Damascus
Summary
One of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, capital of ancient Syria, and the site of the apostle Paul's dramatic conversion.
☩Location and Natural Features
Damascus lies at the eastern base of Anti-Lebanon, in a fertile plain about 2,200 feet above sea level. The city owes its enduring prosperity to the river Barada (the biblical Abana), which bursts through the mountains to spread fertility across the plain before losing itself in desert marshes. This oasis, surrounded on three sides by barren hills and bordered by desert, has made Damascus an inevitable and permanent center of civilization. Arab literature extols it as an earthly paradise, a reputation earned by its abundant fruit trees, grain fields, and gardens.
☩Early Biblical History
Damascus first appears in Scripture in connection with Abraham, whose trusted steward Eliezer was a native of the city. During David's reign, the Syrians of Damascus came to aid Hadadezer of Zobah but were defeated; David then garrisoned the city and received tribute from its inhabitants. After Solomon's death, Rezon established himself as king in Damascus and proved an adversary to Israel throughout Solomon's reign. The city subsequently became the capital of a powerful Aramean kingdom that repeatedly clashed with the northern kingdom of Israel.
☩Wars with Israel
The kings of Damascus—particularly the dynasty of Ben-hadad and Hazael—alternately fought against and allied with the Hebrew kingdoms. Ben-hadad was induced by Asa of Judah to break his alliance with Israel and attack Baasha. Later, Hazael severely oppressed Israel, seizing territory east of the Jordan and threatening Jerusalem itself. Eventually Jeroboam II recovered Damascus for Israel, but Rezin later allied with Pekah of Israel against Judah, prompting Ahaz to invite Assyrian intervention. In 732 B.C., Tiglath-pileser III captured the city, killed Rezin, and deported its inhabitants, ending the Aramean kingdom.
☩Paul's Conversion
Damascus holds supreme importance in Christian history as the place where Saul of Tarsus encountered the risen Christ. Armed with letters authorizing him to arrest Christians, Saul was struck down by a blinding light near the city and heard the voice of Jesus. After three days of blindness and fasting, he was visited by Ananias, received his sight, and was baptized. Immediately Paul began preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. When his enemies plotted to kill him, disciples lowered him over the city wall in a basket, and he escaped to begin his apostolic ministry.
Related Verses59 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Damascus," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Damascus," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Damascus," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Damascus," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 5.George Morrish, "Damascus," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 6.James Hastings (ed.), "Damascus, Damascenes," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 7.Philip Schaff and Johann Herzog (ed.), "DAMASCUS," in The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. III (Funk and Wagnalls, 1908–1914).