כב) גָּפְרִית וָמֶלַח שְׂרֵפָה כָל אַרְצָהּ לֹא תִזָּרַע וְלֹא תַצְמִחַ וְלֹא יַעֲלֶה בָהּ כָּל עֵשֶׂב כְּמַהְפֵּכַת סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה אַדְמָה וּצְבֹיִים [וּצְבוֹיִם] אֲשֶׁר הָפַךְ ה' בְּאַפּוֹ וּבַחֲמָתוֹ:
Sulfur and salt have burned up its entire land! It cannot be sown, nor can it grow [anything], not [even] any grass will sprout upon it. It is like the overturning of Sodom, Gemorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which Adonai overturned in His fury and in His rage. [Translation by Judaica Press, edited for gender neutrality]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
Do you think the fertility of the land is as important to us today as it was to ancient Israel?
If not, why?
Time Period: Biblical (early ancestors to 165 BCE)