Aram / Syria
Scripture first
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Naaman, commander of the army of the of Aram, comes to Israel to be healed.
Aram was not one kingdom but a family of Aramean states, of which Damascus was chief. Wars with Aram fill the books of ; alliances with Aram the kings of Israel and Judah.
The Aramaic language outlasted . It became the common tongue of the Near East, and by the New Testament the everyday speech of Galilee.
The Aramean kingdoms north of Israel, centred on Damascus: sometimes ally, often enemy, and the homeland of the language Jesus spoke.
- Aram, Syria (in Greek and English versions), Aram-Damascus
Damascus stood where the meets the rivers Barada and Pharpar, on the trade route between Mesopotamia and Egypt. Whoever held Damascus taxed the caravan trade of two continents.
- 2 Kings 5:1-2 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, comes to Israel to be healed.
- Genesis 24:10 Abraham's servant goes to Aram for a wife for Isaac
- 2 Samuel 8:5-6 David defeats the Arameans of Damascus
- 1 Kings 20:1 Ben-Hadad of Aram besieges Samaria
- Acts 9:1-2 Paul carries letters to Damascus, Aram's ancient capital
What we know
Certain
- Scripture names Damascus as Aram's chief city and records repeated wars between Aram and Israel, confirmed in part by the Tel Dan inscription.