Damascus

How Nave’s arranged it

• An ancient cityGenesis 14:15Genesis 15:2
• Capital of Syria1 Kings 20:34Isaiah 7:8Jeremiah 49:23–29Ezekiel 47:16Ezekiel 47:17
• Laid under tribute to David2 Samuel 8:52 Samuel 8:6
• Besieged by Rezon1 Kings 11:231 Kings 11:24
• Recovered by Jeroboam2 Kings 14:28
• Taken by king of Assyria2 Kings 16:9
• WalledJeremiah 49:272 Corinthians 11:33
• Garrisoned2 Corinthians 11:32
• Luxury inAmos 3:12
• Paul's experiences inActs 9Acts 22:5–16Acts 26:12–202 Corinthians 11:32Galatians 1:17
• Prophecies concerningIsaiah 8:4Isaiah 17:1Isaiah 17:2Jeremiah 49:23–29Amos 1:3Amos 1:5Zechariah 9:1
• Wilderness of1 Kings 19:15

The passages, in Bible order (28)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 14:15

   During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer’s army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 14:152 voices

   “And he divided himself against them - It required both considerable courage and address in Abram to lead him to attack the victorious armies of these four kings with so small a number of troops, and on this occasion both his skill and his courage are exercised. His affection for Lot appears to have been his chief motive; he cheerfully risks his life for that nephew who had lately chosen the best part of the land, and left his uncle to live as he might, on what he did not think worthy his own acceptance.

   “Again, It is all one with the Lord to save by many or by few, 1 Sam. xiv. He rescued his kinsman; twice here he is called his brother Lot. The remembrance of the relation that was between them, both by nature and grace, made him forget the little quarrel that had been between them, in which Lot had by no means acted well towards Abram.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 14:15→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 15:2

   But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 15:22 voices

   “Let us also consider what recompense he requests from the Lord. He does not ask for riches, as would a greedy person, nor for a long life in this world, as would one who fears death, nor for power. Rather he asks for an heir worthy of his work. "What will you give me?"—he says—"I am about to depart without children." And then he says, "Because you have not given me posterity, a slave born in my house will be my heir." Let everyone learn therefore not to despise marriage.

   “And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless,.... As if he should say, what signifies what thou givest me of temporal blessings, if thou withholdest from me the blessing of a child; from whom it might be hoped and believed would spring the promised Messiah, in whom all nations of the earth shall be blessed.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 15:2→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. 2 Samuel 8:5

   When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand men.

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 8:51 voice

   “Syrians of Damascus - The Syrians (Aram), whose capital was Damascus, were the best known and most powerful. Damascus (written Darmesek in marginal references, according to the late Aramean orthography) is first mentioned in Gen 15:2. According to Nicolaus of Damascus, cited by Josephus, the Syrian king’s name was Hadad.

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 8:5→

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4. 2 Samuel 8:6

   Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 8:62 voices

   “Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus,.... Which was Coele-Syria, and lay between Libanus and Antilibanus, the chief city of which was Damascus; which Curtius (q) calls Damascus of Syria, being the head of it, Isa 7:8; in the principal places of which he put garrisons of soldiers to keep the country in subjection to him; or he put commanders or governors, as the Targum, in the, chief cities, and so Ben Gersom and R.

   “Garrisons - The word is used for officers in 1Ki 4:5, 1Ki 4:19, and some think that that is its meaning here. Perhaps, however, it is best to take it with the King James Version in the same sense as in 1Sa 10:5; 1Sa 13:3. Brought gifts - Rather, “tribute” (and in 2Sa 8:2); meaning they became subject and tributary.

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 8:6→

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5. 1 Kings 11:23

   And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah,

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 11:231 voice

   “And God stirred him up another adversary,.... One from the north, as the other was from the south: Rezon, the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah: when David fought with him; and this man seeing the battle go against his master, and that he was like to be worsted, deserted him and fled, see 2Sa 8:3.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 11:23→

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6. 1 Kings 11:24

   and had gathered men to himself. When David killed the Zobaites, Rezon captained a band of raiders and went to Damascus, where they settled and gained control.

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 11:241 voice

   “And reigned in Damascus - Rezon was one of the captains of Hadadezer, whom David defeated. It seems that at this time Rezon escaped with his men; and; having lived, as is supposed, some time by plunder, he seized on Damascus, and reigned there till David took Damascus, when he subdued Syria, and drove out Rezon. But after Solomon’s defection from God, Rezon, finding that God had departed from Israel, recovered Damascus; and joining with Hadad, harassed Solomon during the remaining part of his reign. But some think that Hadad and Rezon were the same person.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 11:24→

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7. 1 Kings 19:15

   Then the LORD said to him, “Go back by the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram.

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 19:151 voice

   “The answer is not a justification of the ways of God, nor a direct reproof of the prophet’s weakness and despondency, nor an explanation or application of what Elijah had seen. For the present, he is simply directed back into the path of practical duty. His mission is not yet over, there is still work for him to do.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 19:15→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. 1 Kings 20:34

   Ben-hadad said to him, “I will restore the cities my father took from your father; you may set up your own marketplaces in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.” “By this treaty I release you,” Ahab replied. So he made a treaty with him and sent him away.

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 20:342 voices

   “Thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus - It appears that it was customary for foreigners to have a place assigned to them, particularly in maritime towns, where they might deposit and vend their merchandise. This was the very origin of European settlements in Asiatic countries: “The people gave an inch to those strangers; and in consequence they took an ell.” Under the pretense of strengthening the place where they kept their wares, to prevent depredations, they built forts, and soon gave laws to their entertainers.

   “Their voluntary attitude and language of submission flattered the pride of Ahab, who, little concerned about the dishonor done to the God of Israel by the Syrian king, and thinking of nothing but victory, paraded his clemency, called the vanquished king "his brother," invited him to sit in the royal chariot, and dismissed him with a covenant of peace.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 20:34→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. 2 Kings 14:28

   As for the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, along with all his accomplishments and might, and how he waged war and recovered both Damascus and Hamath for Israel from Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

   ›Commentary on 2 Kings 14:281 voice

   “How he warred, and - recovered Damascus - We learn from 1Ch 18:3-11, that David had conquered all Syria, and put garrisons in Damascus and other places, and laid all the Syrians under tribute; but this yoke they had not only shaken off, but they had conquered a considerable portion of the Israelitish territory, and added it to Syria. These latter Jeroboam now recovered; and thus the places which anciently belonged to Judah by David’s conquests, and were repossessed by Syria, he now conquered, and added to Israel.

   Everything gathered on 2 Kings 14:28→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. 2 Kings 16:9

    So the king of Assyria responded to him, marched up to Damascus, and captured it. He took its people to Kir as captives and put Rezin to death.

    ›Commentary on 2 Kings 16:91 voice

    “The submission of Judah, which Ahaz proffered, would be of the utmost importance in connection with any projects that might be entertained of Egyptian conquests. Naturally, Damascus was the first object of attack. It was the head of the confederacy, and it lay nearest to an army descending upon Lower Syria, as all Asiatic armies would descend, from the north. It appears from an inscription of Tiglath-pileser’s, that Rezin met him in the field, was defeated, and slain. An attack upon Pekah followed.

    Everything gathered on 2 Kings 16:9→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. Isaiah 7:8

    For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people.

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Isaiah 8:4

    For before the boy knows how to cry ‘Father’ or ‘Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”

    ›Commentary on Isaiah 8:42 voices

    “For before the child - For my father and my mother, one MS. and the Vulgate have his father and his mother. The prophecy was accordingly accomplished within three years; when Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, went up against Damascus and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin, and also took the Reubenites and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and carried them captive to Assyria, 2Ki 15:29; 2Ki 16:9; 1Ch 5:26.

    “Chapter 8 — Verses 1-4. And the Lord said to me: Take for yourself a large book, and write in it with the pen of a man, quickly seize the spoils, swiftly plunder. And I appointed faithful witnesses for myself, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Barachiah, and I approached the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son.

    Everything gathered on Isaiah 8:4→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. Isaiah 17:1

    This is the burden against Damascus: “Behold, Damascus is no longer a city; it has become a heap of ruins.

    ›Commentary on Isaiah 17:11 voice

    “The burden of Damascus - The oracle indicating calamity or destruction to Damascus (see the note at Isa 13:1). “Damascus is taken away.” That is, it shall be destroyed. It was represented to the prophet in vision as destroyed (see the note at Isa 1:1). And it shall be a ruinous heap - See Isa 35:2. This took place under the kings of Assyria, and particularly under Tiglath-pileser. This was in the fourth year of Ahaz 2Ki 16:9.

    Everything gathered on Isaiah 17:1→

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14. Isaiah 17:2

    The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will be left to the flocks, which will lie down with no one to fear.

    ›Commentary on Isaiah 17:21 voice

    “The cities of Aroer are forsaken “The cities are deserted for ever” - What has Aroer on the river Arnon to do with Damascus? and if there be another Aroer on the northern border of the tribe of Gad, as Reland seems to think there might be, this is not much more to the purpose. Besides, the cities of Aroer, if Aroer itself is a city, makes no good sense. The Septuagint, for ערער aroer, read עדי עד adey ad, εις τον αιωνα, for ever, or for a long duration.

    Everything gathered on Isaiah 17:2→

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15. Jeremiah 49:23–29

    Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard a bad report; they are agitated like the sea; their anxiety cannot be calmed.

    ›Commentary on Jeremiah 49:23–291 voice

    “Though the superscription is confined to Damascus, the prophecy relates to the whole of Aram, called by us Syria, which was divided into two parts, the northern, of which Hamath was the capital, and the southeastern, belonging to Damascus. Hamath is confounded - Or, is ashamed. For Hamath see Isa 10:9 note. Arpad lay about fourteen miles north of Aleppo, at a place now called Tel Erfad. Fainthearted - The sinews are relaxed unknit, through terror. There is sorrow on the sea - In the sea.

    Everything gathered on Jeremiah 49:23–29→

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16. Jeremiah 49:27

    “I will set fire to the walls of Damascus; it will consume the fortresses of Ben-hadad.”

    ›Commentary on Jeremiah 49:272 voices

    “And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus,.... Signifying either that, a breach being made there the destruction of the city should begin, and be carried on until it was completed; or it may be understood literally, that first the houses built upon the wall should beset on fire by the Chaldeans, through the divine permission, and according to his order and wilt, and therefore ascribed to him, which should proceed further.

    “The palaces of Ben-hadad - Damascus was a seat of the Syrian kings, and Ben-hadad was a name common to several of its kings.

    Everything gathered on Jeremiah 49:27→

    Verse page →Original language →