Bible Dictionary
Pharpar
Pharpar was one of the two rivers of Damascus mentioned by Naaman. It is generally identified with the Awaj, a river south of Damascus.
Definition
Pharpar was one of the two rivers of Damascus mentioned by Naaman, the other being Abana. Its name is associated with swiftness.
Biblical Usage
Naaman referred to Pharpar when questioning why the waters of Israel should not be as effective as the rivers of Damascus.
Historical Background
Pharpar is generally identified with the Awaj, which rises on the southeastern slopes of Hermon and flows into the southernmost lake or marsh of Damascus. A branch called Wady Barbar may preserve the name.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Swift, one of the rivers of Damascus (2 Kings 5:12). It has been identified with the ‘Awaj, “a small lively river.” The whole of the district watered by the ‘Awaj is called the Wady el-‘Ajam, i.e., “the valley of the Persians”, so called for some unknown reason. This river empties itself into the lake or marsh Bahret Hijaneh, on the east of Damascus. One of its branches bears the modern name of Wady Barbar, which is probably a corruption of Pharpar.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(swift), the second of the “two rivers of Damascus”—Abana and Pharpar—alluded to by Naaman. (2 Kings 5:18) The two principal streams in the district of Damascus are the Barada and the Awaj, the former being the Abana and the latter the Pharpur. The Awaj rises on the southeast slopes of Hermon, and flows into the most southerly of the three lakes or swamps of Damascus.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>far'-par (parpar; Septuagint: Codex Vaticanus Apharpha; Codex Alexandrinus Pharphara): A river of Damascus, mentioned in 2Ki 5:12, along with the Abana or Amana.e and James, Psalms of Solomon. xliv ff; Nicolas. Doctrines religieuses des juifs, 48 ff. See ABANAH.</p>