Bible Locations

Syria in most English Bibles translates "Aram," the land of the Arameans, north and northeast of Israel, with its capital at Damascus. The Arameans were Israel's neighbors and often enemies. David defeated them, but Rezon later rebelled and ruled Damascus against Solomon. Ben-hadad, Hazael and Rezin, kings of Aram-Damascus, fought Israel repeatedly. Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was healed of leprosy by Elisha. Rezin of Aram and Pekah of Israel attacked Judah, leading to Isaiah's Immanuel prophecy (Isaiah 7). The Assyrians captured Damascus in 732 BC. In the New Testament, Syria was a Roman province, governed by Quirinius at the time of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:2). Antioch in Syria became the base of Paul's missions, and Paul traveled "through Syria and Cilicia." The Aramaic language spread widely and was spoken by Jesus.