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'''Sodom''' was one of five ancient [[Canaanite]] (Gn. 10:19) "cities of the Plain", (Gn. 13:10), along with its sister city of iniquity, [[Gommorah]], and  Admah, Zeboim and Lasha. The Bible records that Sodom and Gommorah were destroyed because, among other sins, they, "and the cities about them in like manner, [were] giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh", and thus  "are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." (Jude 1:7 [[KJV]]) Biblical texts confirm that "the cities about them" would be or would include Admah, and Zeboim. (Dt. 29:23; Hos. 11:8) Their destruction was by means of brimstone (thought by some to be hot [[lava]]) and fire from heaven, but which was preceded by the confirmation of the wickedness of Sodom by angels of God (appearing as men), and deliverance of righteous Lot and those of his family who went with him. Lot's wife however, disobeyed the command of the angels not to look back, and was turned into a pillar of salt.<ref>Genesis 19:26</ref> This region later became part of the Holy Land of Israel.   

'''Sodom''' was one of five ancient [[Canaanite]] (Gn. 10:19) "cities of the Plain", (Gn. 13:10), along with its sister city of iniquity, [[Gommorah]], and  Admah, Zeboim and Lasha. The Bible records that Sodom and Gommorah were destroyed because, among other sins, they, "and the cities about them in like manner, [were] giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh", and thus  "are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." (Jude 1:7 [[KJV]]) Biblical texts confirm that "the cities about them" would be or would include Admah, and Zeboim. (Dt. 29:23; Hos. 11:8) Their destruction was by means of brimstone (thought by some to be hot [[lava]]) and fire from heaven, but which was preceded by the confirmation of the wickedness of Sodom by angels of God (appearing as men), and deliverance of righteous Lot and those of his family who went with him. Lot's wife however, disobeyed the command of the angels not to look back, and was turned into a pillar of salt.<ref>Genesis 19:26</ref> This region later became part of the Holy Land of Israel.   

==Archaeological and Sodom==

==Archaeology and Sodom==

[[Image:sodom1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Remains of the ancient city of Bab edh-Dhra, thought by some to be Sodom]]

[[Image:sodom1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Remains of the ancient city of Bab edh-Dhra, thought by some to be Sodom]]

''Genesis 13:1-12: Then Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev—he, his wife, and all he had, and Lot with him... He went by stages from the Negev to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been, to the site where he had built the altar. And Abram called on the name of Yahweh there... At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land. Then Abram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives. Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left." Lot looked out and saw that the entire Jordan Valley as far as Zoar was well watered everywhere like the Lord’s garden and the land of Egypt. This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose the entire Jordan Valley for himself. Then Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities of the plain and set up his tent near Sodom.''

''Genesis 13:1-12: Then Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev—he, his wife, and all he had, and Lot with him... He went by stages from the Negev to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly been, to the site where he had built the altar. And Abram called on the name of Yahweh there... At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land. Then Abram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives. Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left." Lot looked out and saw that the entire Jordan Valley as far as Zoar was well watered everywhere like the Lord’s garden and the land of Egypt. This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose the entire Jordan Valley for himself. Then Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities of the plain and set up his tent near Sodom.''

Genesis 13:1-12 says that Lot went from Egypt to the Negev-he, and then went from there to a location situated between the two cities of [[Bethel]] and [[Ai]]. After this, Lot travels eastward from Bethel and Ai, eventually getting to Sodom. East of Bethel and Ai leads to the plain north of the Dead Sea in the Jordan, where [[Jericho]] is located on the left, and a cluster of other cities, including Tall el-Hammam, is located on the right. The Bible makes an evident distinction between Jericho and Sodom. Tall el-Hammam is the largest site in the entire plain (kikkar) of the Jordan, and because the Bible likely reveals Sodom to be the most considerable city of the entire plain of the Jordan,<ref>see reference 1, pg. 159</ref> Collins identifies Tall el-Hammam with Sodom. Tall el-Hammam underwent a destruction event from a fiery airburst even, plausibly confirming the destruction of Sodom as described in Genesis 19:24.

Genesis 13:1-12 says that Lot went from Egypt to the Negev-he, and then went from there to a location situated between the two cities of [[Bethel]] and [[Ai]]. After this, Lot travels eastward from Bethel and Ai, eventually getting to Sodom. East of Bethel and Ai leads to the plain north of the Dead Sea in the Jordan, where [[Jericho]] is located on the left, and a cluster of other cities, including Tall el-Hammam, is located on the right. The Bible makes an evident distinction between Jericho and Sodom. Tall el-Hammam is the largest site in the entire plain (kikkar) of the Jordan, and because the Bible likely reveals Sodom to be the most considerable city of the entire plain of the Jordan,<ref>see reference 1, pg. 159</ref> Collins identifies Tall el-Hammam with Sodom. Tall el-Hammam underwent a destruction event from a fiery airburst even, plausibly confirming the destruction of Sodom as described in Genesis 19:24. If Tall el-Hammam is Sodom, then one of its sister-cities in the plain of the Jordan (probably [[Tall Kafrayn]]) would qualify as [[Gomorrah]].

 

==The story of Sodom==

==The story of Sodom==