Neighbour Cities

By Prophet Jacob R. Blandford

“But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” (Gen. 13:13)

“Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven” (Gen. 19:24)

“How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.” (Hosea 11:8)

Most people are familiar with God’s judgment against Sodom & Gomorrah. And most people are familiar with the fact that the word “sodomy” comes from sodomites. But here are a few pieces of information you may not have known. (1) The first time you read the word “sinner” in the Holy Bible is in Genesis thirteen-thirteen describing sodomites—with exactly thirteen words in that verse. (2) Brimstone is also called sulfur. (3) “Gomorrha” is spelled a bit differently in the New Testament. (see Matt. 10:15; Mark 6:11; Rom. 9:29; 2 Pet. 2:6; Jude 7) And “Sodoma” in Romans 9:29. (4) Sodom & Gomorrah weren’t the only cities God judged in Genesis Chapter 19. Most people have no idea that a couple of neighbour cities in the plain were destroyed with them. Jude 7 alludes to this fact; and Deuteronomy 29:23 gives us their names: “Admah” and “Zeboim”. Now you have to admit, you’ve heard a lot people say “Sodom and Gomorrah”, but you’ve probably never heard somebody in a church or on the street say “Admah & Zeboim”. Well guess what? That’s exactly what the LORD God did in Hosea 11:8! Once you realize who or what Admah and Zeboim were, you’ll quickly recognize that in Hosea 11:8, God was threatening Ephraim with a Sodom and Gomorrah judgment!

Want to know part of the reason why Admah and Zeboiim were overthrown with Sodom and Gomorrah? Because if you read Genesis 14:2, 8; you'll see the kings of Admah and Zeboiim were allies with the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. Also, if you read Genesis 10:19, you'll see these cities were neighbour cities. Why is all this significant? Because again, nothing is mentioned about Admah and Zeboim being overthrown in Genesis Chapter 19, or anywhere else in the Book of Genesis. You don't read about Admah and Zeboim being overthrown until you come to the FIFTH Book of Moses, Deuteronomy (see Deut. 29:23) and then in the book of the prophet Jeremiah (see Jer. 49:18, 50:40). Finally, with these details, all coming together from various Biblical Books, written at different times, by numerous holy men (cf. 2 Pet. 1:21)—all forming one congruent picture—it all speaks to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit’s unsearchable wisdom and knowledge to pull all these facts together. (see Ps. 145:3, 147:5; 1 Cor. 1:24, 30; Col. 2:3)