Biblical References:
Helbon is mentioned in the Bible in the book of Ezekiel. The specific reference is found in Ezekiel 27:18, which states: "Damascus was your merchant because of the abundance of your goods, because of your many luxury items, with the wine of Helbon and white wool."

Historical and Geographical Context:
Helbon is identified as an ancient city known for its production of high-quality wine. It is traditionally associated with a location in the region of Syria, north of Damascus. The area was renowned in antiquity for its fertile vineyards, which produced wine that was highly prized in the ancient Near East. The mention of Helbon in Ezekiel highlights its significance in trade and commerce, particularly in the context of the wealth and luxury of Tyre, a major trading hub of the time.

Cultural and Economic Significance:
The wine of Helbon was considered a luxury item, indicating its superior quality and the esteem in which it was held by neighboring regions. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative that often uses wine as a symbol of prosperity and blessing. The reference to Helbon in Ezekiel underscores the interconnectedness of ancient economies and the role of trade in the prosperity of cities like Tyre and Damascus.

Theological Implications:
From a theological perspective, the mention of Helbon in the context of Tyre's wealth serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly riches. The prophet Ezekiel's message often includes themes of judgment against nations that place their trust in material wealth and luxury rather than in God. The luxurious goods, including the wine of Helbon, are depicted as part of the opulence that ultimately leads to Tyre's downfall, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and self-reliance.

Archaeological Insights:
While direct archaeological evidence of Helbon's ancient vineyards is limited, the historical records and geographical studies support the existence of a thriving wine industry in the region. Modern-day Helwan, located near Damascus, is often identified with ancient Helbon, though the exact location remains a subject of scholarly discussion.

Linguistic Notes:
The name "Helbon" is derived from the Hebrew "חֶלְבּוֹן" (Chelbon), which may be related to the word for "fat" or "rich," possibly alluding to the richness of the wine produced there. This etymology further emphasizes the city's reputation for producing luxurious and desirable goods.

Conclusion:
The biblical reference to Helbon provides insight into the economic and cultural landscape of the ancient Near East, illustrating the interconnectedness of trade and the allure of luxury goods. It also serves as a theological reflection on the fleeting nature of material wealth and the importance of placing trust in God rather than in earthly possessions.Helbon

(fertile), a place mentioned only in (Ezekiel 27:18) Geographers have hitherto represented Helbon as identical with the city of Aleppo, called Haleb by the Arabs; but there are strong reasons against this, and the ancient city must be identified with a village within a few miles of Damascus still bearing the ancient name Helbon, and still celebrated as producing the finest grapes in the country.

Helbon

Formerly supposed to be Haleb, or as called in Europe, Aleppo, a city of Syria, about one hundred and eighty miles north of Damascus, and about eighty miles north from the Mediterranean Sea. In 1822, Aleppo was visited by a dreadful earthquake, by which it was almost entirely destroyed. Its present population is not half of the 200,000 it then possessed. But recently a valley has been found on the eastern slope of Anti-Lebanon, north of the Barada, called Helbon, from on of its principal villages. Its grapes and the wine made from them are still remarkable for their fine quality. This valley is probably the Helbon of Ezekiel 27:18.

Fat; i.e., "fertile", (Ezek. 27:18 only), a place whence wine was brought to the great Market of Tyre. It has been usually identified with the modern Aleppo, called Haleb by the native Arabs, but is more probably to be found in one of the villages in the Wady Helbon, which is celebrated for its grapes, on the east slope of Anti-Lebanon, north of the river Barada (Abana). HELBON

hel'-bon (chelbon; Chelbon, Chebron): A district from which Tyre received supplies of wine through the Damascus market (Ezekiel 27:18); universally admitted to be the modern Halbun, a village at the head of a fruitful valley of the same name among the chalk slopes on the eastern side of Anti-Lebanon, 13 miles North-Northwest of Damascus, where traces of ancient vineyard terracing still exist. Records contemporary with Ezekiel mention mat helbunim or the land of Helbon, whence Nebuchadnezzar received wine for sacrificial purposes (Belinno Cylinder, I, 23), while karan hulbunu, or Helbonian wine, is named in Western Asiatic Inscriptions, II, 44. Strabo (xv.735) also tells that the kings of Persia esteemed it highly. The district is still famous for its grapes-the best in the country-but these are mostly made into raisins, since the population is now Moslem. Helbon must not be confounded with Chalybon (Ptol. v.15, 17), the Greek-Roman province of Haleb or Aleppo.

W. M. Christie

2463. Chelbon -- a place in Aram (Syria)
... 2462, 2463. Chelbon. 2464 . a place in Aram (Syria). Transliteration: Chelbon
Phonetic Spelling: (khel-bone') Short Definition: Helbon. ...
/hebrew/2463.htm - 6k

Ezekiel's Discourse
... Damascus was thy merchant for the multitude of thy handyworks, by reason of the
multitude of all kinds of riches; with the wine of Helbon, and white wool. ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/vii ezekiels discourse.htm

The Epistle of Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria to Alexander ...
... [318] Vide supra. [319] Bp. first Beroea in Syria and then of Antioch, c. 324-331.
Beroea, the Helbon of Ezekiel (xxvii. 18) is now Aleppo or Haleb. ...
/.../chapter iii the epistle of alexander.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... the dominant authority over the region watered by these two rivers, as well as over
the villages nestling in the gorges of Hermon,"Abila, Helbon of the ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

Helbon (1 Occurrence)
... identified with the modern Aleppo, called Haleb by the native Arabs, but is more
probably to be found in one of the villages in the Wady Helbon, which is ...
/h/helbon.htm - 8k

Vine (76 Occurrences)
... The vineyards of En-gedi (Cant. 1:14), Heshbon, Sibmah, Jazer, Elealeh
(Isaiah 16:8-10; Jeremiah 48:32, 34), and Helbon (Ezek. 27 ...
/v/vine.htm - 46k

Zahar (1 Occurrence)
... 27:18 Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your handiworks, by reason
of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white ...
/z/zahar.htm - 6k

Wares (23 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 27:18 Damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making,
for the multitude of all riches; in the wine of Helbon, and white wool. ...
/w/wares.htm - 15k

Trafficked (7 Occurrences)
... 27:18 Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your handiworks, by reason
of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white ...
/t/trafficked.htm - 8k

Merchant (15 Occurrences)
... 27:18 Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your handiworks, by reason
of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white ...
/m/merchant.htm - 13k

Products (9 Occurrences)
... 27:18 Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your handiworks, by reason
of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white ...
/p/products.htm - 9k

Customer (3 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Ezekiel 27:18 Damascus 'is' thy merchant, For the abundance of thy works,
Because of the abundance of all wealth, For wine of Helbon, and white wool. ...
/c/customer.htm - 7k

Helchiah
Helchiah. Helbon, Helchiah. Held . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia HELCHIAH.
hel-ki'-a. See HELKIAS. Helbon, Helchiah. Held . Reference Bible.
/h/helchiah.htm - 6k

Helbah (1 Occurrence)

/h/helbah.htm - 7k

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