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In which chapters of Genesis is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah described?
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Sodom and Gomorrah
Landscape with the Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, oil on wood by Joachim Patinir, c. 1520; in the collection of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
In the book of Genesis, the narrative concerning the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is primarily contained within chapters 18 and 19.12
- Genesis 18: This chapter details God’s revelation to Abraham regarding the reports of sinfulness in the cities. Abraham intercedes on behalf of the inhabitants, successfully negotiating with God to spare the cities if 10 righteous people can be found.12
- Genesis 19: This chapter focuses on the arrival of two angels in Sodom, the subsequent attempt by the townspeople to assault them, and the eventual destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by "sulfur and fire." It also recounts the flight of Lot and his family, during which Lot's wife is turned into a pillar of salt for looking back at the city.12