Lives of Scripture
Damascus
One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus was Abraham's servant Eliezer's hometown (Genesis 15:2) and later the capital of Aram (Syria), a persistent rival and sometime enemy of Israel through the united and divided monarchies (2 Samuel 8:5-6; 1 Kings 19:15; 2 Kings 8; 16:9). Its greatest New Testament significance is as the destination of Saul of Tarsus's fateful journey: he was blinded by a vision of the risen Christ on the Damascus road, healed and baptized there by Ananias, and preached in its synagogues before enemies plotted to kill him and disciples lowered him over the city wall in a basket to escape (Acts 9:1-25).
References: Genesis 14:15; Genesis 15:2; 2 Samuel 8:5-6; 1 Kings 19:15; Acts 9:1-19
People connected to Damascus
- Ananias (M) — the disciple of this city who restored Saul's sight
Acts 9:10-18
- Aretas (M) — the king whose governor here guarded the gates to seize Paul
2 Corinthians 11:32
- Ben-hadad (M) — a king of this city, who besieged Samaria
1 Kings 20:1
- Ben-hadad (M) — a king of this city, Hazael's son
2 Kings 13:24
- Eliezer of Damascus (M) — Abram's steward, “of Damascus,” his heir before Isaac was born
Genesis 15:2
- Hazael (M) — seized this city's throne by smothering Ben-hadad
2 Kings 8:15
- Naaman (M) — commander of the army of Aram, whose capital this was, healed of leprosy in Israel
2 Kings 5:1
- Paul (M) — blinded on the road to this city and baptized here
Acts 9:3-19
- Rezin (M) — its king, killed when Assyria captured the city
2 Kings 16:9
- Rezon (M) — seized this city and reigned there as an adversary to Solomon
1 Kings 11:23-25
- Tiglath-pileser (M) — captured this city and deported its people for King Ahaz
2 Kings 16:9