Syria is the region bounded on the East by Mesopotamia, on the West by the Lebanon Mountains, on the North by the Taurus Mountains, and on the South by Palestine and the Arabian Desert. This same region is called Aram in the Scripture. This boundaries are only general, since Syrian influence and domination within this area were rather fluid and unstable most of the time.
Syria is considered the cradle of prophets and apostles and most of the prophecies done in their ground were fulfilled.
During the patriarchal times, the Scripture records the concerned Syrian events around Haran involving the lives of Rebekah's family, her father Bethuel, and brother Laban, both being described as Syrians, or literally Arameans (Genesis 25; 28; 31). Because Jacob resided 20 years in this region, and there married Laban's 2 daughters and fathered sons and daughters, and because of the afflictions he experienced in Laban's service, he was later described as "a perishing Syrian." Also Jacob's mother was a Syrian. (Deuteronomy 26; Genesis 31; Hosea 12).
During the period of the Judges when the Israelites fell away from God's worship, the Syrian king Cushan-Rishathaim subjugated them for a period of 8 years (Judges 3;10). On another occasion, Syria's influence proved strong enough to cause Israel to worship her gods along with other of her deities.
From and after the birth of Israel's monarchy, Syria became aggressively active militarily, and throughout the entire history of the Northern Kingdom hostilities between the two prevailed.
Saul went to war with the Syrian kings of Zobah. (1Samuel 14). David, upon becoming king, inflicted heavy loses on the army of the Syrian King Hadadezer. At the same time much gold, silver, and copper were taken and sanctified to God. David also set up garrisons in Damascus and compelled the Syrians to pay tribute. (2Samuel 8; 1Chronicles 18). Later, more than 30,000 Syrian mercenaries that were hired by the Amonites, instead of fighting, took flight before the Israelites. However, after Syrian reinforcements were brought up, a battle with Israel ensued, and the Syrians suffered great losses, causing them to sue for peace. (2Samuel 10; 1Chronicles 19).
Syria of the apostolic times meant the Roman province that Pompey annexed to the empire. This province embraced much of the territory of the Old Syria as well as the whole of Palestine. At the time of Jesus' birth it was ruled over by Governor Quirinius, the legate of Emperor Augustus, whose residence was in the capital of the province and third-largest city of the Roman Empire, Antioch, on the Orontes River. (Luke 2).
Jesus restricted His Ministry to Palestine proper, but reports of His Miracles reached out "into all Syria." (Matthew 4). Jesus also gave the greatest sermon in history, the"Sermon on the Mount", on Mount Hermon, in Syria (Matthew 5-7). God spoke on Mount Horeb, Hermon, and Gogotha, in Syria and the Ten Commandments were given on Mount Horeb. Syria also is the cradle of civilizations and Semitic peoples, and their languages.
Syria, in our days is one of the rich countries in the region because of its Petroleum and industries and the country has highly developed in the last two decades. For almost 45 years, the rain was scarce and the dry soil remained barren due to the lack of rain. But now the land has become fertile and people are amazed to see the fresh vegetables and fruits that dress the land after years of drought and scarcity.
The Biblical history and privileges of what God has done through all Syria and to the whole World is remembered throughout the Scripture. Syria was chosen by God, according to His Plan, as the center from where His Word was spread from Antioch to the World, and paved the way of the today Christian Church. In this holy spot God chose the prophets mentioned in the Old Testament, and the Apostles in the New Testament. The Greater and the Minor Syria is mentioned approximately 300 times in the Scripture. Still many cities and towns in Palestine are still called by the same name used during the time of Christ.
The most glorious gift to mankind is the Word of God compelled in the Scripture. The prophets were inspired by the Spirit of God to say and write what God wanted them to write. Christ is the living Word and Jesus is the Revelation of God to mankind. It seems that the Word of God is ignored or disregarded to study in our today lifestyle making many Christians unable to grasp the deep and sacred meaning and amazing history of Syria.
In the Gospel of Luke (chapter 2) it says: "In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman World." This was the first census that took place when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the exact time when this was happening. The time of the birth of Jesus marked the division line in the Scripture between before and after His Time (BC and AD).
Damascus was called "the oasis of the Arab World"and it was and still is a beacon and inspiration to all poets of the East and West. With his glorious history, it is considered the World archaeological museum and the World's oldest living city.
Damascus is now a modern capital like other modern capital cities. Being an historical city it is divided into two parts: the old and the modern. Both have a vivid Arabic character and splendor of its own.
The modern Damascus has grown so much in the surrounding suburbs and neighboring areas, being now named the Greater Damascus in the eyes of the World.
Damascus is mentioned about 60 times in the Scripture and Antioch 20 times. Jerusalem and Damascus are the ancient centers of Bible history and Jerusalem the center of the World in Prophecies. When the Christians in Jerusalem were scattered because of the persecution following the stoning of Stephen, some of them carried the Good News to Syria's capital, Antioch. First the Israelites there heard the message, and later those of other national groups. Barnabas and Paul were both instrumental in building up the congregation of Antioch. It was first in this Syrian city where "the disciples were by divine providence called 'Christians'". (Acts11; Galatians 1).
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