Reference: Sodom
American
One of the cities of the plain, and for some time the dwelling-place of Lot, Ge 13:10-13; 14:12. Its crimes and vices were so enormous, that God destroyed it by fire from heaven, with three neighboring cities, Gomorrah, Zeboim, and Admah, which were as wicked as itself, Ge 19:1-20. The plain of Siddim in which they stood was pleasant and fruitful, like an earthy paradise; but it was first burned, and afterwards mostly overflowed by the waters of the Dead Sea or Lake of Sodom. See JORDAN, and SEA 3. The prophets, in denouncing woes upon other countries, mention the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and intimate that these places shall be desert and dried up and uninhabited, Jer 49:18; 50:40; that they shall be covered with briers and brambles, a land of salt and sulphur, where can be neither planting nor sowing, De 29:23; Am 4:11. Throughout Scripture the ruin of Sodom and Gomorrah is represented as a most signal effect of God's anger, and as a mirror in which those living at ease in sin and lust may see their own doom. The name is given in Re 11:8, to the great and corrupt city of antichrist. "Sodomites" were men addicted to the beastly lusts alluded in Ge 19; 1Ki 14:24; Ro 1:26-27.
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Then Lot lift up his eyes, and beheld all the country about Jordan: that it was a plenteous country of water. For, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, it was round about Zoar, even as the pleasant garden of the LORD, and as the land of Egypt. Then Lot chose all the coasts of Jordan and took his journey from the east. And so departed the one brother from the other. read more. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan: And Lot in the cities of the plain, and tented till he came to Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked, and sinned exceedingly against the LORD.
And they took Lot also; Abram's brother's son, and his goods, for he dwelled at Sodom; and departed.
And there came two angels to Sodom at even. And Lot sat at the gate of the city. And Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself to the ground with his face. And he said, "See lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house; and tarry all night and wash your feet, and rise up early and go on your ways." And they said, "Nay, but we will bide in the streets all night." read more. And he compelled them exceedingly. And they turned in unto him and entered into his house, and he made them a feast and did bake sweet cakes, and they ate. But before they went to rest, the men of the city of Sodom compassed the house round about both old and young, all the people from all quarters. And they called unto Lot and said unto him, "Where are the men which came into thy house tonight? Bring them out unto us that we may do our lust with them." And Lot went out at doors unto them and shut the door after him, and said, "Nay. For God's sake, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters which have known no man; them will I bring out unto you: do with them as it seemeth you good: Only unto these men do nothing, for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof." And they said, "Come hither." And they said, "Camest thou not in to sojourn, and wilt thou be now a judge? We will surely deal worse with thee than with them. And as they pressed sore upon Lot and began to break up the door, the men put forth their hands and pulled Lot into the house to them and shut to the door. And the men that were at the door of the house, they smote with blindness - both small and great, so that they could not find the door. And the men said moreover unto Lot, "If thou have yet here any son-in-law or sons or daughters or whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring it out of this place: for we must destroy this place, because the cry of them is great before the LORD. Wherefore he hath sent us to destroy it." And Lot went out and spake unto his sons-in-law, which should have married his daughters, and said, "Stand up and get you out of this place, for the LORD will destroy the city!" But he seemed as though he had mocked, unto his sons-in-law. And as the morning arose, the angels caused Lot to speed him, saying, "Stand up, take thy wife and thy two daughters and that that is at hand, lest thou perish in the sin of the city." And as he prolonged the time, the men caught both him, his wife and his two daughters by the hands; because the LORD was merciful unto him, and they brought him forth and set him without the city. When they had brought them out, they said, "Save thy life and look not behind thee, neither tarry thou in any place of the country, but save thyself in the mountain, lest thou perish." Then said Lot unto them, "Oh nay my lord: behold, inasmuch as thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, now make thy mercy great which thou showest unto me in saving my life. For I cannot save myself in the mountains, lest some misfortune fall upon me and I die. Behold, here is a city by, to flee unto, and it is a little one, let me save myself therein: is it not a little one, that my soul may live?"
how all the land is burnt up with brimstone and salt, that it is neither sown nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, after the overthrowing of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim: which the LORD overthrew in his wrath and anger.
And thereto there was a stews of male children in the land, and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
Like as Sodom, Gomorrah, and the cities that lay thereabout, were turned up side down, sayeth the LORD, so shall nobody dwell in Idumaea, and no man shall have his habitation there.
Like as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, with the cities that lay there about, sayeth the LORD: So shall no man dwell there also, neither shall any man have there his habitation.
'Some of you have I overthrown as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah: so that ye were as a brand plucked out of the fire. Yet will ye not turn unto me,' sayeth the LORD.
For this cause, God gave them up unto shameful lusts. For even their women did change the natural use unto the unnatural. And likewise also the men left the natural use of the woman, and burnt in their lusts, one on another, among themselves. And man with man wrought filthiness: and received in themselves the reward of their error, as it was according.
And their bodies shall lie in the streets of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Eygpt, where our Lord was crucified.
Easton
burning; the walled, a city in the vale of Siddim (Ge 13:10; 14:1-16). The wickedness of its inhabitants brought down upon it fire from heaven, by which it was destroyed (Ge 18:16-33; 19:1-29; De 23:17). This city and its awful destruction are frequently alluded to in Scripture (De 29:23; 32:32; Isa 1:9-10; 3:9; 13:19; Jer 23:14; Eze 16:46-56; Zep 2:9; Mt 10:15; Ro 9:29; 2Pe 2:6, etc.). No trace of it or of the other cities of the plain has been discovered, so complete was their destruction. Just opposite the site of Zoar, on the south-west coast of the Dead Sea, is a range of low hills, forming a mass of mineral salt called Jebel Usdum, "the hill of Sodom." It has been concluded, from this and from other considerations, that the cities of the plain stood at the southern end of the Dead Sea. Others, however, with much greater probability, contend that they stood at the northern end of the sea. [in 1897].
Illustration: Jebel Usdom and South End of the Dead Sea
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Then Lot lift up his eyes, and beheld all the country about Jordan: that it was a plenteous country of water. For, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, it was round about Zoar, even as the pleasant garden of the LORD, and as the land of Egypt.
And it chanced within a while, that Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of the nations: made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, and with Shinab king of Admah, and with Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and with the king of Bela - which Bela is called Zoar. read more. All these came together unto the vale of Siddim, which is now the salt sea. Twelve years were they subject to king Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year rebelled. Therefore in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, and smote the Giants in Ashteroth-Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, and the Horites in their own mount Seir unto the plain of Elparan, which bordereth upon the wilderness. And then turned they and came to the well of judgment which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites that dwell in Hazezon-Tamar. Then went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, now called Zoar. And set their men in array to fight with them in the vale of Siddim, that is to say, with Chedorlaomer the king of Elam and with Tidal king of the nations, and with Amraphel king of Shinar, and with Arioch king of Ellasar: four kings against five. And that vale of Siddim was full of slime pits. And the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there. And the residue fled to the mountains. And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot also; Abram's brother's son, and his goods, for he dwelled at Sodom; and departed. Then came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; which dwelt in the oak grove of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and Aner, which were confederate with Abram. When Abram heard that his brother was taken, he harnessed his servants born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and followed till they came at Dan. And set himself and his servants in array, and fell upon them by night, and smote them, and chased them away unto Hobah, which lieth on the lefthand of Damascus, and brought again all the goods and also his brother Lot, and his goods; the women also and the people.
Then the men stood up from thence and looked toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. And the LORD said, "Can I hide from Abraham that thing which I am about to do, read more. seeing that Abraham shall be a great and a mighty people, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do after right and conscience, that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that he hath promised him." And the LORD said, "The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and their sin is exceeding grievous. I will go down and see whether they have done altogether according to that cry which is come unto me or not, that I may know." And the men departed thence and went to Sodomward. But Abraham stood yet before the LORD, and drew near and said, "Wilt thou destroy the righteous with the wicked? If there be fifty righteous within the city, wilt thou destroy it and not spare the place for the sake of fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee, that thou shouldest do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, and that the righteous should be as the wicked: that be far from thee. Should not the Judge of all the world do according to right?" And the LORD said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, I will spare all the place for their sakes." And Abraham answered and said, "Behold, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD, and yet am but dust and ashes. What though there lack five of fifty righteous, wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five?" And he said, "If I find there forty and five I will not destroy them." And he spake unto him yet again, and said, "What if there be forty found there?" And he said, "I will not do it for forty's sake." And he said, "O let not my LORD be angry, that I speak. What if there be found thirty there?" And he said, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." And he said, "Oh, see, I have begun to speak unto my LORD, what if there be twenty found there?" And he said, "I will not destroy them for twenty's sake." And he said, "O let not my LORD be angry, that I speak yet, but even once more only. What if ten be found there?" And he said, "I will not destroy them for ten's sake." And the LORD went his way as soon as he had left communing with Abraham. And Abraham returned unto his place.
And there came two angels to Sodom at even. And Lot sat at the gate of the city. And Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself to the ground with his face. And he said, "See lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house; and tarry all night and wash your feet, and rise up early and go on your ways." And they said, "Nay, but we will bide in the streets all night." read more. And he compelled them exceedingly. And they turned in unto him and entered into his house, and he made them a feast and did bake sweet cakes, and they ate. But before they went to rest, the men of the city of Sodom compassed the house round about both old and young, all the people from all quarters. And they called unto Lot and said unto him, "Where are the men which came into thy house tonight? Bring them out unto us that we may do our lust with them." And Lot went out at doors unto them and shut the door after him, and said, "Nay. For God's sake, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters which have known no man; them will I bring out unto you: do with them as it seemeth you good: Only unto these men do nothing, for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof." And they said, "Come hither." And they said, "Camest thou not in to sojourn, and wilt thou be now a judge? We will surely deal worse with thee than with them. And as they pressed sore upon Lot and began to break up the door, the men put forth their hands and pulled Lot into the house to them and shut to the door. And the men that were at the door of the house, they smote with blindness - both small and great, so that they could not find the door. And the men said moreover unto Lot, "If thou have yet here any son-in-law or sons or daughters or whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring it out of this place: for we must destroy this place, because the cry of them is great before the LORD. Wherefore he hath sent us to destroy it." And Lot went out and spake unto his sons-in-law, which should have married his daughters, and said, "Stand up and get you out of this place, for the LORD will destroy the city!" But he seemed as though he had mocked, unto his sons-in-law. And as the morning arose, the angels caused Lot to speed him, saying, "Stand up, take thy wife and thy two daughters and that that is at hand, lest thou perish in the sin of the city." And as he prolonged the time, the men caught both him, his wife and his two daughters by the hands; because the LORD was merciful unto him, and they brought him forth and set him without the city. When they had brought them out, they said, "Save thy life and look not behind thee, neither tarry thou in any place of the country, but save thyself in the mountain, lest thou perish." Then said Lot unto them, "Oh nay my lord: behold, inasmuch as thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, now make thy mercy great which thou showest unto me in saving my life. For I cannot save myself in the mountains, lest some misfortune fall upon me and I die. Behold, here is a city by, to flee unto, and it is a little one, let me save myself therein: is it not a little one, that my soul may live?" And he said to him, "See, I have received thy request as concerning this thing, that I will not overthrow this city for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, and save thyself there, for I can do nothing till thou be come in thither." And therefore the name of the city is called Zoar. And the sun was upon the earth when Lot was entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah, brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven, and overthrew those cities and all the region, and all that dwelled in the cities, and that that grew upon the earth. And Lot's wife looked behind her, and was turned in to a pillar of salt. Abraham rose up early and got him to the place where he stood before the LORD, and looked toward Sodom and Gomorra and toward all the land of that country. And as he looked: behold, the smoke of the country arose as it had been the smoke of a furnace. But yet when God destroyed the cities of the region, he thought upon Abraham: and sent Lot out from the danger of the overthrowing, when he overthrew the cities where Lot dwelled.
There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor whorekeeper of the sons of Israel.
how all the land is burnt up with brimstone and salt, that it is neither sown nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, after the overthrowing of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim: which the LORD overthrew in his wrath and anger.
But their vines are of the vines of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are grapes of gall, and their clusters be bitter.
And except the LORD of Hosts had left us a few alive, we should have been as Sodom, and like unto Gomorrah. Hear the word of the LORD, ye tyrants of Sodom, and hearken unto the law of our God, thou people of Gomorrah.
The changing of their countenance betrayeth them; yea, they declare their own sins themselves, as Sodom, and hide them not. Woe be unto their souls, for they shall be heavily rewarded.
And Babylon, that glory of kingdoms and beauty of the Chaldeans' honor, shall be destroyed, even as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorra.
I have seen also among the Prophets of Jerusalem foul adultery, and presumptuous lies. They take the most shameful men by the hand, flattering them, so that they cannot return from their wickedness. All these with their citizens are, unto me, as Sodom and as the inhabiters of Gomorrah."
Thine eldest sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell upon thy left hand. But thy youngest sister that dwelleth on thy righthand, is Sodom and her daughters. Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but in all thy ways thou hast been more corrupt than they. read more. As truly as I live, sayeth the LORD God, Sodom thy sister with her daughters hath not done so evil as thou and thy daughters. Behold, the sins of thy sister Sodom, were these: Pride, fullness of meat, abundance and Idleness: these things had she and her daughters. Besides that, they reached not their hand to the poor and needy, but were proud - And did abominable things before me, wherefore I took them away when I had seen it. Neither hath Samaria done half of thy sins. Yea, thou hast exceeded them in wickedness: Insomuch that in comparison of all the abominations which thou hast done, thou hast made thy sisters good women. Therefore thou which didst condemn thy sister: bear thine own shame, for thine own offences that thou hast committed - more abominable than they did, which indeed are more righteous than thou art. Be thou, I say, ashamed; and bear thy shameful rebuke, seeing that thou has proven thy sisters in comparison of the righteous. As for their captivity, namely the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, the captivity of Samaria and her daughters: I will bring them again. So will I also bring again thy captivity among them: that thou mayest take thine own confusion upon thee, and be ashamed of all that thou hast done, and to comfort them. Thus thy sisters, namely Sodom and her daughters, Samaria and her daughters, with thyself and thy daughters, shall be brought again to your old estate. When thou wast in thy pride,
Therefore as truly as I live, sayeth the LORD of Hosts the God of Israel, Moab shall be as Sodom, and Ammon as Gomorrah: even dry thorn hedges, salt pits and perpetual wilderness. The residue of my folk shall spoil them, the remnant of my people shall have them in possession.
Truly I say unto you, it shall be easier for the land of Sodom, and Gomorra, in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Fausets
Chief of the group Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim, and Bela or Zoar (Ge 10:19; 13:3,10-13,18; Lu 17:29; 2Pe 2:6; Jg 1:4-7; Mr 6:11; Mt 10:15; De 29:23). (See GOMORRAH.) Palmer and Drake traversing the Negeb in a S.E. direction, as far as Mount Hor, made a detour to jebel ("mount") Madherah. At its summit and base are blocks of stone, of which the Arabs say: "a people once dwelt there, to whom travelers came seeking hospitality; but the people did to them a horrible deed, wherefore the Almighty in anger rained down stones, and destroyed them from off the face of the earth." Sodom is interpreted "burning" or else "vineyard" (Gesenius), "fortification" (Furst).
Abraham could see the smoke of the burning cities from near Hebron. The Lord over night announced to him Sodom's doom, at some spot on the way from Mamre or Hebron toward Sodom, to which he had accompanied the angels (Ge 18:16). Tradition says the spot was Caphar Berucha, from which the Dead Sea is visible through a ravine. Long ranges of hills intervene between Hebron and Sodom, but from the hill over Hebron or Mamre through a gap in the chain the whole district of the Jordan valley is visible. Lot at first pitched only towards Sodom, not until afterward did he go further south to Sodom itself (Ge 13:12; 14:12; and Ge 14:3 says expressly the vale of Siddim is the Salt Sea). This favors the S. of the Dead Sea site for Sodom, etc., which the traditional names confirm.
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And the coasts of the Canaanites were from Sidon till thou come to Gerar and to Gaza, and till thou come to Sodom, Gomorrah, Adma, Zeboiim: even unto Lasha.
And he went on his journey from the south even unto Bethel, and unto the place where his tent was at the first time between Bethel and Ai,
Then Lot lift up his eyes, and beheld all the country about Jordan: that it was a plenteous country of water. For, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, it was round about Zoar, even as the pleasant garden of the LORD, and as the land of Egypt. Then Lot chose all the coasts of Jordan and took his journey from the east. And so departed the one brother from the other. read more. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan: And Lot in the cities of the plain, and tented till he came to Sodom.
Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan: And Lot in the cities of the plain, and tented till he came to Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked, and sinned exceedingly against the LORD.
Then Abram took down his tent, and went and dwelled in the oak grove of Mamre, which is in Hebron; and built there an altar to the LORD.
All these came together unto the vale of Siddim, which is now the salt sea.
And they took Lot also; Abram's brother's son, and his goods, for he dwelled at Sodom; and departed.
Then the men stood up from thence and looked toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
how all the land is burnt up with brimstone and salt, that it is neither sown nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, after the overthrowing of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim: which the LORD overthrew in his wrath and anger.
And Judah went up, and the LORD delivered the Cananites and Perezites into their hands. And they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men. And they found Adonibezek in Bezek. And they fought against him, and slew the Cananites and Perezites. read more. But Adonibezek fled, and they followed after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. Then Adonibezek said, "Three score and ten kings having their thumbs and great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table wherefore as I have done so God hath done to me again." And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.
Truly I say unto you, it shall be easier for the land of Sodom, and Gomorra, in the day of judgment, than for that city.
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust that is under your feet, for a witness unto them. I say verily unto you, it shall be easier for Sodom and Gomorra, at the day of judgment, than for that city."
Hastings
Morish
Sod'om Sodoma. Sod'oma
This city is first mentioned as a boundary of the Canaanites. Ge 10:19. Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom, but it is recorded that the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked before the Lord. Afterwards he dwelt therein, and was carried away captive when Sodom was taken by the five kings from the East. It is related that about the time when God fulfilled His promise of a son to Abraham, the cry of Sodom and their grievous sin had come up to Him, and He communicated to Abraham His intention to destroy the city; but, on the pleading of Abraham, He said He would not destroy it if there were ten righteous persons found therein; ten, however, were not found. Lot, his wife, and two daughters were rescued by two angels, and God rained down fire and brimstone on the place, and it was utterly destroyed. Though it was doubtless in the vicinity of the Salt Sea, its site cannot be identified. Ge 14:2-22; 18:16-32; 19:1-28.
Sodom is regarded in scripture as a symbol of wickedness. Isaiah calls the heads of Judah the 'rulers of Sodom.' Isa 1:10; cf. Eze 16:46-56; Re 11:8. The Lord, to show the exceeding wickedness of rejecting Him, after hearing His gracious words and seeing His mighty works, declared that it would be more tolerable in a day of judgement for Sodom than for the cities that rejected Him. Lu 10:12. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha, both as to its suddenness and completeness, is held up as a warning to sinners of coming judgements. Lu 17:29; Jude 1:7. In Ro 9:29 it is called SODOMA.
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And the coasts of the Canaanites were from Sidon till thou come to Gerar and to Gaza, and till thou come to Sodom, Gomorrah, Adma, Zeboiim: even unto Lasha.
made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, and with Shinab king of Admah, and with Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and with the king of Bela - which Bela is called Zoar. All these came together unto the vale of Siddim, which is now the salt sea. read more. Twelve years were they subject to king Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year rebelled. Therefore in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, and smote the Giants in Ashteroth-Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, and the Horites in their own mount Seir unto the plain of Elparan, which bordereth upon the wilderness. And then turned they and came to the well of judgment which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites that dwell in Hazezon-Tamar. Then went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, now called Zoar. And set their men in array to fight with them in the vale of Siddim, that is to say, with Chedorlaomer the king of Elam and with Tidal king of the nations, and with Amraphel king of Shinar, and with Arioch king of Ellasar: four kings against five. And that vale of Siddim was full of slime pits. And the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there. And the residue fled to the mountains. And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot also; Abram's brother's son, and his goods, for he dwelled at Sodom; and departed. Then came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; which dwelt in the oak grove of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and Aner, which were confederate with Abram. When Abram heard that his brother was taken, he harnessed his servants born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and followed till they came at Dan. And set himself and his servants in array, and fell upon them by night, and smote them, and chased them away unto Hobah, which lieth on the lefthand of Damascus, and brought again all the goods and also his brother Lot, and his goods; the women also and the people. And as he returned again from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and of the kings that were with him, then came the king of Sodom to meet him, unto the vale of Shaveh which now is called King's Dale. Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine. And he being the priest of the most highest God, blessed him, saying, "Blessed be Abram unto the most highest God, possessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be God the most highest, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hands." And Abram gave him tithes of all. Then said the king of Sodom unto Abram, "Give me the souls, and take the goods to thyself." And Abram answered the king of Sodom, "I lift up my hand unto the LORD God most high, possessor of heaven and earth,
Then the men stood up from thence and looked toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. And the LORD said, "Can I hide from Abraham that thing which I am about to do, read more. seeing that Abraham shall be a great and a mighty people, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do after right and conscience, that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that he hath promised him." And the LORD said, "The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and their sin is exceeding grievous. I will go down and see whether they have done altogether according to that cry which is come unto me or not, that I may know." And the men departed thence and went to Sodomward. But Abraham stood yet before the LORD, and drew near and said, "Wilt thou destroy the righteous with the wicked? If there be fifty righteous within the city, wilt thou destroy it and not spare the place for the sake of fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee, that thou shouldest do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, and that the righteous should be as the wicked: that be far from thee. Should not the Judge of all the world do according to right?" And the LORD said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, I will spare all the place for their sakes." And Abraham answered and said, "Behold, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD, and yet am but dust and ashes. What though there lack five of fifty righteous, wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five?" And he said, "If I find there forty and five I will not destroy them." And he spake unto him yet again, and said, "What if there be forty found there?" And he said, "I will not do it for forty's sake." And he said, "O let not my LORD be angry, that I speak. What if there be found thirty there?" And he said, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." And he said, "Oh, see, I have begun to speak unto my LORD, what if there be twenty found there?" And he said, "I will not destroy them for twenty's sake." And he said, "O let not my LORD be angry, that I speak yet, but even once more only. What if ten be found there?" And he said, "I will not destroy them for ten's sake."
And there came two angels to Sodom at even. And Lot sat at the gate of the city. And Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself to the ground with his face. And he said, "See lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house; and tarry all night and wash your feet, and rise up early and go on your ways." And they said, "Nay, but we will bide in the streets all night." read more. And he compelled them exceedingly. And they turned in unto him and entered into his house, and he made them a feast and did bake sweet cakes, and they ate. But before they went to rest, the men of the city of Sodom compassed the house round about both old and young, all the people from all quarters. And they called unto Lot and said unto him, "Where are the men which came into thy house tonight? Bring them out unto us that we may do our lust with them." And Lot went out at doors unto them and shut the door after him, and said, "Nay. For God's sake, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters which have known no man; them will I bring out unto you: do with them as it seemeth you good: Only unto these men do nothing, for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof." And they said, "Come hither." And they said, "Camest thou not in to sojourn, and wilt thou be now a judge? We will surely deal worse with thee than with them. And as they pressed sore upon Lot and began to break up the door, the men put forth their hands and pulled Lot into the house to them and shut to the door. And the men that were at the door of the house, they smote with blindness - both small and great, so that they could not find the door. And the men said moreover unto Lot, "If thou have yet here any son-in-law or sons or daughters or whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring it out of this place: for we must destroy this place, because the cry of them is great before the LORD. Wherefore he hath sent us to destroy it." And Lot went out and spake unto his sons-in-law, which should have married his daughters, and said, "Stand up and get you out of this place, for the LORD will destroy the city!" But he seemed as though he had mocked, unto his sons-in-law. And as the morning arose, the angels caused Lot to speed him, saying, "Stand up, take thy wife and thy two daughters and that that is at hand, lest thou perish in the sin of the city." And as he prolonged the time, the men caught both him, his wife and his two daughters by the hands; because the LORD was merciful unto him, and they brought him forth and set him without the city. When they had brought them out, they said, "Save thy life and look not behind thee, neither tarry thou in any place of the country, but save thyself in the mountain, lest thou perish." Then said Lot unto them, "Oh nay my lord: behold, inasmuch as thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, now make thy mercy great which thou showest unto me in saving my life. For I cannot save myself in the mountains, lest some misfortune fall upon me and I die. Behold, here is a city by, to flee unto, and it is a little one, let me save myself therein: is it not a little one, that my soul may live?" And he said to him, "See, I have received thy request as concerning this thing, that I will not overthrow this city for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, and save thyself there, for I can do nothing till thou be come in thither." And therefore the name of the city is called Zoar. And the sun was upon the earth when Lot was entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah, brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven, and overthrew those cities and all the region, and all that dwelled in the cities, and that that grew upon the earth. And Lot's wife looked behind her, and was turned in to a pillar of salt. Abraham rose up early and got him to the place where he stood before the LORD, and looked toward Sodom and Gomorra and toward all the land of that country. And as he looked: behold, the smoke of the country arose as it had been the smoke of a furnace.
Hear the word of the LORD, ye tyrants of Sodom, and hearken unto the law of our God, thou people of Gomorrah.
Thine eldest sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell upon thy left hand. But thy youngest sister that dwelleth on thy righthand, is Sodom and her daughters. Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but in all thy ways thou hast been more corrupt than they. read more. As truly as I live, sayeth the LORD God, Sodom thy sister with her daughters hath not done so evil as thou and thy daughters. Behold, the sins of thy sister Sodom, were these: Pride, fullness of meat, abundance and Idleness: these things had she and her daughters. Besides that, they reached not their hand to the poor and needy, but were proud - And did abominable things before me, wherefore I took them away when I had seen it. Neither hath Samaria done half of thy sins. Yea, thou hast exceeded them in wickedness: Insomuch that in comparison of all the abominations which thou hast done, thou hast made thy sisters good women. Therefore thou which didst condemn thy sister: bear thine own shame, for thine own offences that thou hast committed - more abominable than they did, which indeed are more righteous than thou art. Be thou, I say, ashamed; and bear thy shameful rebuke, seeing that thou has proven thy sisters in comparison of the righteous. As for their captivity, namely the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, the captivity of Samaria and her daughters: I will bring them again. So will I also bring again thy captivity among them: that thou mayest take thine own confusion upon thee, and be ashamed of all that thou hast done, and to comfort them. Thus thy sisters, namely Sodom and her daughters, Samaria and her daughters, with thyself and thy daughters, shall be brought again to your old estate. When thou wast in thy pride,
Yea and I say unto you: that it shall be easier in that day, for Sodom than for that city.
And even the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
And as Isaiah said before, "Except the Lord of hosts had left us seed, we had been made as Sodom, and had been likened to Gomorrah."
even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them - which in like manner defiled themselves, with fornication, and followed strange flesh - are set forth for an example, and suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.
And their bodies shall lie in the streets of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Eygpt, where our Lord was crucified.
Smith
Sod'om
(burning), one of the most ancient cities of Syria. It is commonly mentioned in connection with Gomorrah, but also with Admah and Zeboim, and on one occasion --
... --with Bela or Zoar. Sodom was evidently the chief town in the settlement. The four are first named in the ethnological records of
as belonging to the Canaanites. The next mention of the name of Sodom,
gives more certain indication of the position of the city. Abram and Lot are standing together between Bethel and Ai, ver. 3, taking a survey of the land around and below them. Eastward of them, and absolutely at their feet, lay the "circle of Jordan." The whole circle was one great oasis --"a garden of Jehovah." ver. 10. In the midst of the garden the four cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim appear to have been situated. It is necessary to notice how absolutely the cities are identified with the district. In the subsequent account of their destruction,
... the topographical terms are employed with all the precision which is characteristic of such early times. The mention of the Jordan is conclusive as to the situation of the district, for the Jordan ceases where it enters the Dead Sea, and can have no existence south of that point. The catastrophe by which they were destroyed is described in
... as a shower of brimstone and fire from Jehovah. However we may interpret the words of the earliest narrative, one thing is certain --that the lake was not one of the agents in the catastrophe. From all these passages, though much is obscure, two things seem clear:
1. That Sodom and the rest of the cities of the plain of Jordan stood on the north of the Dead Sea;
2. That neither the cities nor the district were submerged by the lake, but that the cities were overthrown and the land spoiled, and that it may still be seen in its desolate condition. When, however, we turn to more modern views, we discover a remarkable variance from these conclusions.
1. The opinion long current that the five cities were submerged in the lake, and that their remains--walls, columns and capitals--might he still discerned below the water, hardly needs refutation after the distinct statement and the constant implication of Scripture. But,
2. A more serious departure from the terms of the ancient history is exhibited in the prevalent opinion that the cities stood at the south end of the lake. This appears to, have been the belief of Josephus and Jerome. It seems to have been universally held by the medieval historians and pilgrims, and it is adopted by modern topographers probably without exception. There are several grounds for this belief; but the main point on which Dr. Robinson rests his argument is the situation of Zoar. (a) "Lot," says he, "fled to Zoar, which was near to Sodom; and Zoar lay almost at the southern end of the present sea, probably in the month of Wady Kerak." (b) Another consideration in favor of placing the cities at the southern end of the lake is the existence of similar names in that direction. (c) A third argument, and perhaps the weightiest of the three, is the existence of the salt mountain at the south of the lake, and its tendency to split off in columnar masses presenting a rude resemblance to the human form. But it is by no means certain that salt does not exist at other spots round the lake. (d) (A fourth and yet stronger argument is drawn from the fact that Abraham saw the smoke of the burning cities from Hebron. (e) A fifth argument is found in the numerous lime-pits found at that southern end of the Dead Sea. Robinson, Schaff, Baedeker, Lieutenant Lynch and others favor this view. --ED.) It thus appears that on the situation of Sodom no satisfactory conclusion can at present be readied: On the one hand, the narrative of Genesis seems to state positively that it lay at the northern end of the Dead Sea. On the other hand, long-continued tradition and the names of the existing spots seem to pronounce with almost equal positiveness that it was at its southern end. Of the catastrophe which destroyed the city and the district of Sodom we can hardly hope ever to form a satisfactory conception. Some catastrophe there undoubtedly was but what secondary agencies, besides fire, were employed in the accomplishment of the punishment cannot be safely determined in the almost total absence of exact scientific description of the natural features of the ground round the lake. We may suppose, however, that the actual agent in the ignition and destruction of the cities had been of the nature of a tremendous thunder-storm accompanied by a discharge of meteoric stones, (and that these set on fire the bitumen with which the soil was saturated, and which was used in building the city. And it may be that this burning out of the soil caused the plain to sink below the level of the Dead Sea, and the waters to flow over it--if indeed Sodom and its sister cities are really under the water.--ED.) The miserable fate of Sodom and Gomorrah is held up as a warning in numerous passages of the Old and New Testaments.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And the coasts of the Canaanites were from Sidon till thou come to Gerar and to Gaza, and till thou come to Sodom, Gomorrah, Adma, Zeboiim: even unto Lasha.
Then Lot lift up his eyes, and beheld all the country about Jordan: that it was a plenteous country of water. For, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, it was round about Zoar, even as the pleasant garden of the LORD, and as the land of Egypt. Then Lot chose all the coasts of Jordan and took his journey from the east. And so departed the one brother from the other. read more. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan: And Lot in the cities of the plain, and tented till he came to Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked, and sinned exceedingly against the LORD.
And it chanced within a while, that Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of the nations:
And there came two angels to Sodom at even. And Lot sat at the gate of the city. And Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself to the ground with his face.
And there came two angels to Sodom at even. And Lot sat at the gate of the city. And Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself to the ground with his face.
And the Pharisees came forth, and began to dispute with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven and tempting him,
For there are certain craftily crept in, of which it was written aforetime unto such judgement. They are ungodly, and turn the grace of our Lord God unto wantonness; And deny God the only Lord, and our Lord Jesus Christ. My mind is therefore to put you in remembrance, forasmuch as ye once know this, how that the Lord - after that he had delivered the people out of Egypt - destroyed them which afterward believed not: read more. The angels also, which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day: even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them - which in like manner defiled themselves, with fornication, and followed strange flesh - are set forth for an example, and suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.
Watsons
SODOM, the capital of Pentapolis, which for some time was the residence of Lot, the nephew of Abraham. The history of its destruction is given in the book of Genesis. See ABRAHAM, See LOT, and See DEAD SEA.