The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
Sodom and Gomorrah were two infamous cities that have become synonymous with impenitent sin, and their fall with a proverbial manifestation of divine retribution. The Bible mentions that the cities were destroyed for their sins, haughtiness, egoism, and an attempt at rape.
Description[]
The kingdoms of Sodom and Gomorrah were allied with the cities of Admah, Zeboim, and Bela. These five cities, also known as the "cities of the plain" (from Genesis in the King James Version), were situated on the Jordan River plain in the southern region of the land of Canaan. The plain was compared to the garden of Eden as being well-watered and green, suitable for grazing livestock. Divine judgment was passed upon them and four of them were consumed by fire and brimstone. Neighboring Zoar (Bela) was the only city to be spared.
In the Book of Genesis, the cities were first mentioned during the Battle of Siddim. Lot is encamped within the borders of Sodom at a time when "the men of Sodom [are] wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly". Sodom and Gomorrah are ruled by Bera and Birsha, respectively, although their kingship is not sovereign because the Jordan plain has been under the rule of Chedorlaomer the Elamite for twelve years.
History[]
Background[]
The story of the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah is told in Genesis 18–19. Three men come to Abraham in the plains of Mamre. After the angels received the hospitality of Abraham and Sarah, Yahweh reveals to Abraham that he would confirm what he had heard against Sodom and Gomorrah, "and because their sin is very grievous."
Abraham inquires if Yahweh will spare the city should fifty righteous people be found within it, to which the Lord agrees. Abraham then pleads for mercy at successively lower numbers—first forty-five, then forty, then thirty, then twenty, and finally ten—with the Lord agreeing each time. Two angels are sent on before them to Sodom and are met by Abraham's nephew Lot, who convinces them to lodge with him, and he serves them a meal.
Cities of Sin[]
The sin of Sodom was greed, pride, fullness of bread and a wicked refusal to help the poor. According to the gospels, when neighboring villages were rude and inhospitable to Jesus and his disciples and refused to welcome them with the hospitality expected, he compared them to Sodom in Matthew 10:11-15. Even the biblical passages that focus specifically on the attempted rape were more focused on the fact that the men were attempting to violate two celestial beings. The atrocity of Sodom was that they were so depraved that they would attempt to brutalize even an angelic/celestial being.
Destruction[]
Lot refused to give his guests to the inhabitants of Sodom and, instead, offered them his two virgin daughters "which have not known man" and to "do ye to them as [is] good in your eyes". They refused this offer, complained about this alien, namely Lot, judging them, and then came near to break down the door. Lot's angelic guests rescued him and struck the men with blindness and they informed Lot of their mission to destroy the city, then they commanded Lot to gather his family and leave as the angel of annihilation, Hasmed, would descend upon the city in a chariot of fire and brimstone.
As they made their escape, one angel commanded Lot to "look not behind thee" (singular "thee"). As Sodom and Gomorrah were being destroyed with brimstone and fire from the Lord, Lot's wife looked back at the city, catching a brief of glimpse of Hasmed's wrath and she became a pillar of salt.
