Damascenes
Peopleâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Damascenes were the inhabitants of Damascus during the reign of King Aretas IV of the Nabataean kingdom, a period marked by the city's administration under Nabataean control.
What is the meaning of Damascenes in the Bible?
Damascenes were the inhabitants of Damascus during the reign of King Aretas IV of the Nabataean kingdom, a period marked by the city's administration under Nabataean control.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing the Damascenes as subjects of King Aretas IV provides the necessary historical context for the accounts in Acts and 2 Corinthians, clarifying why the governor was appointed by a foreign king rather than the Roman authorities and illuminating the specific political obstacles Paul faced during his escape from the city.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.