Ellen White Investigation

Was Zoar Destroyed?

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In the Biblical account of the destruction of Sodom, Lot begs for the city of Zoar to be spared. Zoar was one of the five cities of the "Pentapolis" (the five-city confederation) mentioned in Genesis 14:2. The Five Cities are listed in Genesis 14:2:

  1. Sodom
  2. Gomorrah
  3. Admah
  4. Zeboiim
  5. Bela (Zoar)

Lot called Bela "little" in Gen. 19:20 and the city of Bela became known as Zoar (which means "small" or "insignificant" in Hebrew).

The Bible says the Lord accepted Lot's plea to save Zoar:

And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar (Gen. 19:21,22).

Ellen White Contradicts God's Word about Zoar

The promise was given that the city of Zoar would not be overthrown. However, Ellen White says that the city was later destroyed by God:

Lot dwelt but a short time in Zoar. Iniquity prevailed there as in Sodom, and he feared to remain, lest the city should be destroyed. Not long after, Zoar was consumed, as God had purposed. Lot made his way to the mountains, and abode in a cave.1

Was Zoar destroyed by God after Lot received the promise that it would not be destroyed? Did God renege on His word?

Biblical and Historical Facts Refute Ellen White's Claim

The Bible confirms that God kept His promise about Zoar. God lists the cities that were destroyed:

And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath (Deut. 29:23).

The list of destroyed cities is:

  1. Sodom
  2. Gomorrah
  3. Admah
  4. Zeboiim

Bela (Zoar) is noticeably absent from the list of the cities of the Pentapolis. In fact, Zoar was still in existence hundreds of years later when the Lord was showing Moses the borders of the promised land of Israel.

And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar (Deut. 34:3).

If the city had been "consumed" as Ellen White said, then how could it be used as a landmark? Hundreds of years later the city was still in existence during the days of the prophets:

My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives [shall flee] unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction (Isa. 15:5).

From the cry of Heshbon [even] unto Elealeh, [and even] unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar [even] unto Horonaim, [as] an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate (Jer. 48:34).

Not only is there Biblical evidence that the city of Zoar was not destroyed, but there is also historical evidence. According to Wikipedia, "It is mentioned by Josephus; Ptolemy (V, xvi, 4); and by Eusebius and Saint Jerome in the Onomasticon."2 Although no longer in existence, ancient writers mentioned its existence as late as late as 1100 A.D.

Conclusion

The Biblical and historical evidence proves that Ellen White contradicted the Bible when she said God later destroyed Zoar. Zoar was not destroyed by God "not long after" Sodom was destroyed. Since Sodom was destroyed in 1712 B.C., and since Zoar was in existence in 1100 A.D., that means it existed for at least another 2,900 years. The promise God made to Lot to preserve the city was fulfilled.

Ellen White stated it best: "Whatever contradicts God's word, we may be sure proceeds from Satan."3