Concerning Syria the Strong, and Her Dealings with Israel

Syria in the Days of the Patriarchs

And it came to pass in the days of old, that the land of Syria was known unto the fathers. For when Abraham sent his servant to seek a wife for Isaac, he journeyed unto Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor, and there found Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Syrian (Genesis 25:20).

And Jacob, son of Isaac, fled from the face of Esau his brother, and dwelt many years in the house of Laban the Syrian (Genesis 28:5; 31:20). So the house of Israel hath roots in the land of Syria.

Of Damascus and the Kings Thereof

And behold, the chief city of Syria was Damascus, a city of old, before the days of David. And the kings of Aram (Syria) warred oft against Israel.

In the days of King David, the Syrians came to aid Hadadezer, king of Zobah, but David slew the men of Syria and put garrisons in Damascus (2 Samuel 8:5–6).

And the kings of Syria rose again in later years. In the days of King Asa of Judah, he sent gold and silver to Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, saying:
"There is a league between me and thee" (1 Kings 15:19).

Yet the Syrians were foes and not friends. For Ben-Hadad, and later Hazael, did war against Israel and Judah, laying siege, and carrying captives.

The Prophet Elisha and the Syrian Host

In the days of Elisha the prophet, the king of Syria sought to capture him. But Elisha prayed, and the Lord opened the eyes of his servant, and lo, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha (2 Kings 6:17).

And Elisha smote the Syrians with blindness, and led them into Samaria, where he bade the king feed them and send them home in peace (2 Kings 6:22–23).

Yet the king of Syria returned, and besieged Samaria, and there was great famine.

Of Naaman the Leper

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man and honorable. But he was a leper.

And a little maid of Israel, carried captive into Syria, spake unto his wife and said:
"Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria, for he would recover him of his leprosy" (2 Kings 5:3).

And Naaman came with silver and raiment and stood before Elisha. And Elisha said,
"Go and wash in Jordan seven times."
And Naaman was wroth, yet obeyed, and was cleansed.

Syria in the Days of the Prophets

The Lord spake by Amos and by Isaiah concerning Damascus, saying:
"For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof" (Amos 1:3).

"Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap" (Isaiah 17:1).

And thus did the prophets declare judgment upon Syria for her cruelty and pride.

Syria in the Days of Christ and the Apostles

In the fullness of time, Saul of Tarsus journeyed unto Damascus, bearing letters to bind the disciples of the Lord.

And as he journeyed, suddenly there shone a light from heaven, and he heard a voice saying:
"Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" (Acts 9:4)

And Saul was blinded, and led by the hand into Damascus, where he was three days without sight. And the Lord sent Ananias, who laid hands on him, and he received his sight and was baptized.

And from Damascus, the gospel began to spread northward into all Syria.

The Legacy of Syria

Thus was Syria a land of kings, of warfare, of prophecy, and of redemption. For though she raised her hand against Israel, yet the grace of God reached even unto her gates.

And in the last days, men of Syria shall lift up holy hands in peace, for the Word of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea.