Syria in the Bible
Smith’s Bible Dictionary records: “The first occupants of Syria appear to have been of Hamitic descent— Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, etc. After a while, the firstcomers, who were still largely nomadic, received a Semitic infusion, who most probably came to them from the southeast.”
Syrians trace their biblical heritage back to a man named Aram, who was a descendant of Shem, Noah’s son. Also known as Arameans, the plight of the Syrian people can be read about throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Syria is one of the oldest biblical lands that still exists today.
‘Syrians trace their biblical heritage back to a man named Aram, who was a descendant of Shem, Noah’s son.’
In the book of Genesis, we first hear mention of the people who would become Syrians: “The sons of Shem: Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek.” (Genesis 10:22-23; see also 1 Chronicles 1:17)
The Arameans settled between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, also known as Mesopotamia. (Genesis 24:10, 25:20) This included a land called Paddan Aram (Genesis 28:5)—the homeland of Rebekah, the wife of Issac, Laban, her brother and his daughters Rachel, and Leah, the wives of Jacob.
Other key biblical figures of Aramean descent include Boaz, David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Josiah, and Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus. In the book of Kings 1, we are told that Syria was at odds with Israel during the reign of King Solomon, about 2900 years ago.
Sometime after the conflict in Judges, King David of Israel led a conquest against Syria and won (1 Chronicles 18:1- 13, Psalm 60, and 2 Samuel 8:3-13). During Roman times, Syria included portions of Palestine and Asia Minor. Syria plays an important role in New Testament times. For example, information about the miracles being performed by Jesus spread into Syria, as noted in the book of Matthew: “So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick…” (Matthew 4:24, ESV)
One of the most well-known stories is Saul’s journey to Damascus when he met Jesus (Acts 9) and became Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. The members of the Early Church spent a lot of time in Syria. Acts 11:19-30 records the spread of Christianity to Antioch, which became the centre of one of the first Christian churches, and the missionary journeys of Barnabas and Paul.
Biblical Cities in Syria
There are several recognisable towns and cities of Syria throughout the Bible. Many were very important to the Early Church in the New Testament, namely, Antioch and Damascus. Smith’s Bible Dictionary lists the cities of Syria, in order of importance in the Bible:
“1, Antioch; 2, Damascus; 3, Apamea; 4, Seleucia; 5, Tadmor or Palmyra; 6, Laodicea; 7, Epiphania (Hamath); 8, Samosata; 9, Hierapolis (Mabug); 10,
Chalybon; 11, Emesa; 12, Heliopolis; 13, Laodicea ad Libanum; 14, Cyrrhus; 15, Chalcis; 16, Poseideum; 17, Heraclea; 18, Gindarus; 19, Zeugma; 20, Thapsacus.”
