Bible Question:
What cities were destroyed along with Sodom and Gomorrah?
Bible Answer:
What cities were destroyed along with Sodom and Gomorrah? The Bible provides seven important passages about the location and the names of the cities that were destroyed at the same time Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed (Genesis 10:19; 13:10-13; 14:2, 8; 19:19-22, 25, 29; Deuteronomy 29:23). While all of the passages provide some helpful information, we will visit only four of them.
Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere — this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah — like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. Genesis 13:10 (NASB)
This passage tells us that Sodom and Gomorrah were located in the valley of the Jordan River. That suggests Sodom and Gomorrah were located above the Dead Sea. We are also told that the area was well watered. That also suggests the cities were located above the Dead Sea and not south of the sea in the desert area.
The second important passage is Genesis 14:2-3,
They made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). All these came as allies to the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). Genesis 14:2-3 (NASB)
Here we are told that five kings had made an alliance. The kings made the alliance in order to protect themselves and their cities against the four kings described in verse 1. Verse 3 tells us the cities of these five kings existed in the valley of Siddim. The cities were Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar.
The third passage of interest is Deuteronomy 29:23,
All its land is brimstone and salt, a burning waste, unsown and unproductive, and no grass grows in it, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger and in His wrath. Deuteronomy 29:23 (NASB)
It refers to only four of the cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim. Why was Zoar not included in the list of cities that God destroyed by brimstone and salt? The answer is that God did not destroy the city of Zoar. Genesis 19:19-22, 25, 29 states Lot pleaded with the angel to not destroy a town, and the angel agreed. Therefore, the town was named Zoar. So, only four of the five cities were destroyed: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim.
Conclusion
Why were the four cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim destroyed? The answer is given in Genesis 13:13. It tells us that the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked.
Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD. Genesis 13:13 (NASB)
In Genesis 18:20 said,
And the LORD said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.” Genesis 18:20 (NASB)
Then in Genesis 19:13, the angels told Lot that God was going to destroy Sodom because because their outcry was so great. This reveals two things. First, there are degrees of sin and degrees of punishment. The sin of Sodom was exceedingly great. That is, the sin of homosexuality is exceedingly great (Genesis 19:3-11; Jude 7). Scripture reveals that Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim were also just as wicked for God destroyed them too!
Suggested Links:
In what years were Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed?The Bible on Same Sex Relations
What does the Bible say about anal sex in marriage? — Is anal sex a sin?