The Bible mentions a few nations and cities that were destroyed or faced divine judgment, including the destruction of cities by sinking or other catastrophic events. Here are some of the key examples:
Sodom and Gomorrah
- Description: Sodom and Gomorrah are the most famous examples of cities destroyed by divine judgment in the Bible. According to Genesis 19, these cities were known for their wickedness, and God rained down sulfur and fire from heaven, completely destroying them. There is also a tradition that the area around the cities, including other nearby towns like Admah and Zeboiim, may have been affected, and it is believed by some that they are now submerged under the Dead Sea.
- Location: Generally believed to be located in the region of the Dead Sea (modern-day Israel/Jordan).
- Outcome: The cities were utterly destroyed, and their locations are sometimes thought to be submerged or buried under the Dead Sea’s waters.
Verse: Genesis 19:24-25
Text: “Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.”
Hebrew Context: The Hebrew word used here for “overthrew” is הפך (haphak), which means to overturn or destroy. There is no specific mention of sinking in the text, but the cities were utterly destroyed by fire and sulfur.
The City of Jericho
- Description: The city of Jericho is famously destroyed by the Israelites under Joshua’s command after they march around the city walls for seven days. On the seventh day, the walls of Jericho collapsed, allowing the Israelites to conquer the city (Joshua 6). While the city itself was not “sunk,” it was entirely destroyed.
- Location: Jericho, near the Jordan River (modern-day Palestine).
- Outcome: The city was destroyed, and the walls collapsed, but it was later rebuilt.
Verse: Joshua 6:20
Text: “So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.”
Hebrew Context: The phrase “fell down flat” is translated from ותפל החומה תחתיה (vatipol hachoma takhteha), which means “the wall fell beneath itself.” This implies collapse rather than sinking.
Canaanite Cities (Hazor, Ai, etc.)
- Description: Several Canaanite cities were destroyed by the Israelites during their conquest of Canaan. For example, Hazor was burned to the ground by Joshua (Joshua 11:10-11). The city of Ai was also destroyed after an initial defeat of the Israelites (Joshua 8).
- Location: Various locations in the land of Canaan (modern-day Israel/Palestine).
- Outcome: These cities were destroyed by fire or other means during the Israelite conquest, but most were later rebuilt or resettled.
Verse: Joshua 11:11 (Hazor)
Text: “And they struck with the sword all who were in it, devoting them to destruction; there was none left that breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire.”
Hebrew Context: The word שרף (saraph) is used for “burned.” There is no mention of sinking in these contexts, only destruction by fire.
Tyre
- Description: The city of Tyre, a major Phoenician port, is prophesied in the Bible to be destroyed and sunk into the sea. The prophet Ezekiel describes its fall in detail, predicting that it would be brought down to the “pit” and covered by the waters (Ezekiel 26). Historically, Tyre was besieged by various conquerors, including Alexander the Great, who famously built a causeway to the island city.
- Location: Modern-day Lebanon.
- Outcome: Tyre was partially destroyed several times, and the island city was connected to the mainland by Alexander’s causeway. The prophecy of sinking is understood by some to be symbolic, while others see it as a reference to the city’s partial submersion or destruction.
Verse: Ezekiel 26:19
Text: “For thus says the Lord GOD: When I make you a city laid waste, like the cities that are not inhabited, when I bring up the deep over you, and the great waters cover you.”
Hebrew Context: The phrase “bring up the deep over you” is translated from בהעלותי עליך את-תהום (behaaloti aleykha et-tehom), meaning to bring up the abyss or the deep waters. The idea of being covered by water implies submersion or sinking.
Babylon
- Description: The city of Babylon is prophesied in the Bible to face complete destruction and desolation, especially in the Book of Revelation where it is referred to as “Babylon the Great” (Revelation 18). In the Old Testament, Isaiah and Jeremiah also prophesy its fall, predicting that it will never be inhabited again (Isaiah 13:19-22, Jeremiah 51:24-26).
- Location: Central Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq).
- Outcome: Babylon eventually fell into ruin after several conquests, including by the Persians, and its grandeur was lost over time. The site of ancient Babylon is now mostly uninhabited ruins.
Verse: Jeremiah 51:64
Text: “And say, ‘Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, and they shall become exhausted.’ Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.”
Hebrew Context: The Hebrew word טבע (tava) is used here, which directly means “sink.” This is one of the clearest references to a city sinking, symbolizing Babylon’s permanent destruction.
