Rodkinson, M. L. It was then in intimate connection with the cities of the "plain of Jordan" Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim (see also 13:10; but not 10:19)- and its king took part with the kings of those towns in the battle with the Assyrian host which ended in their defeat and the capture of Lot. The destruction of Sodom (c. 2067 BC) 5, takes place in Genesis 19 after Lot, his wife, 6 and two daughters, with the help of the two angels, escape Sodom and flee to Zoar (Genesis 19:20-22). Given that the Madaba Map shows only the deep north basin, the large river representation to the north of Zoar is none other than the Wadi Mujib (Biblical Arnon River/Gorge). If youre going to use science at all, you might as well confront your old fears of this system of discovery and open your mind to the complete truth whether that backs up your faith or challenges it to the very foundation. Locating Zoar I don't doubt that God had full control to destroy or not destroy cities as He fully sees fit so their isn't anything about the size of the city of Zoar that spared it. The Dead Sea? 26 But Lot's wife looked . Genesis 10:19 The border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as you go toward Gerar, to Gaza; as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, to Lasha.. Genesis 13:10 Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar. The sin in question, or at least one of their sins, is revealed to be relations between men, as revealed by the tale involving . Amahai Mazar is the Professor at the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Deuteronomy 29:22-23 identifies two of the other cities as Admah and Zeboim, while Genesis 19:23 identifies the final city as Zoar, which is presumably the fifth Beatle in our tortured analogy. God Bless! Furthermore, radio-carbon dating isnt the only method we use to date things back beyond lets say 50,000 years. Graves, David E. Sodom And Salt in Their Ancient Near Eastern Cultural Context. Near East Archaeological Society Bulletin 61 (2016): 1532. They were situated in the well-watered Jordan . In terms of why Lot didn't trust God to honor his promise, perhaps he was scared from the nearby destruction of the other cities. 54 Then you will be ashamed of how youve acted, and Sodom and Samaria will be relieved that they werent as sinful as you. Across Tall el-Hammam, archaeologists found widespread evidence of an intense conflagration that left the Middle Bronze Age city in ruins. The evil of these cities was incredible and far-reaching. The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (p. 687). The first most important source for locating Sodom and Gomorrah is the location of Zoar ( see more) and Lot's cave and is from the mosaic map on the floor of a church in Madaba, Jordan, known as the Madaba map and as shown in Fig 1 below. Such an outstanding and picturesque tongue-like shore would not have been overlooked by the artist-cartographer of that map. They further state that Postures of two cargo vessels portrayed on the Madaba Map imply that the main traffic was between Zoar, port at the southeast corner of the north basin, and the north coast as close as possible to Jericho, the gate to Judea. Video lectures from world-renowned experts. Links to all the current blogposts, with a few other links, can be found here (02/26/13): The water penetrates into the salt, creating large cavities. Ptolemy (v. 17, 5) regards it as belonging to Arabia Petrea. I do appreciate those who have substantive things to say. Sodom and its sister cities are located in the large oval-shaped, fertile plain just north of the Dead Sea called simply ha-kikkar, or the Disk (Genesis 13, verse 13). Based on numerous data-sets dealing with ancient Dead Sea levels, its clear that during the Roman and Byzantine Period the level of the Dead Sea was even lower than todayabout -440m. Wes, you are right that the long ages in Genesis fit the common practice in antiquity of exaggerating lifespans to give honor to ancient ancestors. 2 And he said, Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your Isaiah 1:10. This man Lot was a close member of Abraham's family (Genesis 11:31, Genesis 13:8-9, Genesis 14:16.) The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Other than Israel, no country has as many Biblical sites and associations as Jordan: Mount Nebo, from where Moses gazed at the Promised Land; Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John baptized Jesus; Lots Cave, where Lot and his daughters sought refuge after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; and many more. 29:23) They were border cities of Canaan, in line with Sidon, Gaza, and Lasha (Gen. 10:19, 13:12) They were visible to the East of . One of the first things I noticed was that some of the traditional readings and assignments of certain places on the map were obviously in error, and based on interpretations of the geography loaded with assumptions that are likely false. Abram viewed the smoke from Hebron. Jeremiah 48:34 From the cry of Heshbon even to Elealeh, even to Jahaz have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even to Horonaim, to Eglath Shelishiyah: for the waters of Nimrim also shall become desolate. 6. To say this inability to disprove is like any other myth is simply not true. Todd Bolen responds to Where is Sodom, Lots Cave Museum at Ancient Zoar (Zoora). (b) It is identical in . Today, at the present historic low-level, you can easily see Roman and Byzantine ruins along the eastern shoreline of the Dead Sea, right next to the water! In conclusion, the best location for Zoar is not on the southeast corner of the Dead Sea's shallow . Locating Sodom at Tall el-Hammam by Dr. Todd Bolen on his blog (08/23/14). Bible Reference & Map Description. Sodom and Gomorrah's destruction happened in the time of Abraham and involved his nephew Lot. Zoar is up to date located at the south end of the dead sea. Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. The world of the Bible is knowable. Answer. Pt. As for the distance from Tall el-Hammam to Zoar at the confluence of the Arnon with the Dead Seait is 27 miles, not "over 40 miles" as Schlegel states. ; and further, it is written [ibid. (1995). Maybe youll decide to become an atheist in the end. 25 Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities - and also the vegetation in the land. It would be great. Sodom and Gomorrah along with the cities of Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar (Bela) constituted the five "cities of the plain," and they are referenced throughout both the Old and New Testament and the Qurn. Where Is the Original Siloam Pool from the Bible? So,since negative assertions CAN be proven, their claimants can therefore be held accountable to prove their assertion or (if they fail to prove it), admit that their assertion is one that they believe by faith. Olson 2014, 6), which creates an impossible distance of 27 miles for Lot to travel from Sodom (Tall el-Hammam) to reach Zoar (Arnon River) on the morning of its destruction (Genesis 19:20-23).9 Genesis 19:30 Parallel Verses [ See commentary ] Genesis 19:30, NIV: Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar.He and his two daughters lived in a cave. were discovered in Science because someone saw that the prevailing theories of Science It says that all the men of Sodom, young and old, had gathered outside Lot's house. and became one of the largest cities in Canaan. The Popular Handbook of Archaeology and the Bible (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2013), 70, 191, 202, 212220, 38387. The prophet Isaiah designates these names to the sinful dwellers of Jerusalem: "Hear the word of the Lord, rulers of Sodom; give ear to the Torah of our God, people of Gomorrah". The difficulty with Merrills chronological argument is his bias towards the old Usher and related chronologies. The locations on the map noted by Schlegel are among them. They took them outside the city, a safe distance away, because the Eternal decided to show mercy to Lot and his family. into smoke and ashes. If you are Biblical, and it is in The Holy Bible, then you should know yourself it is historical. Big news. shall be saved.' Perspective at which we see things differ. Silva, Phillip J., and Steven Collins. Disagreeing is not an end all. Before the destruction, the Dead Sea was a valley full of natural tar pits, . Then Lot and his > family walk to Zoar, which likely was a distance of 5 miles. Link to first part below, scroll down to read further: My thanks to Steve Collins. Indeed, in the time of Moses, even the valley floor northeast of the Dead Sea was called the Plains of Moab! Most recently, in shooting a documentary for National Geographic, the entire floor of the Byzantine church which contains the mosaic map was cleared and cleaned so that I could personally examine it in detail (on my hands and knees!). For those who are interested, I have read and written extensively on Tall el-Hammam versus what The Sacred Scriptures detail about Sodom and the other 4 Cities of the Kikkar. Note, that the farthest coast of the extension of it southward, is to Zoar. You can hear what he had to say here: Pt. 58 You must pay for all the vulgar and disgusting things you have done. Is that a possible location for the sinful cities of the plains? The Fate of Sodom C: (18:20-33) The famous negotiation over the fate of Sodom takes up the end of this chapter and, as noted earlier, is beset with several general difficulties, in addition to all of the specific issues addressed by the Rishonim. Lot's Flight from Sodom. Madaba Map. Very good information. The All-Access membership pass is the way to get to know the Bible through biblical archaeology. On the other hand, you may want to do some more reading on Tall El Hammam and other recent digs to see why they do compare very favorably to the biblical account we have. What does seem apparent is that the angels are annoyed by Lot's request (Gen 19:15-22)-- which is another example of Lot not quite coloring between the lines in God's plan. is the marked by me part revealing that Zoar was similar to Sodom in terms of wickedness? He was a very righteous man, and Sodom was a very sinful city. Timrat (Northern District) Kefar Shemaryahu (Tel Aviv) 68.99. Steven Collins response to Shirley S. Reed. 5, p. 194). After a few hundred meters the trail makes a sharp . In Abraham's day, it was ruled by a king who rebelled with the four others of the District after 12 years of domination by Chedorlaomer, only to be defeated by the Elamite monarch and his three allies. . Sodom was evidently the chief town in the settlement. king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). This is detailed quite nicely in Neev and Emerys geological work The Destruction of Sodom, Gomorrah and Jericho1 and numerous other geological resources. "Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar . Life comes from life, versus spontaneous generation in Pasteurs day paved the way for A myth, according to the dictionary, is a commonly-held but false belief, a common misconception; a fictitious or imaginary person or thing; a popular conception about a real person or event which exaggerates or idealizes reality. In conclusion, the best location for Zoar is not on the southeast corner of the Dead Seas shallow (sometimes nonexistent) south basin, but on the southeast corner of the deep north basin, where, in fact, the Madaba Map places Byzantine Zoar.2 It is amazing that evidence How did Dominion legally obtain text messages from Fox News hosts? Locating Sodom at Tall el-Hammam by Dr. Todd Bolen on his blog (08/23/14). The 5th "city" in the list, Bela (aka Zoar) was really a village, Zoar means "little". https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OAnA00FnjmZcm1BuKfb-sjsnTivus0Gq. Seeking to answer the question Where is Sodom? and using the Biblical geography of Genesis 13 as a guide, Collins decided to excavate Tall el-Hammam, an extensive and heavily fortified site located in modern Jordan at the eastern edge of the kikkar. Keep on trying to prove. Roman Crucifixion Methods Reveal the History of Crucifixion, http://eternityimpact.sermon.net/main/main/21019904, http://eternityimpact.sermon.net/main/main/21019905, https://www.academia.edu/33972456/How_Old_was_Father_Abraham_Re-examining_the_Patriarchal_Lifespans_in_Light_of_Archaeology, https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OAnA00FnjmZcm1BuKfb-sjsnTivus0Gq, http://lmlk.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-kikkar-dialogues.html, http://lmlk.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/the-kikkar-dialogues/, http://www.amazon.com/review/R35FWSUTDYE5D4/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=061590999X, http://www.amazon.com/review/R3381RLNN8QGOV/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1451684304, http://www.amazon.com/review/R3RYEFE6CD7HQA/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=061590999X, http://blog.bibleplaces.com/2012/01/biblical-problems-with-locating-sodom.html#c5540397197379336674, http://blog.bibleplaces.com/2013/02/arguments-against-locating-sodom-at.html, http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/biblical-archaeology-sites/where-is-s. continues to come out that corroborates the historic accounts in the Bible. If this is not the case, then the Madaba Map would have to be declared a geographical distortion unusable for cartographic purposes. 7. But now Zoar was not far distant from Sodom, when Lot, with his company, got thither before the rising of the sun, Genesis 19:23. . The Apocrypha: King James Version. The Bible itself explained where Sodom, Admah, Gomorrha and Zeboim were and presently are- just under/ inside the dead sea. Access to 50+ curated Special Collections. You do know there is no evidence of them yet Where Is Sodom? This . I believe in finding things that are said in the Bible, but this might need to be just not find. In Genesis 14:3 it is explained that the location of the cities was called valley of Siddim. So I am done with this little discussion, because so many of the comments are sheer fantasy. The mountains, 11KM long and 2KM maximum width, are made of salt mixed with other minerals. While Moses was standing on Nebo beside Shittim, viewed the promised land from Jericho to Zoar. Then my life Theoretically Correct vs Practical Notation. 25:8-9).Yahweh applied His FORMULA 10 times in 70 Weeks Prophecy. He lived in a cave with his two daughters. It is commonly mentioned in connection with Gomorrah, but also with Admah and Zeboim, and on one occasion -- (Genesis 14:1) . Additionally, the statement of Genesis 19:23 that the sun had risen over the land when Lot came to Zoar is better understood as the sun had gone forth over the land, and Lot came to Zoar; that is, the sun had completed its daily course and was in the process of setting in the west by the time Lot reached Zoar. Present Jews are following inaccurate Chronology, History, and Grecian 19 Year Cycle which is misleading all the Jews and Gentiles since CE 1948. The stories of Sodom and its destruction, whether historical or not, were clearly understood to have occurred near the Dead Sea, among the so-called cities of the plain mentioned in Genesis 13, verse 12. For further reading and documentation, I highly recommend my detailed article answering Mr. Schlegel at tallelhammam.com under Related Publications.. I thought it might be helpful for readers ofBiblical Archaeology Reviewto know where to go for another []. . Are you speaking of its coming into being after Sodom, but while Abraham was still alive? Why was the nose gear of Concorde located so far aft? Zoar is located south of the mouth of the Zered River. [] read more, visit: http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/biblical-archaeology-sites/where-is-s and [], Your email address will not be published. The Madaba Map is not depicting only the northern half of the Dead Sea, as Collins asserts. Bethel and Ai are located near Jericho which is located directly across from the northern end of the Dead Sea. 57 But now everyone has learned how wicked you really are. ~ Nathanael AmbassadorHerald Eisner. turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for If one placed Zoar on the Arnon/Wadi Mujib, then, it could be labeled Zared!. Giovanni Pettinato, claimed in 1976 to have found the names Sodom, Gomorrah and Zoar/Bela in the Ebla tablets. In the Genesis account, God . Thats up to you, but if your faith has any merit at all, it will survive this and many other challenges. The stories of Sodom and its destruction,.. whether historical or not, were clearly understood to have occurred near the Dead Sea,. OK, lets get something straight. Big deal. Bill Schlegel. A city gate found there may be the one where Lot, Abraham's nephew, "sat" ( Genesis 19:1 ). There are tons of other examples. Conder, who vigorously maintains that the Vale of Siddim is at the north end of the Dead Sea, looks favorably upon theory of W.H. There has been some doubt about the exact location . it has been proven that Atlas was and is not physically holding the earth in its place and Helios does not transport the sun across the sky by chariot. Abraham and Lot agreed to part ways, with Abraham giving Lot first choice of land. ), the site attained its maximum size during the Middle Bronze Age (c. 20001600 B.C.E.) My personal opinion! Many things here seem to fit correctly except for the date.it seems to me that this city was destroyed ( as dated by the researchers) a few centuries AFTER the time of Abraham. What was the distance between canaan and sodom and gomarrah? With all due respect, Mr. Schlegels take on the location of Zoar is a classic case of seeing what one wants to see and believing what one wants to believe in spite of the facts. So, to use the Genesis lifespans as a basis for the chronology of Abraham is anachronistic. 8 years of Archaeology Odyssey online, exploring the ancient roots of the Western world in a scholarly and entertaining way, The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land. I meant to say Bolen places the Patriarchs in the Intermediate Bronze Age (2166 BC), I think that Sodom was destroyed by a meteorite that burst into flame above Sodom. Mr. Schlegels suggestion that Perhaps exactly the opposite is truethe Madaba Map depicts no Lisan because of high water levels is made in abject ignorance of the facts. First inhabited during the Chalcolithic period (46003600 B.C.E. To God be the glory that so much about the ancient civilizations has been discovered. This included the leaders. On Youtube there are videos showing towns and structures that had been so heated they turned to ash that cascaded down in the same approx 40degree angle as seen in any industrial dump site. Moving Zoar to the mouth of the Arnon doesnt improve Collinss case for Sodom anyway. However, the letters preserved on the map, although usually read -ARED are actually -AREA. There is no delta. diss., Trinity Southwest University, 2016. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. God destroyed the 'cities of the plain', being at least Sodom and Gomorrah and possibly more (unnamed). Thus, Lot had from dawn to dusk to travel from Sodom (Tall el-Hammam) to Zoar. Steven Collins, Director, Tall el-Hammam Excavation Project. Also, if one looks at the water table history in the Dead Sea area, the lake has been up and down several times over the millennia. Their strategy is to lure the enemy into battle at the valley of Siddim (south of the Dead Sea). The Siloam Pool: Where Jesus Healed the Blind Man, The Church of Laodicea in the Bible and Archaeology. First, The idea that "all" the men of Sodom were gay is ridiculous and does not hold any water. As it does, BAR will be there to present it. Link here: The mountains of Sodom are located on the south-west side of the Dead Sea, rising 150-250m above it. Gen 14:1-4 In c.1833BC, five local kings in the Valley of Siddim (the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea) - Bera of Sodom, Birsha of Gomorrah, Shinab of Admah, Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (Zoar) - rebel against their four distant overlords - Amraphel of Shinar (Babylonia), Arioch of Ellasar . Well, that's sort of the issue. The two foremost theories for the genesis of the Universe are chance and God, and since chance does NOT meet these requirements, and God does, then obviously God is the best possible explanation for the genesis of all things. Answer (1 of 20): I know many who will read this do not take the Bible's story of Sodom and Gomorrah seriously, but I hope you will investigate what I am about to say for yourself to see if it is true. 8 years of Archaeology Odyssey online, exploring the ancient roots of the Western world in a scholarly and entertaining way, The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land. James D. Tabor is the Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. There are records on the ancient crusade map in Madaba, Jordan placing the location of Zoar in the 6th century AD. I have no doubt that two cities once existed by the names of Sodom and Gomorrah. Please, let me flee there. Was it this eventwhich destroyed Hammam and the other cities of the kikkarthat was remembered by the Biblical writers in their telling of the story of Sodom? So, yes. Shalom! Genesis 13, archaeology and Biblical geography provide clues. They found scorched foundations and floors buried under nearly 3 feet of dark grey ash, as well as dozens of pottery sherds covered with a frothy, melted surface; the glassy appearance indicates that they were briefly exposed to temperatures well in excess of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, the approximate heat of volcanic magma. Roman Crucifixion Methods Reveal the History of Crucifixion. Lot was whisked to the outskirts of > Sodom > (still in harm?s way). 23]: The sun rose over 2. night in the public square. 3 Yet he strongly urged them, so they Each issue of Biblical Archaeology Review features lavishly illustrated and easy-to-understand articles such as: Fascinating finds from the Hebrew Bible and New Testament periods, The latest scholarship by the world's greatest archaeologists and distinguished scholars, Stunning color photographs, informative maps, and diagrams, Reviews of the latest books on biblical archaeology, 45+ years of Biblical Archaeology Review, 20+ years of Bible Review online, providing critical interpretations of biblical texts. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. There surely isnt a better alternative location for Sodom. However, it seems quite probable that Lot was able to witness the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah from Zoar. one. Ezekiel 16:52-58 MSG;NLT;WYC;CEV;CJB ? Required fields are marked *, COPYRIGHT 2023 BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY 5614 Connecticut Ave NW #343, Washington DC 20015-2604. The Destruction of Sodom: What We Have Learned from Tall El-Hammam and Its Neighbors. Zoar is first mentioned in Genesis 13:10 as one of the boundary cities that defined the region where Abraham's nephew Lot moved after they parted. Yes, the ashen sites have been found scattered over a distance of 50 or more miles (80+ kilometers). 56 Jerusalem, you were so arrogant that you sneered at Sodom. Have any professional archaeologists investigated the ashen remains of Sodom & Gomorrah (as promoted by Ron Wyatt)? Ive studied this map in detail for many years.