Pharpar: 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.
