Lexical Definition
אֲבָנָה ʼĂbânâh (ab-aw-naw') Abana N:N--L
perhaps feminine of אֶבֶן; stony; Compare אֲמָנָה.
Abana.
- Abanah, a river near Damascus
1) river Abana, Syrian river flowing through Damascus
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Αβανά | Abana | LXX.2Kgs.5.12 |
Extended Information
- A river in Syria flowing through Damascus
- Also named: a.ma.nah (אֲמָנָה "Amana" אֲמָנָה)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אבנה Kt 2Kgs 5:12 see אֲמָנָה. אַבְנֵט see בנט. אַבְנֵר see אֲבִינֵר below II. אָבָה.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| 2 Kings | 5:12 |
Profile
Abana • A river of Damascus, preferred by Naaman over the Jordan.
Abana, a river near Damascus, which Naaman saw as superior to the Jordan River.
The Abana River is mentioned in 2 Kings 5:12 as one of the two rivers of Damascus, along with the Pharpar. When Elisha told Naaman, commander of the army of Syria, to wash in the Jordan River to cure his leprosy, Naaman initially refused, saying, "Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" The Abana was apparently a significant and highly regarded river near Damascus. Naaman considered it superior to the Jordan River of Israel. After his servants reasoned with him, Naaman relented and washed in the Jordan as instructed, and his leprosy was cured. The Abana River is generally identified with the modern Barada River, the primary river that flows through Damascus.