In the Old Testament, Sodom and Gomorrah were two cities notorious for their wickedness. According to the Book of Genesis, God decided to destroy them due to their extreme sinfulness.
Here's a breakdown of what happened:
* Sinfulness: The Bible describes the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah as exceedingly wicked and sinful. The specific nature of their sins is debated, but it is often interpreted as including violence, inhospitality, and sexual perversion.
* Angels' Visit: God sent two angels disguised as men to Sodom to investigate the city's wickedness. Lot, a righteous man living in Sodom, offered them hospitality.
* Mob at Lot's Door: The men of Sodom surrounded Lot's house and demanded that he bring the visitors out so they could "know" them. This is generally interpreted as a demand for homosexual relations. Lot offered his virgin daughters instead, but the angels intervened and struck the men with blindness.
* Warning and Escape: The angels warned Lot and his family to flee the city because God was about to destroy it. They told them not to look back.
* Destruction: God rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah, destroying the cities and all their inhabitants.
* Lot's Wife: As they were fleeing, Lot's wife disobeyed the angels' command and looked back at the city. As a result, she was turned into a pillar of salt.
* Aftermath: Sodom and Gomorrah were completely destroyed, serving as a biblical example of divine punishment for wickedness.
The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is a significant one in the Bible, often used as a symbol of sin, depravity, and divine judgment.