Question: Why were Sodom and Gomorrah judged by YHWH (by brimstone and fire) and not all the other cities during that time and any other time up until present day?
Answer: Because when Abraham rescued his nephew Lot and defeated the Northern Kings, he also rescued the people of Sodom and from the other cities (also their wealth) that were captured by the Northern Kings. Abraham also captured all the wealth of the Northern Kings. Abraham did not accept anything from the King of Sodom (Gen 14:21-24). Were all the people saved by only Abraham and his 318 men or do you think that YHWH has something to do with this? (Gen 14:20) These people were REDEEMED by YHWH. YHWH wanted to see if Sodom, Gomorrah, and the other cities that were redeemed would change their ways. Gen 18 & 19 deal with YHWH’s judgment. These cities went back to idolatry and their wicked ways. SO, what does this have to say about us? If we have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb (Yahshua), are we going to go back to our old ways? Maybe this is why in the book of Revelation it is written about a judgment of fire (maybe brimstone and fire?) upon the entire earth.
Let’s take a look at the cities that rebelled and fought against the kings of the north (Gen 14:1-2). The cities that rebelled were: 1.) Sodom, 2.)Gomorrah, 3.)Admah, 4.)Zeboiim, and 5.)Bela (which is Zoar).
Gen 14:2 That these 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, which is Zoar. {KJV}
If you look carefully at the above verse, you will see 5 cities, but only 4 Kings listed. Also, of the 5 cities, one city has a name change/another name.
So let’s take a look at the Hebrew and try and figure out the meaning of these cities.
1.) Sodom: (Strong’s Concordance # סְדֹם5467), From an unused root meaning to scorch; burnt
2.) Gomorrah (Strong’s #עֲמֹרָה6017)From H6014; a (ruined) heap
3.) Admah (Strong’s # אַדְמָה126 ) Contracted for H127 אדמה -admah(earth, ground) =From H119; soil; earthy *WORLDLY Following out the root-H119 to show blood (in the face)
4.) Zeboiim (Strong’s # 6636 צְבֹיִים) Plural of H6643; gazelles. =From H6638 in the sense of prominence; splendor. Following out the root- H6638: to grow turgid (pompous), to swell *PRIDE
5.) Bela (Strong’s # בֶּלַע1106 ) The same as H1105. H1105=From H1104; a gulp; figuratively destruction
The meaning of these cities is interesting. Scorch/Burnt, Ruined Heap, Earthy/Worldly, Pride… Wait, what about Bela: (Destruction)? It says in Gen 14:2 “…Bela , which is Zoar.”.
So, what is the meaning of Zoar?
Zoar (Strong’s # צֹעַר6820) From H6819; little; Following out the root- H6819: to be small, that is, (figuratively) ignoble: - be brought low, little one, be small. *TO BE HUMBLE
When we read the destruction account of these cities in Genesis 19. Pay particular attention to Gen 19:20-25. Lot asks to escape to Zoar (formerly called Bela). Gen 19:20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. 21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Gen 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; Gen 19:25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. {KJV}
As I was saying earlier, I believe that YHWH redeemed the peoples of these cities (Genesis 14). YHWH wanted to see if the people would CHANGE for the better and turn from their wicked ways. I believe that the reason why the city of Bela was not “destroyed”, was because they turned from their wicked ways. They were “brought low”, and I believe humbled themselves and, in turn, were saved from destruction. HAVE WE TURNED FROM OUR WICKED WAYS AND TURNED BACK TO YHWH? *EMPHASIS MINE
Shalom, Carmi
Sodom & Gomorrah