A. Hender-son.
DALMATIA (AaX/iarfa) in apostolic times was an
Ul-defined mountainous district on the E. coast of
the Adriatic, stretching towards Macedonia. In
its more exact use, the name, which is not known
DALPIION
DAMASCUS
545
to the earlier Greek writers, was used of the S. portion of the Rora. province lUyricum, between the Drinus and the sea. In its more indefinite use it was practically another name for Illyricuiu. St. Paul preached the L'ospel in the district, or, at any rate, in its nei^-libourhood (Ro 15"), and duriuK his last imprisonment in Home it was visited by Titus (2 Ti 4'"). In our ignorance of the place where the apostle was arrested, we cannot determine either the exact time when Titus w as sent to D. or the reason why he was sent ; but it has been conjectured that, having failed to (ind St. Paul at Nicopolis as he expected (Ti 3"), he went on to Dalmatia. W. MuiB.
DALPHON (i>eS Est ff), the second son of Haman, put to death by the Jews. In the LiXX
DAM ARIS (Aduapi^). — The name of a woman who, with Dionysius the Areopagite and certain others, is mentioned as having been converted by St. Paul at Athens (Ac 17"). Ramsay (iit. Paul the Trav. p. 252) points out that it is not stated that she was of good birth (in contrast with 17" and 13"); that this arose from the fact that women of social position in Athens would cer- tainly not have tlie opportunity of hearing St. Paul ; and that her name suggests that she was a foreigner, perhaps ' one of the class of educated Hetairai.' This suggestion seems to go rather beyond the evidence. The name is said to be a corruption of Sitia\i%, a heifer, which is the reading of one Lat. MS (et mulier nomine Damalis, Flor.). Chrys. (ad loc.) suggests quite erroneously that she was the wife of Dionysius ; this could not be the tr. of «al yw^ dyipjirt A. These words and all mention of this woman are omitted by Codex Beza;. Ramsay {Church in Bom. Emp. p. 161) quotes this in proof of his assertion that the reviser to whom we owe the Western text was a Catholic who objected to the prominent posi- tion assigned to women in the Acts ; ' this was, firstly, pagan rather than Christian ; and, secondly, heretical rather than Catholic' (See also n" and the variation there.) A. C. HSACLAM.
DAMASCUS (plrvi!, Aa^crx^O.
This city ia the contemporary of all history. Ita origin Is lost io antiquity. Jo«. (Ant. I. vi. 4) ttayu it was founded by 1*£, f^randson of Shem. It is Qrst nientinn<-(! in connexion with Abraham's pursuit of the defeated Chi-dorlaomer (On 14^8). Then (<ln l&'-f) his servant is called Daniniesek Kliczer, where both the Chaldee and the Syr. have ' Hliezer the Liamascene.' ItoocuninSSSiaa pv'Cl 0'?t<, Aram Dammesek, which HU^Kests oompftrison with the modem Arabic name, IHmaalik eth-Shdm. As It was the capital of Aram, so it is the chief city of e*h-SUAm, the modem Syria. if»A.A'A<tn»=* the left,* ».«. the country on the left; as «/.}'#msn, Arabia Felix, is on the ri^'ht of the Arabian looking northward. A Moslem tradition makes Kliezcr the founder of the city, and Abraham king for some Tears before he went south to Palestine. So alBO Nlcolaus of P.. quoted by Jos. (Ant. 1. vii. 2). He mentions a villajre called ' the Habitation of Abraham,' which may be identical with tlBurzth, 3 miles N. of the city, where there is a well/ sacred to the patriarch.
I. History. — The history of D. really begins for us with its capture by 1 lavid. Coming to suc- cour Hailadci^cr, king of Zobah, the Daniascenes were themselves overthrown. David smote of the Syrians 22,'MXJ men, took and garrisoned the city, and ' the Syrians became servants to David, and brought presents' (2 S 8'"'). Nicolausof Diiniascus says the battle was fought on the Kuphrates. Rezon, son of Eliada, a follower of Hadadczer, escaped, gathered a company around him, possibly fugitives like himself, and obtained possession of Damascus. ' He was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon.' His experience on the Euphrates possibly led him to abhor Israel (1 K ll»-'»). Hut aoon again the sceptre passed to the family of VOL. I.— I";
Hadad. Syria and Israel were in league against Judah. Hard pressed by the king of Israel, Asa bought the friendship of Benhadad with cosily presents, and induced him to break with liaasha and invade his territory. A successful raid into the northern dominions of Lsrael called off liaasha and relieved Judah (1 K 15'°"-'). Benhadad seems to have followed up his advantage in the reign of Omri. Retaining the captured cities, he held the right to 'make streets' in the new capital, Samaria (1 K 20*"). 'Streets' may have meant quarters for a permanent embassy, or siiiiplj accommodation for Syrian merchants, who, like the Tyrians in Memphis, would congregate in one quarter. It was a concesbion to a power which could enforce it if necessary. Benhadad, son of this monarch, led a great expedition against Samaria. There were with him lliirty-two subject kings, with horses and chariots. Conducting the siege with a contemptuous carelessness, born of a sense of absolute superiority, he was surprised by a sudden attack, and his army routed, he himself escaping with difficulty on horseback. Meeting Israel again at Aphek, he was defeated and his army destroyed. Taken by Ahab, his freedom was granted on most humiliating terms (1 K 20). In about three years' time we find them again at war, fighting for possession of Ramothgilead ; and there Ahab was slain (1 K 22). From D. came Naaman, to be healed of leprosy (2 K 5). Again the Syrians invaded Israel, and a company sent to arrest Elisha at Dothan was led by him, blinded, into Samaria (2 K li"-'^). Unaffected by their chivalrous treatment, we find Benhadad directly again besieging Samaria. The city was reduced to the most appalling straits by famine, when, by a miraculous uisconititure of the Syrians, it was delivered, and plentiful supplies provided (2 K 6^- 7*"). From the cimeiforin inscriptions we learn that the Assyrians also harassed Benhadad, and were too strong for him and his allies. His reputation Buffered heavily from these disasters, making it easier for a strong man to usurp his place. Falling sick, he sent a messenger laden with gifts to con- sult Elisha. To this man, Hazael, the prophet promised the kingdom. On his return he secured the swift fullilment of the promise by the murder of his master (2 K 8'°). In his encounters with the great Assyr. power, the new king was not more fortunate than his predecessor ; out elsewhere success waited upon liis standards. Jehoram of Israel and Ahaziah of Judah attacked Ramoth- gilead. Hazael repulsed them, the former being seriously wounded (2 K 8^^). He then laid waste the whole country east of the Jordan (2 K 10»^"). He captured Gath {ib. 12"), and threat- ened Jerusalem. Jehoash purchased immunity from attack, stripping the temple and the palace of all valuables for this purpose (ti. 12"). Hazael also prevailed against Israel, and superiority was maintained by his son Benhadad {ib. Vi"). Ulti- mately Jehoash, son of Jehuahaz, a.<>serted liis independence, and recovered the cities Hazael had taken (ti. IS*'). Jeroboam II., son of Jehoash, the great warrior-king of the northern monarc) extended the borders of Israel, recovering and Hamath, probably making their kings tribu- tary to Israel {ib. 14 •). D. and Samaria next appear in league against Jerusalem (2 K 1.5" Ki"). Rezin of D. reconquered Elath, driving out ' the Jews.' Meantime the As.syrians, under Tiglath- pileser III., whose Bab. name was Pul or I'ulu (2 K 15"), were rapi<lly extending their sway, threatening the independence of D. and Samaria alike. To consolidate their power against As.syria, Kezin and Pekali sought to attach Judali to iheir cause by dethroning Aheiz, and setting up ' a king in the midst of it, the son of Tabeel ' (Is 7") The