Chapter 4. Locating the Cities - Part 2

Where were the Cities located? 
One theory says they are all together under the Dead Sea. We have already seen why this must be wrong. Another theorysays they are on the Jordanian shore of the Dead Sea on a Plateau where five archaeological sites have been located (Babedh-Dhra, Numeira etc). However, these 5 sites are 500 feet above the Plain on a Plateau, not on the Plain, as the Bible states. Also, they are far too small to be Cities - the largest was 10 acres, and the next 2 acres. These 5 sites on the Jordanian side experienced fires, but these were normal fires; they were not turned to ash, as the Bible requires. Also they are outside Canaanite territory, whereas Genesis 10:19 says they were Canaanite Cities.

Both theories are contradicted by Genesis 10:19 where 4 of these Cities form part of the boundaries of the Canaanites:Genesis 10:19: "the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as you come to Gerar, unto Gaza (the Western border on the Mediterranean Coast) as you go, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even to Lasha (the eastern border on the Jordan River)." 

It would be nonsense to use Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim as boundary markers if they were all in the same general location. It is logical that they would be located at some distance from each other if it was necessary to include each of them as boundary markers. Thus they could not have been grouped together at the 
southern end of the Dead Sea as popularly believed. They clearly 
must have formed a north-south line along the Jordan/Dead Sea area. 

On the other hand, the 5 sites with ashen remains embedded with sulphur balls are spread over a distance of over 50 miles and form part of the natural boundary of Canaan, agreeing with Genesis 10:19. Moreover, the order of the Cities in Genesis 10:19 helps us to identify which is which, starting with Sodom at the southern end. 

Another Scripture perfectly confirms this location for the northernmost City, Zeboim, as being directly east of Mishmash:

1Samuel 13:16-18: "Saul and Jonathan his son, and the people with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in 3 companies: one company turned unto the way that leads to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual (NORTH): 
And another company turned the way to Bethhoron (WEST): and another company turned to the way of the border that looks to the Valley of Zeboin toward the wilderness (EAST)." 

The group heading east to the Valley called Zeboim was heading to where the ashen formation is now! But if Zeboim was at the Southern end of the Dead Sea, this Scripture would make no sense. 
It made perfect sense that the name of the City was preserved throughout the years, even though the City was long ago destroyed, just as Mt. Sodom even today still bears the name: ‘Sodom.’ Israel had displaced the Canaanites- Zeboim was a border City of Canaan, and now its ashen remains were part of the border of Israel.