By Fire
16Ash and Sulfur
Something Drastically Changed the well-watered
plains that had attracted Lot to the area. Now
there is nothing attractive about the place.
17Brimstone
18Layers of Ash
19Specific Cities Now Unfit for Habitation
20Numeira
21Lessons To Learn
- God left monuments to His wrath against all
ungodliness Rom.118 - Those who practice such things are worthy of
death Rom.1 - The steps toward depravity starts with failure to
glorify God as God - Vile passions develop where the Creator is
neglected and forgotten Rom.121-32 - Sodom and Gomorrah received the just penalty of
their error