Dictionaries :: Syria

Syria:

(Heb. Aram), the name in the Old Testament given to the whole country which lay to the north-east of Phoenicia, extending to beyond the Euphrates and the Tigris. Mesopotamia is called (Gen 24:10; Deu 23:4) Aram-naharain (=Syria of the two rivers), also Padan-aram (Gen 25:20). Other portions of Syria were also known by separate names, as Aram-maahah (1Ch 19:6), Aram-beth-rehob (2Sa 10:6), Aram-zobah (2Sa 10:6,8). All these separate little kingdoms afterwards became subject to Damascus. In the time of the Romans, Syria included also a part of Palestine and Asia Minor.

"From the historic annals now accessible to us, the history of Syria may be divided into three periods: The first, the period when the power of the Pharaohs was dominant over the fertile fields or plains of Syria and the merchant cities of Tyre and Sidon, and when such mighty conquerors as Thothmes III. and Rameses II. could claim dominion and levy tribute from the nations from the banks of the Euphrates to the borders of the Libyan desert. Second, this was followed by a short period of independence, when the Jewish nation in the south was growing in power, until it reached its early zenith in the golden days of Solomon; and when Tyre and Sidon were rich cities, sending their traders far and wide, over land and sea, as missionaries of civilization, while in the north the confederate tribes of the Hittites held back the armies of the kings of Assyria. The third, and to us most interesting, period is that during which the kings of Assyria were dominant over the plains of Syria; when Tyre, Sidon, Ashdod, and Jerusalem bowed beneath the conquering armies of Shalmaneser, Sargon, and Sennacherib; and when at last Memphis and Thebes yielded to the power of the rulers of Nineveh and Babylon, and the kings of Assyria completed with terrible fulness the bruising of the reed of Egypt so clearly foretold by the Hebrew prophets.", Boscawen.

Syria: Definition Of

The highlands lying between the Euphrates River and the Mediterranean Sea

Syria: Called Aram

From the son of Shem,

Gen 10:22, 23; Num 23:7; 1Ch 1:17; 2:23.

Syria: During the Time of Abraham

It seems to have embraced the region between the Tigris River and the Euphrates River,

Gen 24:10; with Gen 25:20;

including Padan-aram,

Gen 25:20; 28:5.

Syria: Minor Kingdoms within the Region:

Aram-zobah, called also, ZOBAH and ZOBA,

1Sa 14:47; 2Sa 8:3; 10:6, 8; 1Ki 11:23; 1Ch 18:5, 9; 19:6; Psa 60 [title];

Geshur,

2Sa 15:8;

Aram-rehob, called also BETH-REHOB,

2Sa 10:6, 8;

Damascus,

2Sa 8:5, 6; 1Ch 18:5, 6;

Hamath,

2Sa 8:9, 10.

Syria: Conquests Of:

By David,

2Sa 8:3-13;

by Jeroboam,

2Ki 14:25, 28;

by Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria,

2Ki 16:7-9; 18:33, 34.

Syria: People Of

Colonized in Samaria by the king of Assyria,

2Ki 17:24.

Syria: Confederates with Nebuchadnezzar

2Ki 24:2; Jer 39:5

Syria: The Roman Province Of

Included the land of Canaan,

Luk 2:2, 3;

and Phoenicia,

Mar 7:26; Act 21:3.

Syria: Paul Preaches In

Act 15:41; 18:18; 21:3; Gal 1:21

Syria: Damascus, the Capital Of

See DAMASCUS

Syria: Wars Between

And the kingdoms of Judah and Israel,

see ISRAEL

Syria: Prophecies Concerning

Isa 7:8-16; 8:4-7; 17:1-3; Jer 1:15; 49:23-27; Amo 1:3-5; Zec 9:1

Syria: The Fame of Jesus Extended Over

Mat 4:24

Syria: Paul Goes To

With letters to apprehend the Christians; is converted and begins his evangelistic ministry,

Act 9:1-31.

See PAUL

Syria: Originally Included Mesopotamia

Gen 25:20; 28:5; Deu 26:5; Act 7:2

Syria: More Properly the Country around Damascus

2Sa 8:6

Syria: Damascus the Capital Of

Isa 7:8

Syria: Abana and Pharpar Rivers Of

2Ki 5:12

Syria: Governed by Kings

1Ki 22:31; 2Ki 5:1

Syria: Inhabitants Of

Called Syrians

2Sa 10:11; 2Ki 5:20

Called Syrians of Damascus

2Sa 8:5

An idolatrous people

Jdg 10:6; 2Ki 5:18

A warlike people

1Ki 20:23,25

A commercial people

Eze 27:18

Spoke the Syriack language

2Ki 18:26; Ezr 4:7; Dan 2:4

Syria: Israel Followed the Idolatry Of

Jdg 10:6

Syria: David

Destroyed the army of, which assisted Hadadezer

2Sa 8:5

Garrisoned and made tributary

2Sa 8:6

Dedicated the spoils of

2Sa 8:11,12

Obtained renown by his victory over

2Sa 8:13

Sent Joab against the armies of, hired by the Ammonites

2Sa 10:6-14

Destroyed a second army of

2Sa 10:15-19

Syria: Asa Sought Aid Of, against Israel

1Ki 15:18-20

Syria: Elijah anointed Hazael king over, by divine direction

1Ki 19:15

Syria: Benhadad King Of, Besieged Samaria

1Ki 20:1-12

Syria: The Israelites

Under Ahab encouraged and assisted by God, overcame

1Ki 20:13-20

Forewarned of invasion by, at the return of the year

1Ki 20:22-25

Insignificant before

1Ki 20:26,27

Encouraged and assisted by God overcame a second time

1Ki 20:28-30

Craftily drawn into a league with

1Ki 20:31-43

At peace with, for three years

1Ki 22:1

Under Ahab sought to recover Ramoth-gilead from

1Ki 22:3-29

Defeated by, and Ahab slain

1Ki 22:30-36

Harassed by frequent incursions of

2Ki 5:2; 6:23

Heard the secrets of, from Elisha

2Ki 6:8-12

Syria: God smote with blindness those sent against Elisha by the

2Ki 6:14,18-20

Syria: Besieged Samaria Again

2Ki 6:24-29

Syria: Army Of, Miraculously Routed

2Ki 7:5,6

Syria: Death of the king of, and the cruelty of his successor

2Ki 8:7,15

Syria: Joram king of Israel in seeking to recover Ramothgilead from,

2Ki 8:28,29; 9:15

Syria: Israel delivered into the hands of, for the sins of Jehoahaz

2Ki 13:3,7,22

Syria: A Saviour Raised up for Israel Against

2Ki 13:5,23-25

Syria: Elisha predicted to Joash his three victories over

2Ki 13:14-19

Syria: Joined with Israel against Ahaz and besieged Jerusalem

2Ki 16:5; Isa 7:12

Syria: Retook Elath and Drove Out the Jews

2Ki 16:6

Syria: Subdued and its inhabitants taken captive by Assyria

2Ki 16:9

Syria: Prophecies Respecting

Destruction of Rezin king of

Isa 7:8,16

Ceasing to be a kingdom

Isa 17:1-3

Terror and dismay in, occasioned by its invasion

Jer 49:23,24

Destruction of its inhabitants

Jer 49:26

Plundering of Damascus

Isa 8:4

Burning of Damascus

Jer 49:27; Amo 1:4

Its calamities, the punishments of its sins

Amo 1:3

Its inhabitants to be captives

Amo 1:3

Its history in connection with the Macedonia empire

Dan 11:6-45

Syria: Subdued and Governed by the Romans

Luk 2:2

Syria: Gospel Preached and Many Churches Founded In

Act 15:23,41

Syria:

is the term used throughout our version for the Hebrew Aram, as well as for the Greek Zupia. Most probably Syria is for Tsyria, the country about Tsur or Tyre which was the first of the Syrian towns known to the Greeks. It is difficult to fix the limits of Syria. The limits of the Hebrew Aram and its subdivisions are spoken of under ARAM. Syria proper was bounded by Amanus and Taurus on the north by the Euphrates and the Arabian desert on the east, by Palestine on the south, by the Mediterranean near the mouth of the Orontes, and then by Phoenicia on the west. This tract is about 300 miles long from north to south, and from 50 to 150 miles broad. It contains an area of about 30,000 square miles.

General physical features.-The general character of the tract is mountainous, as the Hebrew name Aram (from a roof signifying "height") sufficiently implies. The most fertile and valuable tract of Syria is the long valley intervening between Libanus and Anti‐Libanus. Of the various mountain ranges of Syria, Lebanon possesses the greatest interest. It extends from the mouth of the Litany to Arka, a distance of nearly 100 miles. Anti‐Libanus, as the name implies, stands over against Lebanon, running in the same direction, i.e. nearly north and south, and extending the same length. SEE [LEBANON]. The principal rivers of Syria are the Litany and the Orontes. The Litany springs from a small lake situated in the middle of the Coele‐Syrian valley, about six miles to the southwest of Baalbek. It enters the sea about five miles north of Tyre. The source of the Orontes is but about 15 miles from that of the Litany. Its modern name is the Nahr‐el‐Asi, or "rebel stream," an appellation given to it on account of its violence and impetuosity in many parts of its course. The chief towns of Syria may be thus arranged, as nearly as possible in the order of their importance: 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. Of these, Samosata, Zeugma and Thapsacus are on the Euphrates; Seleucia, Laodicea, Poseideum and Heraclea, on the seashore, Antioch, Apamea, Epiphania and Emesa (Hems) on the Orontes; Heliopolis and Laodicea ad Libanum, in Coele‐Syria; Hierapolis, Chalybon, Cyrrhus, Chalcis and Gindarns, in the northern highlands; Damascus on the skirts, and Palmyra in the centre, of the eastern desert.

History.-The first occupants of Syria appear to have been of Hamitic descent-Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, etc. After a while the first comers, who were still to a great extent nomads, received a Semitic infusion, while most Probably came to them from the southeast. The only Syrian town whose existence we find distinctly marked at this time is Damascus (Genesis 14:15; 15:2) which appears to have been already a place of some importance. Next to Damascus must be placed Hamath (Numbers 13:21; 34:8). Syria at this time, and for many centuries afterward, seems to have been broken up among a number of petty kingdoms. The Jews first come into hostile contact with the Syrians, under that name, in the time of David (Genesis 15:18; 2 Samuel 8:3-4; 8:13). When, a few years later, the Ammonites determined on engaging in a war with David, and applied to the Syrians for aid, Zolah, together with Beth‐rehob sent them 20,000 footmen, and two other Syrian kingdoms furnished 13,000 (2 Samuel 10:6). This army being completely defeated by Joab, Hadadezer obtained aid from Mesopotamia, ibid. verse 16, and tried the chance of a third battle, which likewise went against him, and produced the general submission of Syria to the Jewish monarch. The submission thus begun continued under the reign of Solomon (1 Kings 4:21.) The only part of Syria which Solomon lost seems to have been Damascus, where an independent kingdom was set up by Rezon, a native of Zobah (1 Kings 11:23-25). On the separation of the two kingdoms, soon after the accession of Rehoboam, the remainder of Syria no doubt shook off the yoke. Damascus now became decidedly the leading state, Hamath being second to it, and the northern Hittites, whose capital was Carchemish, near Bambuk, third. SEE [DAMASCUS]. Syria became attached to the great Assyrian empire, from which it passed to the Babylonians, and from them to the Persians, In B.C. 333 it submitted to Alexander without a struggle. Upon the death of Alexander, Syria became, for the first time the head of a great kingdom. On the division of the provinces among his generals, B.C. 321, Seleucus Nicator received Mesopotamia and Syria. The city of Antioch was begun in B.C. 300, and, being finished in a few years, was made the capital of Seleucus' kingdom. The country grew rich with the wealth which now flowed into it on all sides. Syria was added to the Roman empire by Pompey, B.C. 64, and as it holds an important place, not only in the Old Testament but in the New, some account of its condition under the Romans must be given. While the country generally was formed into a Roman province, under governors who were at first proprietors or quaestors, then procounsuls, and finally legates, there were exempted from the direct rule of the governor in the first place, a number of "free cities" which retained the administration of their own affairs, subject to a tribute levied according to the Roman principles of taxation; secondly, a number of tracts, which were assigned to petty princes, commonly natives, to be ruled at their pleasure, subject to the same obligations with the free cities as to taxation. After the formal division of the provinces between Augustus and the senate, Syria, being from its exposed situation among the province principis, were ruled by legates, who were of consular rank (consulares) and bore severally the full title of "Legatus Augusti pro praetore." Judea occupied a peculiar position; a special procurator was therefore appointed to rule it, who was subordinate to the governor of Syria, but within his own province had the power of a legatus. Syria continued without serious disturbance from the expulsion of the Parthians, B.C. 38, to the breaking out of the Jewish war, A.D. 66. in A.D. 44‐47 it was the scene of a severe famine. A little earlier, Christianity had begun to spread into it, partly by means of those who "were scattered" at the time of Stephen's persecution (Acts 11:19) partly by the exertions of St. Paul (Galatians 1:21). The Syrian Church soon grew to be one of the most flourishing (Acts 13:1; 15:23; 15:35; 15:41 etc.). (Syria remained under Roman and Byzantine rule till A.D. 634, when it was overrun by the Mohammedans; after which it was for many years the scene of fierce contests, and was finally subjugated by the Turks, A.D. 1517, under whose rule it still remains.-ED.)