Overview:
Abana is one of the rivers mentioned in the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament. It is referenced in the context of the account of Naaman, a commander of the army of the king of Aram (Syria), who was healed of leprosy by the prophet Elisha. The river is noted for its significance in the region of Damascus.

Biblical Reference:
The primary biblical reference to Abana is found in 2 Kings 5:12. In this passage, Naaman expresses his initial reluctance to follow the prophet Elisha's instructions to wash in the Jordan River to be healed of his leprosy. Naaman compares the Jordan unfavorably to the rivers of Damascus, including Abana:

"Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went away in a rage." (2 Kings 5:12)

Geographical Context:
Abana, along with Pharpar, is one of the two main rivers associated with the city of Damascus. Historically, these rivers were vital to the fertility and prosperity of the region. The Abana River, often identified with the modern Barada River, flows from the Anti-Lebanon Mountains and provides essential water supply to the city and its surrounding areas.

Cultural and Historical Significance:
In ancient times, the rivers of Damascus, including Abana, were renowned for their clear and abundant waters. This reputation is reflected in Naaman's preference for them over the Jordan River. The rivers were central to the agricultural and economic life of Damascus, contributing to its status as a significant city in the ancient Near East.

Theological Implications:
Naaman's mention of Abana highlights the theme of God's power and the importance of obedience in the biblical narrative. Despite the perceived superiority of the rivers of Damascus, it was the waters of the Jordan, as directed by the prophet Elisha, that brought about Naaman's healing. This underscores the biblical message that God's ways and instructions, though sometimes unexpected, are to be trusted and followed.

Modern Identification:
Today, the Abana is generally identified with the Barada River, which continues to be a crucial water source for Damascus. The Barada River's historical and biblical associations add to its cultural and religious significance in the region.Abana

made of stone; a building

Abana

(perennial, stony), one of the "rivers of Damascus." (2 Kings 5:12) The Barada and the Awaj are now the chief streams of Damascus, the former representing the Abana and the latter the Pharpar of the text. The Barada (Abana) rises in the Antilibanus, at about 23 miles from the city, after flowing through which it runs across the plain, of whose fertility it is the chief source, till it loses itself in the lake or marsh Bahret-el-Kibliyeh.

Stony (Hebrews marg. "Amanah, " perennial), the chief river of Damascus (2 Kings 5:12). Its modern name is Barada, the Chrysorrhoas, or "golden stream," of the Greeks. It rises in a cleft of the Anti-Lebanon range, about 23 miles north-west of Damascus, and after flowing southward for a little way parts into three smaller streams, the central one flowing through Damascus, and the other two on each side of the city, diffusing beauty and fertility where otherwise there would be barrenness. 71. Abanah -- a river near Damascus
... Abana. Perhaps feminine of 'eben; stony; Abanah, a river near Damascus -- Abana.
Compare 'Amanah. see HEBREW 'eben. see HEBREW 'Amanah. 70, 71. Abanah. 72 ...
/hebrew/71.htm - 6k

Mr. Evil-Questioning Tried and Executed
... REV. CH SPURGEON. At Exeter Hall, Strand. "Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers
of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may ...
/.../spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/mr evil-questioning tried and executed.htm

A Little Jewish Maid.
... me. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters
of Israel? May I not wash in them and be clean?". Springing ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/a little jewish maid.htm

A Little Maid of Israel.
... "Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters
of Israel? May I not wash in them and be clean?" he said. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxix a little maid.htm

The Conversion of Paul.
... bursts upon the traveller like a vision of paradise amidst a burning and barren
wilderness of sand; it is watered by the never-failing rivers Abana and Pharpar ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 31 the conversion of.htm

PM Whittier. Patience.
... 5 But, O, we shrink from Jordan's side, From waters which alone can save;
And murmur for Abana's banks And Pharpar's brighter wave. ...
/.../book of hymns for public and private devotion/278 p m whittier patience.htm

Naaman
... and recover the leper." When told to wash in the Jordan, his pride was touched,
and in mortification and disappointment he exclaimed, "Are not Abana and Pharpar ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 20 naaman.htm

Naaman the Syrian
... I can fancy Naaman's indignation as he asks, "Are not Abana and Pharpar,
rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/iii naaman the syrian.htm

A Little Maid
... Jordan in a scornful way, comparing them with his splendid Damascus, and its green,
beautiful plain, thirty miles wide, and the great river Abana, that gushed ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/a little maid.htm

Baptism unto Repentance
... thought has assumed a gross and material form; and men have attributed to the water
of certain rivers, such as the Ganges, the Nile, the Abana, the mysterious ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/vi baptism unto repentance.htm

Obedience to God the Way to Faith in Christ.
... and rarer than the mere obvious duty of obedience to God; we are loth to seek Christ
in the waters of Jordan rather than in Pharpar and Abana, rivers of ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon xiv obedience to god.htm

Abana (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Abana (1 Occurrence). 2 Kings 5:12 Aren't Abanah and Pharpar,
the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? ...
/a/abana.htm - 7k

Amana (1 Occurrence)
... Perennial. (1.) The Hebrew margin of 2 Kings 5:12 gives this as another reading
of Abana (qv), a stream near Damascus. (2.) A mountain (Cant. ...
/a/amana.htm - 7k

Aba'na (1 Occurrence)
Aba'na. Abana, Aba'na. Abanah . ... Aba'na (1 Occurrence). 2 Kings 5:12 Are not
Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? ...
/a/aba'na.htm - 6k

Syria (73 Occurrences)
... Around Damascus the Abana (Barada) and neighboring streams have made the district
an earthly paradise, but they soon lose themselves in the salt marshes about ...
/s/syria.htm - 60k

Rivers (81 Occurrences)
... Rivers of Damascus. The Abana and Pharpar (2 Kings 5:12). Rivers of Judah. (Joel
3:18), the watercourses of Judea. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/r/rivers.htm - 32k

Pharzites
... parpar; Septuagint: Codex Vaticanus Apharpha; Codex Alexandrinus Pharphara): A river
of Damascus, mentioned in 2 Kings 5:12, along with the Abana or Amana.e ...
/p/pharzites.htm - 6k

Pharpar (1 Occurrence)
... par (parpar; Septuagint: Codex Vaticanus Apharpha; Codex Alexandrinus Pharphara):
A river of Damascus, mentioned in 2 Kings 5:12, along with the Abana or Amana ...
/p/pharpar.htm - 7k

Abag'tha (1 Occurrence)
Abag'tha. Abagtha, Abag'tha. Abana . Multi-Version Concordance Abag'tha
(1 Occurrence). ... Abagtha, Abag'tha. Abana . Reference Bible.
/a/abag'tha.htm - 6k

Abanah (1 Occurrence)
... a-na, a-ba'-na ('abhanah (Kethibh, Septuagint, Vulgate)), or AMANA a-ma'-na ('amanah
(Qere, Peshitta, Targum); the King James Version Abana (American Standard ...
/a/abanah.htm - 8k

What is the significance of Damascus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the story of Elisha and Naaman? | GotQuestions.org

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