Dr. Dylan Johnson

So that's basically the first part of the story. Positive, happy, and then it turns a little darker. And then it turns a little dark because this guest, who is none other than God himself, reveals what he's been conspiring to do to these two cities called Sodom and Gomorrah. We'd had a couple references a little bit before this episode, so we know that Sodom and Gomorrah, they exist –

somewhere near the Dead Sea or maybe in the Jordan Valley. We're not exactly clear.

somewhere near the Dead Sea or maybe in the Jordan Valley. We're not exactly clear.

somewhere near the Dead Sea or maybe in the Jordan Valley. We're not exactly clear.

Yeah. So again, not consistently, but it seems to be that based on quite a few descriptions geographically, but also geological descriptions of the region should situate them in the Dead Sea. And we can kind of get to that in a moment. But basically, these two cities are for some reason synonymous archetypes of places of sin, the worst places that that could possibly be.

Yeah. So again, not consistently, but it seems to be that based on quite a few descriptions geographically, but also geological descriptions of the region should situate them in the Dead Sea. And we can kind of get to that in a moment. But basically, these two cities are for some reason synonymous archetypes of places of sin, the worst places that that could possibly be.

Yeah. So again, not consistently, but it seems to be that based on quite a few descriptions geographically, but also geological descriptions of the region should situate them in the Dead Sea. And we can kind of get to that in a moment. But basically, these two cities are for some reason synonymous archetypes of places of sin, the worst places that that could possibly be.

And basically what this divine visitor reveals after the blessing he gives to his guests is that he's planning to destroy these two cities, fire and brimstone.

And basically what this divine visitor reveals after the blessing he gives to his guests is that he's planning to destroy these two cities, fire and brimstone.

And basically what this divine visitor reveals after the blessing he gives to his guests is that he's planning to destroy these two cities, fire and brimstone.

Yeah, exactly. It's at a place called the Oaks of Mamre. And Mamre is some biblical figure who's associated with this kind of pre-Israelite group known as the Amorites. Who they are, you'll need another podcast to cover that. But basically, it's away from the Dead Sea region. But Abram has a vested interest in these two cities because his kinsman, whose name is Lot, has settled in Sodom.

Yeah, exactly. It's at a place called the Oaks of Mamre. And Mamre is some biblical figure who's associated with this kind of pre-Israelite group known as the Amorites. Who they are, you'll need another podcast to cover that. But basically, it's away from the Dead Sea region. But Abram has a vested interest in these two cities because his kinsman, whose name is Lot, has settled in Sodom.

Yeah, exactly. It's at a place called the Oaks of Mamre. And Mamre is some biblical figure who's associated with this kind of pre-Israelite group known as the Amorites. Who they are, you'll need another podcast to cover that. But basically, it's away from the Dead Sea region. But Abram has a vested interest in these two cities because his kinsman, whose name is Lot, has settled in Sodom.

And we know about that a few chapters earlier. So he tries to dissuade God from destroying these cities. And there's kind of this interesting didactic back and forth between God and Abram, which raises really interesting theological questions of, can you really dissuade God from doing things? And why would God need to be reminded of morality and things like that?

And we know about that a few chapters earlier. So he tries to dissuade God from destroying these cities. And there's kind of this interesting didactic back and forth between God and Abram, which raises really interesting theological questions of, can you really dissuade God from doing things? And why would God need to be reminded of morality and things like that?

And we know about that a few chapters earlier. So he tries to dissuade God from destroying these cities. And there's kind of this interesting didactic back and forth between God and Abram, which raises really interesting theological questions of, can you really dissuade God from doing things? And why would God need to be reminded of morality and things like that?

But in any case, the back and forth negotiation is basically, if they're able to find just 10 good people in Sodom, then Sodom and Gomorrah will be spared. So the takeaway, again, from this first chapter is Sodom is definitely taking the lead in the narrative. Gomorrah is really, it's there, but it's really not as prominent. So the main story is following the city of Sodom.

But in any case, the back and forth negotiation is basically, if they're able to find just 10 good people in Sodom, then Sodom and Gomorrah will be spared. So the takeaway, again, from this first chapter is Sodom is definitely taking the lead in the narrative. Gomorrah is really, it's there, but it's really not as prominent. So the main story is following the city of Sodom.

But in any case, the back and forth negotiation is basically, if they're able to find just 10 good people in Sodom, then Sodom and Gomorrah will be spared. So the takeaway, again, from this first chapter is Sodom is definitely taking the lead in the narrative. Gomorrah is really, it's there, but it's really not as prominent. So the main story is following the city of Sodom.

And in fact, if you actually just look across the biblical text, Sodom is mentioned 38 times and Gomorrah only 19. And Gomorrah is only ever mentioned with Sodom.