Genesis 19:28

Genesis 19:28

And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

a. NLT: He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace.

b. NIV: He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace.

c. YLT: and he looketh on the face of Sodom and Gomorrah, and on all the face of the land of the circuit, and seeth, and lo, the smoke of the land went up as smoke of the furnace.

d. Amplified Bible: And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and saw, and behold, the smoke of  the country went up like the smoke of a furnace.

e. Septuagint: And he looked towards Sodom and Gomorrha, and towards the surrounding country, and saw, and behold a flame went up from the earth, as the smoke of a furnace.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: And he gazed down upon Sodom and Gomorrah and the entire surface of the land of the plain; and saw—and behold! The smoke of the earth rose like the smoke of a kiln. 

1. “And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain…”

a. looked [8259 * shaqaph] [Strong: a primitive root; properly, to lean out (of a window), i.e. (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a spectacle):-- appear, look (down, forth, out).]

b. toward [6440 * paniym] [Strong: from 6437); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time), against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), + honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, + meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s) past, (un-)to(-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), with(- in, + -stand), X ye, X you.]

c. Sodom [5467 * Cedom] [Strong: from an unused root meaning to scorch; burnt (i.e. volcanic or bituminous) district; Sedom, a place near the Dead Sea:-- Sodom.]

d. Gomorrah [6017 * ‘Amorah] [Strong: from 6014; a (ruined) heap; Amorah, a place in Palestine:--Gomorrah.]

e. toward [6440 * paniym] See above.

f. all the land [776 * ‘erets] [Strong: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

1). If the cities of the plain were located south east of the plains of Mamre as some locate them, then it is about a 40 mile distance to the south east. So from 40 miles away Abraham could see not only Sodom & Gomorrah in flames but also to other cities as well.

a). Deuteronomy 29:23  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:

a. the plain [3603 * kikkar] [Strong: from 3769; a circle, i.e. (by implication) a circumjacent tract or region, expec. the Ghor or valley of the Jordan; also a (round) loaf; also a talent (or large (round) coin):--loaf, morsel, piece, plain, talent.]

2. “…and beheld, and lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.”

a. beheld [7200 * ra’ah] [Strong: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.]

b. smoke [7008 * qiytowr] [Strong: from 6999; a fume, i.e. cloud:--smoke, vapour.]

c. of the country [7776 * ‘erets] See above.

d. went up [5927 * ‘alah] [Strong: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative (as follow):--arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, + shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, X mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, + perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work.]

e. as the smoke [7008 * qiytowr] [Strong: from 6999; a fume, i.e. cloud:--smoke, vapour.]

f. furnace [3536 * kibshan] [Strong: from 3533; a smelting furnace (as reducing metals):--furnace.]

1). From the text it appears that it wasn’t four distinct columns of smoke, but rather one huge column. Deuteronomy 29 says “the whole land is… burning”. This possibly affected his descision to move from Mamre, after a number of years living on the plain of Mamre for approximately 19 years, since Genesis 13:18 he moves.

a). Genesis 20:1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.