Dr. Dylan Johnson

Yeah, so it seems almost definitive that the imagined landscape of both these stories is probably just south of the Dead Sea because of, well, for reasons I'm about to get to. So let's start with the oldest story, at least what we think looks like the oldest story, which is Genesis 14. Now, there's some references just to the geology of the region, the city of the plain.

Yeah, so it seems almost definitive that the imagined landscape of both these stories is probably just south of the Dead Sea because of, well, for reasons I'm about to get to. So let's start with the oldest story, at least what we think looks like the oldest story, which is Genesis 14. Now, there's some references just to the geology of the region, the city of the plain.

It's taken to be the plain of Jordan. Now, where exactly the plain of Jordan is, that can be a lot of different places. But usually, if they're going to refer to, let's say, just the region east of the Jordan River, that's usually the plateau or the highlands. The plain is usually associated with this area just to the south of the Dead Sea.

It's taken to be the plain of Jordan. Now, where exactly the plain of Jordan is, that can be a lot of different places. But usually, if they're going to refer to, let's say, just the region east of the Jordan River, that's usually the plateau or the highlands. The plain is usually associated with this area just to the south of the Dead Sea.

It's taken to be the plain of Jordan. Now, where exactly the plain of Jordan is, that can be a lot of different places. But usually, if they're going to refer to, let's say, just the region east of the Jordan River, that's usually the plateau or the highlands. The plain is usually associated with this area just to the south of the Dead Sea.

Again, we're not 100% sure this is historical geography, but we get a little bit of clarification that the battle happens in a place called the Valley of Sidim, and then it says explicitly that is the Salt Sea. So we're fairly certain, at least in the biblical writer's imaginations, these cities were located down there.

Again, we're not 100% sure this is historical geography, but we get a little bit of clarification that the battle happens in a place called the Valley of Sidim, and then it says explicitly that is the Salt Sea. So we're fairly certain, at least in the biblical writer's imaginations, these cities were located down there.

Again, we're not 100% sure this is historical geography, but we get a little bit of clarification that the battle happens in a place called the Valley of Sidim, and then it says explicitly that is the Salt Sea. So we're fairly certain, at least in the biblical writer's imaginations, these cities were located down there.

But also then they start to describe certain geological features that pretty much seal the deal. So the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, there's really no doubt that they're talking about the region of the Dead Sea. Just the reference to sulfur or King James' brimstone is a very basic geological reality of the area. I don't know if you've ever visited the Dead Sea or anything around there.

But also then they start to describe certain geological features that pretty much seal the deal. So the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, there's really no doubt that they're talking about the region of the Dead Sea. Just the reference to sulfur or King James' brimstone is a very basic geological reality of the area. I don't know if you've ever visited the Dead Sea or anything around there.

But also then they start to describe certain geological features that pretty much seal the deal. So the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, there's really no doubt that they're talking about the region of the Dead Sea. Just the reference to sulfur or King James' brimstone is a very basic geological reality of the area. I don't know if you've ever visited the Dead Sea or anything around there.

It's a strange alien world. It's absolutely going to be inspiring of stories reflecting on what could have possibly happened here to make this place like this. And so you can imagine stories being spun just based on the experience of being at the Dead Sea. Salt, complete lack of vegetation, sulfur, extreme heat. I mean, the temperatures around the Dead Sea regularly exceed 40 degrees Celsius.

It's a strange alien world. It's absolutely going to be inspiring of stories reflecting on what could have possibly happened here to make this place like this. And so you can imagine stories being spun just based on the experience of being at the Dead Sea. Salt, complete lack of vegetation, sulfur, extreme heat. I mean, the temperatures around the Dead Sea regularly exceed 40 degrees Celsius.

It's a strange alien world. It's absolutely going to be inspiring of stories reflecting on what could have possibly happened here to make this place like this. And so you can imagine stories being spun just based on the experience of being at the Dead Sea. Salt, complete lack of vegetation, sulfur, extreme heat. I mean, the temperatures around the Dead Sea regularly exceed 40 degrees Celsius.

It's kind of hellish, really. So surely if there were cities here, they must have done something horrible to result in this, especially when everything around is more or less fairly fertile.

It's kind of hellish, really. So surely if there were cities here, they must have done something horrible to result in this, especially when everything around is more or less fairly fertile.

It's kind of hellish, really. So surely if there were cities here, they must have done something horrible to result in this, especially when everything around is more or less fairly fertile.

For the most part, at least as the narratives are concerned, I'd say no. I think these narratives are what we call etiologies, because in both Genesis 14 and especially Genesis 18-19, they really conclude with explanations for what the landscape looks like. Now, were there cities there? Yes, there were cities there, especially in the early Bronze Age.

For the most part, at least as the narratives are concerned, I'd say no. I think these narratives are what we call etiologies, because in both Genesis 14 and especially Genesis 18-19, they really conclude with explanations for what the landscape looks like. Now, were there cities there? Yes, there were cities there, especially in the early Bronze Age.

For the most part, at least as the narratives are concerned, I'd say no. I think these narratives are what we call etiologies, because in both Genesis 14 and especially Genesis 18-19, they really conclude with explanations for what the landscape looks like. Now, were there cities there? Yes, there were cities there, especially in the early Bronze Age.