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Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

IntroIndex©

ZOAR

One of the “cities of the plain” confederate with Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim (Gn 14:2, 8). Zoar, also known by its earlier name Bela, is best known as the town that served as a temporary refuge for Lot and his daughters during the destruction of Sodom and the other cities of the plain (19:22-23, 30). Despite the fact that Zoar was evidently a small town (v 22; Zoar means “little”), this place was evidently considered a significant geographical landmark in ancient times. When Abraham and Lot divided the land, Lot selected the land close to Zoar (13:10). When Moses surveyed the Promised Land from Mt Pisgah, Zoar was reckoned as the southern terminus of the plain of the valley of Jericho (Dt 34:3). During the prophetic period, Zoar was evidently considered to be on the southern boundary of Moab (Is 15:5; Jer 48:4, 34).

See also Cities of the Plain.