The lowest spot on earth contains 33.7% salinity (one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water) – 8.6 times saltier than the ocean. It is 42 miles long, 11 miles wide, & 1,237 feet deep. It is located in the Jordan Rift Valley & mainly fed by the Jordan River.
- Major center for health research & treatment (mineral content of the water; very low content of pollens & other allergens; reduced solar radiation; higher atmospheric pressure)
- Supplier of health products (balms for Egyptian mummification; potash for fertilizers)
- Constantly discharges asphalt (coated artifacts & human skulls)
- Largely uninhabited area
- Non-miniscule organisms (fish & plants) cannot survive
- No plants, trees, or grasses grow around it
We are of course talkind about the Dead Sea, also known as the Salt Sea
The Former Glory of the Dead Sea Region
"And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations, that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (THAT IS, THE SALT SEA). - Genesis 14:1-3
The Nations of the Dead Sea Region During the Time of Abraham
West Alliance East Alliance
- Sodom • Shinar
- Gomorrah • Ellasar
- Admah • Elam
- Zeboiim • Goiim
- Bela (Zoar)
- Genesis 13:2, 5
- Genesis 13:6-7a
- Genesis 13:8-9
- Genesis 13:10a
- Genesis 13:11-12
Going on to Spiritual Maturity
- Pride (didn’t submit to the older)
- Worldliness (mostly concerned about geography)
- Selfishness (took the best for self)
- Unbelief (selected on sight)
- Recklessness (chose notorious home)
- Numbers 13:23, 27
The Subsequent Makeover of the Dead Sea Region
- Genesis 13:10
The approximate location of the Garden of Eden is modern day Iraq, likely covered by the Persian Gulf.
- Zephaniah 2:9a
- Deuteronomy 29:22-23
- Jeremiah 49:18
- Jeremiah 50:40
As we look around at the Dead Sea today, how many houses do you see around there? How many animals, trees, or plants? The people who are there are mainly there for business, for mineral stripping, or tourism.
According to the promises of God, how many people do you find living in the region formerly known as Sodom? It was literally pummeled to the ground. It's estimated, more than a half mile below it's former level, in destruction. That's why the Dead Sea exists today.
Now, we know what happened. But, why did it happen? We'll explore the reasons behind it's destruction in the second lesson.
