Avraham, Lot and Sedom
Question
1. Abraham was 75 years old when he left Haran. Lot went with him.
2. Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised.
Sodom & Gomorrah were destroyed a few days after Abraham’s circumcision.
Therefore, Abraham was 99 years old when Sodom and Gomorrah
were destroyed. Lot was spared. 24 years have elapsed.
QUESTION: Did Lot live in Sodom for 24 years?
3. We have been studying the destruction of Sodom.
One of the sources states that Sodom was 52 years old
vs Zoar was a younger city, which was only 51 years old.
4. I found this on the Internet: According to the Talmud,
there was a span of only 26 years between a war in the area and
and the ultimate destruction. I assume the war means the Battle of Siddim.
5. MAIN QUESTION: I am trying to figure out the 52 year timeline for Sodom and when the Battle of Siddim took place within the 52 year history.
The 5 kings (which included Sodom) served the 4 kings (specifically Chedorlaomer) for 12 years. The 5 kings rebelled in the 13th year.
In the Battle of Siddim, the 4 kings defeated the 5 kings.
Did the Battle take place in the 14th year?
Then Abraham defeated the 4 kings. Abraham also rescued Lot.
I think the Battle happened when Abraham was still around 75 years old.
6. This accounts for 14 years of Sodom’s history.
Does that mean that Sodom existed 12 years before Chedorlaomer ruled over them?
Based on the Talmud note above, did Sodom exist another 26 years after the Battle of Siddim?
Thanks.
Answers
1. Yes, that is correct.
2. I could not find a source that put an exact figure on how long Lot lived in Sedom. What is clear is that he did not go to Sedom immediately. Due to the famine in Israel Lot went with Avraham to Egypt and stayed with him until they returned to Israel. It was only at that point that it started to become apparent that Lot had been adversely affected by the enormous wealth that Avraham brought back with him Egypt and he was being drawn towards idol worship. How long did it take until they finally parted ways? I do not know but I would assume that a few years passed before Avraham and Lot parted ways.
3. Yes, that is correct. The Talmud, Tractate Shabbat 10b, teaches that Sedom had been in existence for fifty-two years and Zoar for fifty-one, according to one opinion.
4. Yes, that is correct.
5. The chronology is all a little uncertain. According to the book, Seder Olam, for twelve years a tribute was paid to Chedorlaomer and his three allies. In the thirteenth year, the five kings rebelled, and for thirteen years they did not pay the tribute. After thirteen years the four kings went to war against the five kings, and that is when the battle for Sedom took place.
6. I am not sure as I cannot find a source that delineates the chronology clearly.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team
Your answer to item 5 totals 26 years. Is that correct?
Yes, that is correct.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team