Locating Sodom at Tall el-Hammam by Dr. Todd Bolen on his blog (08/23/14). Genesis 19:20-22 (LEB). 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. Is that a possible location for the sinful cities of the plains? Distance Calculations from Zoar in Western Cape. 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. Then Lot and his > family walk to Zoar, which likely was a distance of 5 miles. The truth, however, is that they may have disappeared much later than our translations suggest. The first biblical reference to them is in the account of the boundaries of Canaan (Gen. 10:19). The All-Access membership pass is the way to get to know the Bible through biblical archaeology. 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. Add an answer. It says that all the men of Sodom, young and old, had gathered outside Lot's house. If we fix upon the south end of the Dead Sea as the Vale of Siddim, a very natural place for Zoar and one which agrees with all the traditions would be at the base of the mountains of Moab, East of Wady Ghurundel, where there is still a well-watered oasis several miles long and 2 or 3 wide, which is probably but a remnant of a fertile plain once extending out over a considerable portion of the shallow south end of the Dead Sea when, as shown elsewhere (see DEAD SEA), the water level was considerably lower than now.Robinson would locate it on the northeast corner of el-Lisan on the borders of the river Kerak, but this was done entirely on theoretical grounds which would be met as well in the place just indicated, and which is generally fixed upon by the writers who regard the Vale of Siddim as at the south end of the Dead Sea. 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. Thank you, 2017-12-19 06:11:31. 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! 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. Birch that the place is represented by the present Tell Shaghur, a white rocky mound at the foot of the Moab Mountains, a mile East of Beth-haram (Tell er-Rameh), 7 miles Northeast of the mouth of the Jordan, a locality remarkable for its stone monuments and well-supplied springs, but he acknowledges that the name is more like the Christian Segor than the original Zoar.George Frederick Wright. That God punishes the wicked is all over the Bible; St.Paul in many letters condemns perverts. 7. Genesis 19:30, ESV: Now Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar.So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. Lets go to present day Do you want to go look around in Hiroshima or Nagasaki?? Therefore, again, it isnt surprising to find out that several cities may have fallen to earthquakes. But even if it was Zared, the placement of the Zered River on any map is made based on ones predisposition about Zoar, and not on any objective information about the Zered Rivers location. Below, read Bill Schlegels commentary on the location of Zoar along with Steven Collinss response. Apparently Bela was Zoar's earlier name. 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). Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. 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. from the fire which fell down upon the five cities. Before the destruction, the Dead Sea was a valley full of natural tar pits, . Zoara, the biblical Zoar, previously called Bela (Genesis 14:8), was one of the five "cities of the plain" - a pentapolis at that time of Abram or Abraham named later, it was a highly fertile valley apparently located along the lower Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea plain and mentioned in the Book of Genesis.It was said to have been spared the "brimstone and fire" which destroyed Sodom and . I point out: whether historical or not It is commonly mentioned in connection with Gomorrah, but also with Admah and Zeboim, and on one occasion -- (Genesis 14:1) . ; and further, it is written [ibid. Pt. Israelis didnt keep 70 Land Sabbaths strictly from 1099 BCE to 609 BCE (5th year of the king, Solomon to the 10th year of the king, Zedekiah = 490 Luni Solar Years) according to Yahwehs Luni Solar Calendar Formula (Lev. How to get the closed form solution from DSolve[]? 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. Steven Collins, Director, Tall el-Hammam Excavation Project. In the July/August 2013 issue, Collins responded to reader Shirley S. Reeds question on the location of Zoar. The geographical argument for Tall el-Hammam being Sodom is a lock at every turn. For some reason, Lot was afraid to stay in Zoar. standing pillar of salt is a monument of an unbelieving soul. Think the 9/11 event of the times. Then, in Genesis 19:30. In Biblical geography, this well-watered disk-shaped plain, said to have been located east of the highland towns of Bethel and Ai, was an area like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt where Lot moved his family after his quarrel with Abraham (Genesis 13, verse 10). 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. Lot chose the land of the plain of Jordan, near Sodom and Gomorrah, because of the rich pastureland there. 9. Therefore, refuge in a little city, named Zoar , not very far . Access to 50+ curated Special Collections. In 19:22, its name is said to have been given because of its littleness, which also seems to have accounted for its being spared. They go into great detail why I made my statement. Moab, a small kingdom in the central Transjordan, was a familiar setting in the Bible. Madaba Map. I do appreciate those who have substantive things to say. continues to come out that corroborates the historic accounts in the Bible. Cell: 9704424254 Sodom and Gomorrah's destruction happened in the time of Abraham and involved his nephew Lot. Wise to say out of the cities, I would say. Gen. 13:18) towards Sodom (18:22), presumably eastward to the Dead Sea area of the Rift Valley. That is helpful. 26 But Lot's wife looked . 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. Why/why not? Peabody: Hendrickson.". Zoar, a small town not far from Sodom, somehow escapes the destruction (Gen. 19:20-22). Where Is the Original Siloam Pool from the Bible? Across Tall el-Hammam, archaeologists found widespread evidence of an intense conflagration that left the Middle Bronze Age city in ruins. 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. Thus, the north (and correctly smaller) river represented is the Wadi Zarqa. According to Smith's Bible Dictionary, Sodom was one of the most ancient cities of Syria. Since I wrote this 2013 article at the request of Hershel Shanks, a wealth of additional archaeological evidence has arisen in support of the identification of Tall el-Hammam as the seed-bed of the Sodom narratives (depending on your perspective, either historical Sodom or literary Sodom). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (p. 687). 24 Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah - from the Lord out of the heavens. Learn how to say Zoar with EmmaSaying free pronunciation tutorials.Definition and meaning can be found here:https://www.google.com/search?q=define+Zoar This man Lot was a close member of Abraham's family (Genesis 11:31, Genesis 13:8-9, Genesis 14:16.) Note how cleverly this . Genesis 19:23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Timrat (Northern District) Kefar Shemaryahu (Tel Aviv) 68.99. In the Bible, Sodom is the essence of evil: "The men of Sodom were wicked" ( Genesis 13:13 ). He was a very righteous man, and Sodom was a very sinful city. 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. God promises to spare Zoar when Lot pleads for it, because it is a small city: '"Behold, this city is near enough to flee there, and it is a little The destruction date-range of Tall el-Hammam/Sodom confirms this as well. 54 Then you will be ashamed of how youve acted, and Sodom and Samaria will be relieved that they werent as sinful as you. The epicenter of the ACTUAL blast that destroyed Sodom is found at the SOUTHERN end of the Dead Sea at Gawr al-Mazraah. Thats up to you, but if your faith has any merit at all, it will survive this and many other challenges. The Roman/Byzantine Zoar is in the same vicinity, just south of where the Wadi Mujib/Arnon empties into the Dead Sea. Surely weve heard of tells. The location would be more consistent with Dr. Collins view. It is also the place where the Biblical writers set their dramatic tale of Sodoms wickedness and destruction (Genesis 19). Thus, Lot had from dawn to dusk to travel from Sodom (Tall el-Hammam) to Zoar. Combine a one-year tablet and print subscription to BAR with membership in the BAS Library to start your journey into the ancient past today! 6. Well, that's sort of the issue. Ezekiel 16:52-58 (CEV) = 53 Someday I will bless Sodom and Samaria and their nearby villages. Where Were the Old Testament Kings of Ancient Jerusalem Buried? And this is as it should be, for the entire Bible has relavent historical facts within the lives of the peoples it portrays.Thank You to all of you. Abram travels north to rescue Lot. (Note: This is an updated and reformatted version from what was . Halfway Point Between Hebron, CT and Zoar, OH. He lived in a cave with his two daughters. Then my life 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. 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. Oh yea, we are going to have tourists come and see where evil people were, vaped, for their sins. This must be done via historical synchronisms and elements of cultural specificity. to Lot, "Escape for thy life; look not behind thee . They were situated in the well-watered Jordan . (Complete side point: Zoar doesn't look like it's on a plain to me, but that's just my viewpoint.). 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