Located near the Dead Sea, Sodom and Gomorrah were two cities destroyed by God around 2000 B.C. because of their wickedness
and depravity. These cities, along with Admah, Zeboiim and Zoar, were know as the "cities of the plain"
(Gen. 13:12, 19:25) in the rich, fertile flatlands south of the Dead Sea.
When Abraham gave his nephew Lot first choice of land in this area of Palestine, Lot chose the fertile,
well-watered Jordan River Valley rather than the rocky hill country. Failing to consider the moral character of the inhabitants,
Lot "pitched his tent even as far as Sodom" (Gen. 13:12).
Two angels were sent to warn Lot that God intended to destroy Sodom. A group of depraved citizens
of Sodom wanted to abuse the two visitors sexually. The angels struck the Sodomites blind to save Lot
(Gen. 19:1-11), and Lot and his family fled the doomed city. Fire and brimstone fell from heaven and consumed Sodom
and Gomorrah, as well as Admah and Zeboiim (Deut. 29:23). Only Zoar escaped destruction (Gen.
19:30).
When Lot's wife looked back at the burning city of Sodom in disobedience of God's instructions, she
was changed into a pillar of salt (Gen. 19:26). A formation of salt, traditionally referred to
as "Lot's Wife", may be seen today on the shores of the Dead Sea.
The destroyed cities of the plain were never rebuilt. Even Zoar eventually disappeared. Formations
of salt, sulphur and asphalt in the vicinity lead many scolars to believe that the cities of the plain are buried beneath
the shallow waters of the southern end of the Dead Sea.
Before its destruction, this area was rich and productive. Today it is barren, with no plant life
of any kind...an eloquent testimony of God's judgement. Many of the Old Testament prophets, including Amos, reminded the Israelites
of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to call the people back to worship of the one true God (Amos
4:11). In the New Testament, Paul quoted the prophet Isaiah's reference to the wickedness of the cities (Rom.
9:29).
