Genesis 18:20 - "The LORD said, "Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous,"
Map of Sodom and Gomorrah
Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible reveals that there were once two cities of the Canaanites called Sodom and Gomorrah which were completely destroyed because of their wickedness. The exact location of the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah remains a mystery. Many scholars have speculated about certain areas within the vicinity of the Dead Sea region. One speculation that has been suggested is that since there were five principal cities of the plain, and there happens to be five streams feeding the southern portion of the Dead Sea, then it is possible that each city was built upon one of the streams. Another popular theory speculates that Sodom and Gomorrah were located in the southern portion of the Dead Sea and that when the destruction happened the cities sank and were buried by the sea.
Background. After Abraham and his nephew Lot decided to part ways, Abraham gave Lot the choice of which part of the land he would like to dwell in, and Abraham would dwell in the other part of the land. Lot shows the beautiful lush valley of the Jordan, the city of Sodom. Sodom turned out to be a very wicked city, and one day three strangers came to visit Abraham while he was in Mamre. One of the strangers turned out to be the LORD Himself, and he told Abraham of his plans to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham stood in the way to prevent this and he interceded for the cities, asking the Lord why he would destroy the righteous with the wicked. But the cities were too wicked and were going to be destroyed, yet Abrahams nephew Lot and his family were spared.
Fire and Brimstone. The fact that the Bible mentions the cities being destroyed by fire and brimstone (sulfur) from heaven is very interesting, because the whole area around the southern portion of the Dead Sea is ridden with asphalt and sulfur. Even the stones in this area are more prone to burning. One interesting fact is that the Greeks called the Dead Sea "Lake Asphaltites" because of all the asphalt. The Bible records that when Abraham arose he looked and saw the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah like the "smoke of a furnace" and since he was in Mamre he would have had a clear view of the southern portion of the Dead Sea.
Genesis 19:24 - "Then the LORD rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of the sky."
Also see: Map of the Journeys of Abraham and Map of Egypt in Biblical Times - Free Bible
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