After Sodom

HE SURVIVED the destruction of Sodom, but Lot didn’t seem very happy about it.This week, we discuss the aftermath of the fiery destruction of the cities of the plain, which also leveled Jericho, according to archaeologists. Lot and his daughters retreated into the hills and lived a hermit-like existence in a cave overlooking the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. Their isolation led to the incestuous creation of the nations of Moab and Ammon, longtime enemies of Israel in the centuries that followed.Then we discuss Abraham’s deception of Abimelech, the king of Gerar, and one of the stranger events in the Bible, the binding of Isaac. Why would Abraham agree to God’s test, to the point that his knife was out, ready to “slaughter”—a Hebrew term (shachat) used elsewhere in the Old Testament for human sacrifice—his only son by Sarah?Here is the timeline Derek mentioned during the study. Bear in mind that these dates are not universally accepted and mainly show the sequence of events.Amorite kingdom of Babylon founded — 1894 BCAbraham arrives in Canaan — 1876 BCDestruction of Sodom — 1852 BCIsaac born to Sarah — 1851 BCIsaac marries Rebekah — 1811 BCHammurabi crowned king of Babylon — 1792 BCJacob and Esau born — 1791 BCAbraham dies — 1776 BCHyksos (Amorites) rule Lower Egypt — c. 1750 BCJacob arrives in Egypt — 1661 BCAhmose drives Hyksos out of Egypt — c. 1550 BCMoses leads the Exodus — 1446 BCJoshua leads the Conquest — 1406 BC