Lot was captured as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled to the hill country.
The valley of Siddim was full of tar pits. They could have been natural bitumen wells of the region where petroleum oozes to the surface. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them, those who survived fled to the hill country. The Dead Sea valley is flanked by hills on both sides.
They took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply and departed. The four eastern Mesopotamian kings defeated the five allied armies of the plains. Then they looted and devastated the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The message is clear: “If you won’t pay us part of your material wealth each year, then we will come and take all your material wealth.”
They also took Lot. The city of Hebron, where Abram lived, was not near the path of the revolt and therefore the patriarch had no reason to intervene. However, the capture of his nephew drew Abram into the conflict. Lot had moved into Sodom and was living among its wicked people. The armies of Chedorlaomer and his allies took Lot and other captives as part of their spoils of war.
Biblical Text
10 Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them. But those who survived fled to the hill country. 11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed. 12 They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom.
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