Damascus Road

A brief summary of Syria in the Bible and throughout history.

“David put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.” - II Samuel 8:6

The old “Damascus Road” where Saul was converted to faith in Christ and soon became known as Paul, a Christian missionary to the Gentiles.

Syria has fallen.

Damascus, the capital of Syria, is now controlled by Sunni Muslim rebels who have been armed and supported by the United States since the Obama Administration.

You should pay close attention to what is happening in Syria for three reasons:

1. The former nation of Syria now will divide into three new nations or regions.

   a. Israel has already moved to the Syrian side of the Golan Heights and will create buffer zones in southwestern Syria controlled by the IDF.

   b. Turkey has already moved into the north and will possibly create a new nation under Turkish military control.

   c. The terrorist Sunni Muslim rebels who invaded Syria and in two weeks took down President Assad and captured Damascus will create a new, smaller nation.

2. The new, smaller nation that will arise out of old Syria will be Sunni Muslim. Assad was a secular, Christian Arab. The Syrian people, however were divided between a majority Sunni Muslims and a large minority of Shia Muslims. If you don’t understand the difference between Sunni and Shia Muslims, read this superb article to become familiar with the differences.

3. The lines for a potential World War III are much clearer.

   It will be East (Russia, China, Africa, etc.) vs. West (US, Europe, Israel, etc.). It will be Sunni Muslim (Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt) vs. Shia Muslim (Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, and Azerbaijan. Syria has fallen. It is now in the hands of the West.

But where did Syria come from? What is its history?

Syria in the Bible

Syria is mentioned multiple times in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, Syria is referred to as "Aram," and its people are known as Arameans.

Aram (Hebrew: אֲרָם Aram) is a son of Shem, according to the Table of Nations in Genesis 10, and the father of Uz, Hul, Gether and Mash or Meshech.

Damascus, the capital of modern-day Syria, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and is frequently mentioned.

Notice “the highlands” in this topographical map of Aram.

1. Old Testament:

   • The Arameans were neighbors of Israel and often interacted with them through trade, alliances, and warfare.

   • A significant story involving Syria is found in 2 Kings 5, where the prophet Elisha heals Naaman, a commander in the Syrian army, of leprosy.

   • The Kingdom of Aram-Damascus often clashed with Israel during the reigns of various kings. For example, King Ben-Hadad of Aram fought against Israel multiple times (1 Kings 20).

2. New Testament:

   • In the time of Jesus, Syria was part of the Roman Empire. The region is mentioned in Matthew 4:24, where Jesus' fame spreads throughout Syria as people bring the sick to Him for healing.

   • The Apostle Paul had his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, as described in Acts 9. Damascus became an early center for Christianity.

The region known as Aram in ancient times gradually came to be referred to as Syria over the course of centuries. This name change occurred due to linguistic and cultural shifts, primarily influenced by the Greeks and Romans.

• Ancient Aram:
  Aram was the historical name for a region and its people, primarily Arameans, in the area of modern-day Syria. Aram means “highland.” Aram was a collection of small kingdoms, including Damascus, during the early first millennium before Christ.

• Greek Influence:
  The term "Syria" is derived from the Greek word "Suría" (Συρία), which was used by the Greeks to describe the region. The Greeks likely adopted this term from the Assyrian Empire (925 BC to 609 BC), which ruled much of the area of Aram during during the height of the Assyrian Kingdom.. The similarity between "Assyria" (a major empire to the east of Aram) and "Syria" led the Greeks to conflate the two terms. Likewise, many Bible students wrongly confuse the terms. Assyria with its first capital in the city of Babylon and its second capital in the city of Nineveh with Syria (Aram), whose capital has always been Damascus.

• Roman Period:
  The name "Syria" became formalized during Roman times. When the Romans established the province of Syria in 64 BCE after the conquest by General Pompey, the term became widely used to describe the entire region.

By the Hellenistic and Roman periods, "Syria" had replaced "Aram" as the common designation for the region. However, the Aramaic language and culture persisted for centuries, influencing the area's identity.

A Brief History of Syria from Roman Times to Present

Damascus, the capital city.

Roman and Byzantine Period (64 BC - AD 7th Century)

• In 64 BCE, the Roman general Pompey conquered Syria, making it a Roman province.

• The city of Antioch became a major cultural and political center.

• After the Roman Empire split in 395 CE, Syria became part of the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire.

Islamic Caliphates (AD 7th Century - 13th Century)

• In 634 CE, Muslim Arab armies conquered Syria. It became part of the Rashidun Caliphate, with Damascus serving as the capital of the succeeding Umayyad Caliphate (661–750).

• Syria remained under Islamic rule for centuries, passing through the Abbasid Caliphate, the Seljuks, and eventually the Ayyubid dynasty founded by Saladin.

Ottoman Empire (AD 1516 - 1918)

• In 1516, the Ottoman Empire conquered Syria, ruling it for over 400 years.

• During this time, Syria was divided into provinces and remained under the Sultan’s authority in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul).

French Mandate (AD 1920 - 1946)

• After World War I, the Ottoman Empire collapsed, and Syria was placed under French control as a mandate.

• In 1946, Syria gained independence and became a republic.

Post-Independence and Ba'ath Party Rule (AD 1946 - Present)

• Syria experienced political instability, with multiple coups. In 1963, the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party took power.

• In 1971, Hafez al-Assad became president, establishing a dictatorship that lasted until his death in 2000. His son, Bashar al-Assad, succeeded him.

Syrian Civil War and Assad’s Fall (AD 2011 - Present)

The thirteen=year Syrian Civil War comes to an end in December 2024.

• In 2011, protests erupted as part of the Arab Spring. Bashar al-Assad's government responded with violence, leading to a civil war.

• By the mid-2010s, Syria was divided among government forces, rebel groups, ISIS, and Kurdish factions.

• In 2023, Assad was overthrown after years of conflict, leading to the establishment of a new government. Various factions continue to vie for power, and the country is still recovering from the devastation of war.

This overview simplifies complex events but gives a clear picture of Syria’s history and biblical significance.