The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

Context & Setting

• Main Biblical Reference: Genesis 18:16–33; 19:1–29
• Historical Period: Patriarchal era (time of Abraham and Lot)
• Geographic Location: Cities of the plain near the Dead Sea (Jordan Valley)
• Key Characters: God (the LORD), Abraham, Lot, two angels, Lot’s household, the men of Sodom

The Narrative

The Beginning:
After visiting Abraham, the LORD reveals that the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is serious. Abraham pleads for the cities, asking whether God will spare them if righteous people are found there. God agrees that He will not destroy the place for the sake of the righteous, even down to ten.

The Middle:
Two angels arrive in Sodom and are welcomed into Lot’s house. Men of the city surround the house and demand Lot hand over the visitors, showing the city’s violent corruption and disregard for righteousness. The angels protect Lot, strike the men with blindness, and warn Lot that judgment is imminent. Lot is urged to flee with his family, but hesitation delays them until the angels lead them out and command them not to look back.

The End:
As Lot reaches safety, the LORD rains fiery judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, overthrowing the cities and the surrounding plain. Lot’s wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt. Abraham later sees the smoke rising from the land, and the narrative emphasizes that God remembered Abraham and brought Lot out of the destruction.

Theological Meaning

This account presents God as both just and merciful: He hears the outcry of grievous evil, investigates rightly, and judges decisively. At the same time, God responds to Abraham’s intercession and rescues Lot, showing that His judgment is not arbitrary and that He preserves those He chooses to deliver. The story also highlights the seriousness of communal wickedness and the cost of turning back from God’s saving word.

Historical & Cultural Insight

Hospitality was a major social obligation in the ancient Near East, especially toward vulnerable travelers. Genesis 19 contrasts Lot’s attempt to protect his guests with the city’s violent intent, underscoring how deeply Sodom’s social and moral order had collapsed. The setting “near the Dead Sea” fits a region known for bitumen and sulfur deposits, elements that later readers associated with the imagery of catastrophic destruction, though the text itself attributes the event directly to divine judgment.

Key Memory Verse

“Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” — Genesis 18:23