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Abraham's Concern for Sodom and Gomorrah's Destruction

Abraham's concern for Sodom and Gomorrah is recorded in Genesis 18, where he intercedes with God on behalf of the cities before their destruction. This episode highlights Abraham's character as a man of prayer and his understanding of divine justice [10, 11, 14].

The narrative begins with the Lord appearing to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, accompanied by two angels [2, 15]. After a meal, the divine visitors reveal their intention to investigate the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah, stating, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is very grave" (Genesis 18:20). The men then rise and look toward Sodom, with Abraham accompanying them to send them on their way [2].

It is at this point that the Lord questions, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" (Genesis 18:17). This rhetorical question sets the stage for God to disclose His plans to Abraham, recognizing Abraham's role as the father of a great nation through whom all nations of the earth would be blessed [15]. This divine disclosure prompts Abraham to draw near to the Lord in prayer, interceding for the cities [10, 11].

Abraham's intercession is characterized by a series of appeals to God's justice. He asks, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?" (Genesis 18:23). He then proceeds to bargain with God, starting from a premise of fifty righteous individuals and progressively lowering the number to forty-five, then forty, thirty, twenty, and finally ten [14]. Each time, God agrees not to destroy the city if that number of righteous people can be found within it. This dialogue demonstrates Abraham's bold yet humble approach to God, appealing to God's nature as a righteous judge [13, 14]. John Gill notes that Abraham drew near to God "with faith and freedom, and an holy boldness and confidence, and yet with great reverence of the divine Majesty, and in all humility, under a deep sense of his own meanness and unworthiness" [10]. Matthew Henry emphasizes that this communion with God, kept up through prayer, is a response to God's word [11].

Abraham's concern stems from the principle that God, "the Judge of all the earth," must do what is just (Genesis 18:25). He does not try to persuade God to act against His will but rather appeals to God's established character of righteousness [14]. The Jewish scholar Abraham Ibn Ezra suggests that this vision and intercession took place the day before Sodom's destruction, with Abraham returning to Hebron afterward and looking out toward Sodom [12].

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, along with Admah and Zeboim, were part of the "cities of the plain" or "vale of Siddim" [1, 4, 8]. They were known for their great wealth, which, according to Josephus, led to pride, injustice, and impiety, including a hatred of strangers and "Sodomitical practices" [7]. Their wickedness became proverbial, serving as an example of ungodliness and divine judgment [5]. The destruction of these cities by fire from heaven is recounted in Genesis 19:23-29 [1]. Only Zoar (originally Bela) was spared at Lot's request, allowing him to take refuge there [1].

The specific sins of Sodom and Gomorrah are often highlighted in biblical and historical texts. Josephus describes the Sodomites' attempt to sexually assault the angelic visitors lodging with Lot, and Lot's desperate offer of his daughters in their place [6]. The prophet Ezekiel later describes Sodom's sins as pride, gluttony, complacent ease, and a failure to help the poor and needy, in addition to their abominable practices (Ezekiel 16:49-50). The New Testament also refers to their destruction as a warning against ungodliness (2 Peter 2:6; Jude 1:4-7) [5].

Abraham's intercession ultimately failed to prevent the destruction of Sodom because even ten righteous individuals could not be found within the city [14]. However, his prayers did have an effect: "When God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived" (Genesis 19:29). This suggests that Lot's rescue was a direct result of God remembering Abraham's plea [9]. Matthew Henry notes that Abraham's "careful expectation of the event" and his early morning vigil to look toward Sodom demonstrated his desire to see the outcome of his prayers [9].

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a powerful biblical example of divine judgment against sin, but Abraham's intercession underscores God's willingness to listen to His faithful servants and His justice in distinguishing between the righteous and the wicked [14]. The event also foreshadows later prophetic warnings, where other nations are threatened with a similar fate if they persist in wickedness, such as Moab and Ammon being compared to Sodom and Gomorrah in Zephaniah 2:9 [3].

Sources

  1. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Gomorrah — (submersion), one of the five "cities of the plain" or "vale of Siddim" that under the irrespective kings joined battle there with Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:2-8) and his allies by whom they were discomfited till Abraham came to the rescue. Four out of the five were afterwards destroyed by the Lord with fire from heaven. (Genesis 19:23-29) One of them only, Zoar (or Bela; which was its original name), was spared at the request of Lot, in order that he might take refuge there. The geographical position of these cities is discussed under [570]Sodom.”
  2. Genesis “Genesis 18:16 (YLT) — And the men rise from thence, and look on the face of Sodom, and Abraham is going with them to send them away;”
  3. Zephaniah “Therefore as I live, says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, surely Moab will be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, a possession of nettles, and salt pits, and a perpetual desolation. The remnant of my people will plunder them, and the survivors of my nation will inherit them. -- Zephaniah 2:9”
  4. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Sodom — (burning), one of the most ancient cities of Syria. It is commonly mentioned in connection with Gomorrah, but also with Admah and Zeboim, and on one occasion-- (Genesis 14:1) ...--with Bela or Zoar. Sodom was evidently the chief town in the settlement. The four are first named in the ethnological records of (Genesis 10:19) as belonging to the Canaanites. The next mention of the name of Sodom, (Genesis 13:10-13) gives more certain indication of the position of the city. Abram and Lot are standing together between Bethel and Ai, ver. 3, taking a survey of the la”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gomorrah — Submersion, one of the five cities of the plain of Siddim (q.v.) which were destroyed by fire (Gen. 10:19; 13:10; 19:24, 28). These cities probably stood close together, and were near the northern extremity of what is now the Dead Sea. This city is always mentioned next after Sodom, both of which were types of impiety and wickedness (Gen. 18:20; Rom. 9:29). Their destruction is mentioned as an "ensample unto those that after should live ungodly" (2 Pet. 2:6; Jude 1:4-7). Their wickedness became proverbial (Deut. 32:32; Isa. 1:9, 10; Jer. 23:14). But that w”
  6. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 11, section 2: of Abraham. Now when the Sodomites saw the young men to be of beautiful countenances, and this to an extraordinary degree, and that they took up their lodgings with Lot, they resolved themselves to enjoy these beautiful boys by force and violence; and when Lot exhorted them to sobriety, and not to offer any thing immodest to the strangers, but to have regard to their lodging in his house; and promised that if their inclinations could not be governed, he would expose his daughters to their lust, instead of these strangers; neithe”
  7. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 11, section 1: . How God Overthrew The Nation Of The Sodomites, Out Of His Wrath Against Them For Their Sins. 1. About this time the Sodomites grew proud, on account of their riches and great wealth; they became unjust towards men, and impious towards God, insomuch that they did not call to mind the advantages they received from him: they hated strangers, and abused themselves with Sodomitical practices. God was therefore much displeased at them, and determined to punish them for their pride, and to overthrow their city, and to lay waste their”
  8. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Admah — Earth, one of the five cities of the vale of Siddim (Gen. 10:19). It was destroyed along with Sodom and Gomorrah (19:24; Deut. 29:23). It is supposed by some to be the same as the Adam of Josh. 3:16, the name of which still lingers in Damieh, the ford of Jordan. (See [16]ZEBOIM.)”
  9. Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 19:27: Our communion with God consists in our gracious regard to him and his gracious regard to us; we have here therefore the communion that was between God and Abraham, in the event concerning Sodom, as before in the consultation concerning it, for communion with God is to be kept up in providences as well as in ordinances. I. Here is Abraham's pious regard to God in this event, in two things: - 1. A careful expectation of the event, Gen 19:27. He got up early to look towards Sodom; and, to intimate that his design herein was to see what became of his prayers, he wen”
  10. Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 18:23: And Abraham drew near,.... To the Lord; he approached nearer to him, to have more close and intimate conversation with him on the subject of the destruction of Sodom, which he perceived, by what had been said, was like to be; he drew nigh to God in prayer; so the Targum of Jonathan,"and Abraham prayed and said;''he drew nigh with faith and freedom, and an holy boldness and confidence, and yet with great reverence of the divine Majesty, and in all humility, under a deep sense of his own meanness and unworthiness: and said, wilt thou also destroy the righteous with ”
  11. Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 18:23: Communion with God is kept up by the word and by prayer. In the word God speaks to us; in prayer we speak to him. God had revealed to Abraham his purposes concerning Sodom; now from this Abraham takes occasion to speak to God on Sodom's behalf. Note, God's word then does us good when it furnishes us with matter for prayer and excites us to it. When God has spoken to us, we must consider what we have to say to him upon it. Observe, I. The solemnity of Abraham's address to God on this occasion: Abraham drew near, Gen 18:23. The expression intimates, 1. A holy conc”
  12. Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Genesis 18:33: AND ABRAHAM RETURNED UNTO HIS PLACE. To Hebron. This vision took place at the spot where Abraham went to accompany the angels on their way. 68 I.E. accepts the opinion that God revealed himself to Abraham after he sent the angels on their way (cf. I.E.’s comments on v. 13). This vision took place on the day prior to Sodom’s destruction. After Abraham finished pleading for Sodom he returned to Hebron (Cherez). From this spot Abraham looked out toward Sodom. And he (Abraham) looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld,”
  13. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 22.23: oppose God, as if he had a right to intercede; he only suppliantly entreats: and every word shows the great humility and modesty of the holy man. I confess, indeed, that at times, holy men, carried away by carnal sense, have no self-government, but that, indirectly at least, they murmur against God. Here, however, Abraham addresses God with nothing but reverence, nor does anything fall from him worthy of censure; yet we must notice the affection of mind by which Abraham had been impelled to interpose his prayers on behalf of the ”
  14. Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 18:22: 18:22-33 Abraham probably thought there were more righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah than there were (see study note on 19:14). In his concern for them, he approached the Lord with a legal appeal based on God’s justice. His prayer seems too bold at times, as though he were bargaining with God, but he approached God with genuine humility and reverence. He did not try to talk God into doing something against his will, but prayed for the well-being of others (contrast Lot’s prayer, 19:18-23). God is a righteous judge; righteousness exalts a nation (Prov 14:34),”
  15. Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 18:17: And the Lord said,.... Either unto Abraham himself, so leading on to what he was about to make known to him; and without supposing this it will be difficult to account for Abraham's intercession for Sodom upon this: or to the two angels with him; not as consulting them whether he should or no do what he next suggests, but to give to them Abraham's just character, and the reasons of his using him in such a friendly manner: or it may be, to the other divine Persons, the Father and Spirit, one with the Son of God, and always present with him: shall I hide from Abraha”
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