Interesting Facts

• Zabnac is identified as one of the four judges of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, specifically residing in Admah.
• Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, refers to Zabnac by the altered name Kezobim.
• As a judge in Admah, Zabnac would have been instrumental in enforcing the wicked customs and laws prevalent in those cities.
• The practices enforced by Zabnac and the other judges included the cruel system of measuring strangers by the length of beds, leading to torture if they did not fit.
• By the desire of Zabnac and the other judges, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah erected beds in the streets for this inhumane purpose.

Genealogy

• The provided sources do not offer any information pertaining to the genealogy of Zabnac or Kezobim. Details regarding their ancestry, birth, marital connections, or offspring are absent from these texts.

Historical Context

Zabnac’s role as a judge in Admah situates him within the historical context of the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboyim, and Bela (Zoar). These cities were collectively known for being exceedingly wicked and sinful before the Lord [73, 8, 13, 15, 8, 17b, 91]. The culture of these cities, influenced and upheld by judges such as Zabnac, was characterized by extreme inhospitality and cruelty towards strangers. The sources specifically detail the abhorrent practice of torturing travelers based on the length of beds, as well as the systemic cruelty towards the poor, who were denied sustenance and then stripped of any gifts upon their death. Judges like Zabnac were the authorities who sanctioned and enforced these depraved customs, contributing significantly to the pervasive moral decay that ultimately resulted in the destruction of these cities by divine judgment.

Narrative

Zabnac’s individual narrative is not presented in detail through specific interactions or dialogues within the provided sources. Instead, his character is primarily defined by his position as a ruling judge in Admah and his participation in the enforcement of the cruel and unjust laws common to the five cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The text highlights that it was by the desire of the four judges, including Zabnac, that the beds used for torturing strangers were erected in the streets. This act underscores Zabnac’s direct involvement in the systemic oppression and inhumane treatment of those who entered Admah and the other cities. While there are no specific instances of Zabnac personally interacting with others detailed in these excerpts, his role as a judge implies his active endorsement and maintenance of the vile societal norms that defined Admah and contributed to its ultimate demise alongside Sodom and Gomorrah. His authority as a judge was integral to the perpetuation of the wickedness that characterized these condemned cities.