Pentapolis (Bible)

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The Pentapolis is a group of five biblical cities, namely Sodom and Gomorrah , Adma , Zebojim and Bela. Except for Bela, which was later called Zoar , these cities were completely destroyed.

The name Pentapolis only appears in the Book of Wisdom ( Weish 10.6  EU ), but the names of the cities are not mentioned there. From the context, however, it is clear that these are the same five cities referred to in 1 Mos 14  EU . There it is told that the kings of the five cities of the Siddim valley, which is described as an extremely fertile region ( 1 Mos 13,10 EU ), were imprisoned  by their lord, King Kedor-Laomer , to whom they had paid tribute for twelve years fall away for the thirteenth year and refuse to pay tribute. The five kings are:

  • Bera , king of Sodom,
  • Birscha , King of Gomorrah,
  • Shinab , King of Adma,
  • Schemeber , King of Zebojim and
  • the unnamed King of Bela.

Thereupon Kedor-Laomer moved with his allied kings to the Siddim Valley, where he defeated the kings of the Pentapolis in battle and sacked the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. On this occasion, Lot and his family were captured and taken away, but his uncle Abram managed to free him.

The plundered cities recovered and the inhabitants continued to practice various vices, after which, as is known, Sodom and Gomorrah and with them Adma and Zebojim were destroyed by YHWH ( 5 Mos 29.22  EU , Hos 11.8  EU ).

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