Dr. Dylan Johnson

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.

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.

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.

And there's no independent stories about Gomorrah, right? It's just destroyed alongside Sodom. So if we're really going to focus in on the narrative, it's really Sodom we're talking about, and then Gomorrah kind of tags along. So that gets us to the end of the chapter, 18, and then the narrative switches.

And there's no independent stories about Gomorrah, right? It's just destroyed alongside Sodom. So if we're really going to focus in on the narrative, it's really Sodom we're talking about, and then Gomorrah kind of tags along. So that gets us to the end of the chapter, 18, and then the narrative switches.

And there's no independent stories about Gomorrah, right? It's just destroyed alongside Sodom. So if we're really going to focus in on the narrative, it's really Sodom we're talking about, and then Gomorrah kind of tags along. So that gets us to the end of the chapter, 18, and then the narrative switches.

And what happens is basically these other two men who are now suddenly called what are called malakim in Hebrew, angels, messengers, not human beings in any case. They're sent to Sodom and they go to the house of Lot. And again, this hospitality theme recurs. Lot brings them in. He shows them hospitality. The problem is, the Sodomites are the antithesis to that.

And what happens is basically these other two men who are now suddenly called what are called malakim in Hebrew, angels, messengers, not human beings in any case. They're sent to Sodom and they go to the house of Lot. And again, this hospitality theme recurs. Lot brings them in. He shows them hospitality. The problem is, the Sodomites are the antithesis to that.

And what happens is basically these other two men who are now suddenly called what are called malakim in Hebrew, angels, messengers, not human beings in any case. They're sent to Sodom and they go to the house of Lot. And again, this hospitality theme recurs. Lot brings them in. He shows them hospitality. The problem is, the Sodomites are the antithesis to that.