(a heifer), an Athenian woman converted to Christianity by St. Paul’s preaching. (Acts 17:34)
(A.D 48.) Chrysostom and others held her to have been the wife of Dionysius the Areopagite.
Damascus
one of the most ancient and most important of the cities of Syria. It is situated 130 miles northeast
of Jerusalem, in a plain of vast size and of extreme fertility, which lies east of the great chain of
Anti-Libanus, on the edge of the desert. This fertile plain, which is nearly circular and about 30
miles in diameter, is due to the river Barada, which is probably the “Abana” of Scripture. Two
other streams the Wady Helbon upon the north and the Awaj, which flows direct from Hermon
upon the south, increase the fertility of the Damascene plain, and contend for the honor of
representing the “Pharpar” of Scripture. According to Josephus, Damascus was founded by Uz
grandson of Shem. It is first mentioned in Scripture in connection with Abraham, (Genesis 14:15)
whose steward was a native of the place. (Genesis 15:2) At one time david became complete master
of the whole territory, which he garrisoned with israelites. (2 Samuel 8:5,6) It was in league with
Baasha, king of Israel against Asa, (1 Kings 15:19; 2 Chronicles 16:3) and afterwards in league
with Asa against Baasha. (1 Kings 15:20) Under Ahaz it was taken by Tiglath-pileser, (2 Kings
16:7,8,9) the kingdom of Damascus brought to an end, and the city itself destroyed, the inhabitants
being carried captive into Assyria. (2 Kings 16:9) comp. Isai 7:8 and Amos 1:5 Afterwards it passed
successively under the dominion of the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Macedonians, Romans
and Saracens, and was at last captured by the Turks in 1516 A.D. Here the apostle Paul was converted
and preached the gospel. (Acts 9:1-25) Damascus has always been a great centre for trade. Its
present population is from 100,000 to 150,000. It has a delightful climate. Certain localities are
shown as the site of those scriptural events which specially interest us in its history. Queen’s Street,
which runs straight through the city from east to west, may be the street called Straight. (Acts 9:11)
The house of Judas and that of Ananias are shown, but little confidence can be placed in any of
these traditions.
Dan
(a judge).
•The fifth son of Jacob, and the first of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid. (Genesis 30:6) (B.C. after 1753.)
The origin of the name is given in the exclamation of Rachel. The records of Dan are unusually
meagre. Only one son is attributed to him, (Genesis 46:23) but his tribe was, with the exception
of Judah, the most numerous of all. In the division of the promised land Dan was the last of the
tribes to receive his portion, which was the smallest of the twelve. (Joshua 19:48) But
notwithstanding its smallness it had eminent natural advantages. On the north and east it was
completely embraced by its two brother tribes Ephraim and Benjamin, while on the southeast and
south it joined Judah, and was thus surrounded by the three most powerful states of the whole
confederacy. It was a rich and fertile district; but the Amorites soon “forced them into the
mountain,” (Judges 1:34) and they had another portion granted them. Judges 18. In the “security”
and “quiet,” (Judges 18:7,10) of their rich northern possession the Danites enjoyed the leisure and
repose which had been denied them in their original seat. In the time of David Dan still kept its
place among the tribes. (1 Chronicles 12:35) Asher is omitted, but the “prince of the tribe of Dan”
is mentioned in the list of (1 Chronicles 27:22) But from this time forward the name as applied to
the tribe vanishes; it is kept alive only by the northern city. In the genealogies of 1Chr 2-12, Dan
is omitted entirely. Lastly, Dan is omitted from the list of those who were sealed by the angel in
the vision of St. John. (Revelation 7:5-7)
frankie
(Frankie)
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