1 Kings 11:24
Damascus ........... city <01834> [to Damascus.]
Damascus ........... city <01834> [in Damascus.]
Damascus, called also Damesk, but generally El Sham, by the Arabs, is situated in a delightful plain, well watered by the Barrada, at the eastern foot of Antilibanus, being surrounded by the hills in the form of a triumphal arch, 136 miles N. of Jerusalem, 195 S. of Antioch, and 276 S. S. W. of Diarbekir. It is a city of the highest antiquity, being at least as ancient as the time of Abraham: it has been often captured, and several times demolished, but has always risen to splendour and dignity. The modern town is described by Maundrell as of a long, straight figure, it ends pointing nearly N. E. and S. W. It is very slender in the middle, but swells bigger at each end, especially at that to the N. E. According to Niebuhr, the walls are something less than a league and half in circumference; and the population is estimated at from 100,000 to 150,000
1 Kings 20:17
1 Kings 21:10
villains <01121 01100> [sons of Belial.]
cursed <01288> [Thou didst blaspheme.]
Some, with Parkhurst, would render the original, {bairachta elohim wamailech,} "Thou hast blessed the gods and Molech;" a sense, however, which seems extremely forced, and is not acknowledged by any of the ancient versions, though the LXX. and Vulgate render {bairachta} by [eulogese,] {benedixit,} "blessed." It is no unusual thing for a word to have opposite senses.
