Helbon
“Fat or fertile”
Summary
Helbon was a place near Damascus famous for its wine, which was traded at the markets of Tyre and prized by the kings of Persia.
☩Famous Wine
Ezekiel mentions "the wine of Helbon" among the luxury goods Damascus brought to Tyre's markets. Classical writers refer to Chalybonian wine as highly prized—Strabo reports that Persian kings would drink only Chalybonian wine from Syria. Poseidonius, himself a Syrian, noted that this wine was also produced in the Damascus region.
☩Location
The identification with ancient Chalybon (and modern Aleppo) is problematic since Aleppo produces poor, thin wines. A better candidate may be the village of Helbon, about thirteen miles north-northwest of Damascus in a mountain valley, where vine culture flourishes. This village lies far from the caravan routes, which may explain why its wine was brought to Tyre via Damascus rather than directly by its own merchants.
Related Verses1 mention
Ezekiel· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Helbon," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Helbon," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Helbon," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Helbon," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).