Damascus

The capital of modern Syria. On our maps it is sometimes called Dimashq. It is at least four thousand years old—probably the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. Eliezar, Abraham’s servant, came from here. David once captured Damascus, but usually it belonged to Israel’s or Judah’s enemies.

In Bible times Syria was an area north of Israel. It covered most of the land south of modern Turkey, north of the Sea of Galilee, west of the Arabian Desert, and east of the Mediterranean Sea. The modern nation of Syria covers some of the same territory.

In the New Testament, Saul was going to Damascus when Christ appeared to him in a vision. Saul lost his sight and was taken to Damascus, where it was restored. Disciples in Damascus taught Saul about Jesus, and he began preaching in the synagogue there. Eventually, he had to escape by being let down over the wall in a basket.