one. The evil of these cities was incredible and far-reaching. Looking strictly at the available evidence the Patriarchs were clearly MBII figures, and a destruction of Tall el-Hammam (Sodom) in the 1750-1650 BCE range fits perfectly. Nor is the Lisan (Tongue) missing from the map because of low water levels. Perhaps exactly the opposite is truethe Madaba Map depicts no Lisan because of high water levels. Your email address will not be published. There surely isnt a better alternative location for Sodom. follow it for a total of 1.4 Km, The initial climb is steep but then the trail makes a sharp left and levels. Bill Schlegel. Rather it should be, whether one believes they are historical or not. Steve Collinss interpretation of the location of Zoar* on the Madaba Map is faulty. Links to all the current blogposts, with a few other links, can be found here (02/26/13): Wiki User. The separatists chose to name their town Zoar after the Biblical account of Lot, who escaped to Zoar from Sodom in the book of Genesis. I think there is evidence that they may be under a modern-day city now. "It is written (say the Gemarists), 'The sun was risen upon the earth, when Lot entered into Sodom.'--Now Sodom was four miles from Zoar." The Roman/Byzantine Zoar is in the same vicinity, just south of where the Wadi Mujib/Arnon empties into the Dead Sea. 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. But if one has his mind Peabody: Hendrickson.". Disagreeing is not an end all. What are some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak? Distance Between Zoar and Pretoria, Gauteng is : 1187 Km. I believe Dr. Collins is right on this one. Very good information. Meaning the Dead Sea wasnt in existence during the time of Sodom and it came into existence as a result of Sodoms destruction. ), the site attained its maximum size during the Middle Bronze Age (c. 20001600 B.C.E.) Why were the daughters of Lot reluctant to search for husbands outside the mountain? That the sound of [Moabs] cry rises from Heshbon to Elealeh and Jahaz, from Zoar as far as Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah (Jer 48:34) indicates, in this sorth-to-south sequence, that Zoar is in the middle of the (then) Moabite territory (in a time when the northern border of Moab had moved north to include Heshbon). There are several major holes in the theory and myth that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of homosexuality. 2 And he said, Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your James D. Tabor is the Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The mountains, 11KM long and 2KM maximum width, are made of salt mixed with other minerals. 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. . Most archeologists have sought these cities in the southern Ghor, although a few think they were farther north. 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. But unlike other Canaanite cities that continued to flourish in the Late Bronze Age (1550-1200 B.C.E. Based on apparently where Abraham and Lot were located as they both viewed the well watered Jordan valley, they would have been viewing the north end of the Dead Sea. Then Lot and his > family walk to Zoar, which likely was a distance of 5 miles. Graves, David E. Sodom And Salt in Their Ancient Near Eastern Cultural Context. Near East Archaeological Society Bulletin 61 (2016): 1532. Josephus, Eusebius and Madaba map place Zoar at the south east end. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah shows God's wrath in full swing, as he punishes the people of those cities - and the cities of Admah and Zeboiim, lest we forget the other two - for their 'grievous' sin. Genesis 19:23-26 By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. Since the Genesis patriarchal lifespan numbers are honorific formulas (likely base-60) and not base-10 arithmetic values, they cannot assist in constructing a proper chronology for Abraham. Interestingly enough, it continues to grow taller at a rate . God Bless each of you, Dr John G Leslie. So, yes. Samaria didn?t sin Bible Gateway Someday? This included the leaders. A fault line runs right through the Dead Sea. 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. It is commonly mentioned in connection with Gomorrah, but also with Admah and Zeboim, and on one occasion -- (Genesis 14:1) . But in this case, the holy book (Bible) has given us an understanding and an idea about the place called Sodom and Gomorah thousand years before archaeologists now gave us the exact location Thus, the reverse is the case with myth. Not helpful is posing a battle between BAR and historical, biblical studies. You can ALSO see the circular blast pattern in the geology there using Google Earth or Google Maps by going to Sodom Blast Site. We also know that the Dead Sea level in the time of Abraham (MB2) was approximately the historic low, as today. Now that objective is beginning to shift toward a more thoughtful exploration into what actually happened whether it backs up a bible story or offers a better insight into the actual history of the region. In this section, there is a leitwort that appears seven times: Tzaddik. Here is your ticket to join us as we discover more and more about the biblical world and its people. Attacking a persons character only goes to prove that the content of YOUR argument is weak. . 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. 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. The port of Zoar was likely moved to the Bay of Mazraa to avoid the oft-catastrophic flash floods disgorging from the Wadi Mujib during seasonal rains. The biblical geography alone as described in Genesis 13 should give enough credence to believe that Sodom may very well be located on the northern end of the Dead Sea and not the southeastern 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. If you are Biblical, and it is in The Holy Bible, then you should know yourself it is historical. He cites Deuteronomy 2:4-5, 9, 34:1-3 and Joshua 13:8-28 as evidence that because Israel was not to displace Moab or Edom, Zoar cant be as far south as the mouth of the Zered. That the Reuben/Gad tribal allotment stretched from the Kikkar of the Valley of Jericho, City of Palms, as far as Zoar is clearly marking out its south border at the Arnon River/Gorge, the natural and perpetual border between the Transjordan Israelites and Moabites. mountains, because he was afraid to stay in Zoar; and he stayed in The so-called cities of the plain were Sodom, Gomorrah, Zoar, Admah, and Zeboiim. 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!). 24 Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah - from the Lord out of the heavens. Zoar was then a deep-water port on the Bay of Mazraa at the south end of the north basin. 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. My personal opinion! Boston, MA: The Talmud Society. The story has some cause to be in the Bible; can an archeology discover it? If were going to accept radio-carbon dating for our bible manuscripts, and then turn around and reject it when it proves something wrong about the Bibles account, we are deluding ourselves. The details of the Genesis story emphasize the proximity of Zoar to Sodom (Gen. 19:17, 25, 28). 5, p. 194). In 1924 W. F. Albright, in association with Rev. Oh yea, we are going to have tourists come and see where evil people were, vaped, for their sins. The debate and research continues but people should not be so quick to dismiss this amazing site. The straight-line distance from Bethel/Ai to Hebron is ca. The Bay of Mazraa was always the main, if not the only, natural deepwater haven If Zoar were at Es-Safi, it never could have functioned as an efficient harbor.. 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). 131-138. Abram travels north to rescue Lot. Your email address will not be published. Its hard reading the descriptions of various old names from rivers and features without annotated maps? Mount Sodom is 226 meters above the Dead Sea and 170 meters below sea level, 2-3 kilometers wide and eleven kilometers long. 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. The geographical argument for Tall el-Hammam being Sodom is a lock at every turn. shall be saved.' https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OAnA00FnjmZcm1BuKfb-sjsnTivus0Gq. Was it the action of the men of Sodom that precipitated its destruction in Genesis 19? and became one of the largest cities in Canaan. 54 Then you will be ashamed of how youve acted, and Sodom and Samaria will be relieved that they werent as sinful as you. 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. If sodom is not historic why look for it? Perhaps youll never quite look at things the same way again. For details visit http://www.yahwehcalendar.com. Zoar, Sodom and Gomor rah in t hat order from sout h to north. 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. Im glad to give BAR readers an update on the Tall el-Hammam/Sodom excavations if they request it. Four highly acclaimed books, published in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution: Aspects of Monotheism, Feminist Approaches to the Bible, The Rise of Ancient Israel and The Search for Jesus. Genesis 19:30-38 accounts for the origins of the nation of Moab. 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. Maybe youll decide to become an atheist in the end. There are tons of other examples. We can learn about the society where the ancient Israelites, and later Jesus and the Apostles, lived through the modern discoveries that provide us clues. Roman Crucifixion Methods Reveal the History of Crucifixion. There is no culture that used lifespans to calculate a chronology until after 300 BC. 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. The Rift Valley and the Dead Sea are distinct regions which were not forbidden to Israel as far as Zoar.. 20 Look, that city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. However, the letters preserved on the map, although usually read -ARED are actually -AREA. There is no delta. Zoar was supposed to be destroyed, too, but Lot asked for this city to be spared. It would be great. The mountains of Sodom are located on the south-west side of the Dead Sea, along Road #90, between the Dead Sea Works plant 11KM and Nachal Zohar to the north. Sign up to receive our email newsletter and never miss an update. The narrative belongs solely during MB2 on every line of evidence available. Therefore, Theyre all over that regions. Bible Book Code: 0101902401a. And many more. (1995). By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Biblical Archa []. Has 90% of ice around Antarctica disappeared in less than a decade? As a result, on April 19, 1819, the group formed the Society of . Now Lot went up from Zoar with his two daughters and stayed in the Geographical Evidence for Locating Sodom. Josephus says (BJ, IV, viii, 4) that the Dead Sea extended "as far as Zoar of Arabia," while in Ant, I, xi, 4, he states that the place was still called Zoar. I believe the Bible and none whatsoever even if it is evident to my eyes I blindly believe the Holy Bible only. I say that to note that I have looked/studied the geography each time I was there. Each entry includes the map number followed by the grid reference composed of a letter-number combination. Below, read Bill Schlegels commentary on the location of Zoar along with Steven Collinss response. How to derive the state of a qubit after a partial measurement? Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Before God destroyed these cities, He sent two angels to Lot . Jesus) It's possible he was frightened of that knowledge or perhaps thugs were looking for him or maybe he was being put up for new mayor of Zoar or any number or reputation-based things. 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. I forgot there were 5 cities and not just Sodom and Gomorrah. It is also the place where the Biblical writers set their dramatic tale of Sodoms wickedness and destruction (Genesis 19). I am willing to hear from you as we are the body of the Messiah and I need your suggestions (Jeremiah 31:31-33 cf. It was several miles above the northern end of the Dead Sea, past Jericho. Yes, the ashen sites have been found scattered over a distance of 50 or more miles (80+ kilometers). Required fields are marked *, COPYRIGHT 2023 BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY 5614 Connecticut Ave NW #343, Washington DC 20015-2604. Like what are you going to get out of it?? Trinity Southwest University 7600 Jefferson NE, Suite 28 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109, USA (505) 332-4253 Note the parallel with Abraham pleading for Sodom. Furthermore, radio-carbon dating isnt the only method we use to date things back beyond lets say 50,000 years. . I have researched and written extensively on the Cities of the Plain and Sodom for over 35 years. 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