Damascus means in the bible: A historic city in Syria. It is situated on an area of rich soil at the edge of desert. The river Barada supplies water to the region. 5:12 refers to tributaries. This is the first time it’s mentioned in Scripture as Eliezer’s birthplace, Abraham’s steward Gen. David took it 2 Sam. 8:6; 1 Chr. 8:6; 1 Chr. 11:24; 15:18; 20:34; 2 Kgs. 8:7, 9; 14:28; 16:9-16; 2 Chr. 16:2; 28:5, 23; Isa. 7:8; Ezek. 27:18; 47:16-18. Tiglath-pileser conquered it and took its residents captive around 733 B.C. 2 Kgs. 16:9; Isa. 8:4; 17:1-3; Jer. 49:23-27; Amos 1:3-5. It was later rebuilt, and it became an important location during Persian dominance. It was later conquered and retaken by the Romans. It was linked to the New Testament history of Paul Acts 9;1-27, 22:5-16, 26:12-16; 26:12-16; 20:12; 20; 2 Corinthians. 11:32; Gal. 1:17. The dominions of Aretas were then a part of it. This was an Arabian prince who was subject to the Roman Emperor. The city was eventually absorbed by the Moslem Muslim Arabs in 634.
(in Bible Dictionary)
