Syria.

• 3 min. read • grade level: 11

Originally included Mesopotamia. Gen. 25:20²⁰And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. (Genesis 25:20). Gen. 28:5⁵And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. (Genesis 28:5). Deut. 26:5⁵And thou shalt speak and say before the Lord thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous: (Deuteronomy 26:5), with Acts 7:2²And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, (Acts 7:2).

More properly the country around Damascus. 2 Sam. 8:6⁶Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went. (2 Samuel 8:6).

Damascus the capital of. Isa. 7:8⁸For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people. (Isaiah 7:8).

Abana and Pharpar rivers of. 2 Kin. 5:12.

Governed by kings. 1 Kin. 22:31. 2 Kin. 5:1.

IN HABITANTS OF,

Called Syrians. 2 Sam. 10:11¹¹And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. (2 Samuel 10:11). 2 Kin. 5:20.

Called Syrians of Damascus. 2 Sam. 8:5⁵And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. (2 Samuel 8:5).

An idolatrous people. Judg. 10:6⁶And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the Lord, and served not him. (Judges 10:6). 2 Kin. 5:18.

A warlike people. I Kin. 20:23. 25.

A commercial people. Ezek. 27:18¹⁸Damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, for the multitude of all riches; in the wine of Helbon, and white wool. (Ezekiel 27:18).

Spoke the Syriac language. 2 Kin. 18:26. Ezra 4:7⁷And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. (Ezra 4:7). Dan. 2:4⁴Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. (Daniel 2:4).

Israel followed the idolatry of. Judg. 10:6⁶And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the Lord, and served not him. (Judges 10:6).

DAVID

Destroyed the army of, which assisted Hadadezer. 2 Sam. 8:5⁵And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. (2 Samuel 8:5).

Garrisoned and made tributary. 2 Sam. 8:6⁶Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went. (2 Samuel 8:6).

Dedicated the spoils of. 2 Sam. 8:11, 12¹¹Which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; ¹²Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. (2 Samuel 8:11‑12).

Obtained renown by his victory over. 2 Sam. 8:13¹³And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men. (2 Samuel 8:13).

Sent Joab against the armies of, hired by the Ammonites. 2 Sam. 10:6-14⁶And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men. ⁷And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. ⁸And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field. ⁹When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: ¹⁰And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon. ¹¹And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. ¹²Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seemeth him good. ¹³And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. ¹⁴And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 10:6‑14).

Destroyed a second army of. 2 Sam. 10:15-19¹⁵And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together. ¹⁶And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. ¹⁷And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him. ¹⁸And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there. ¹⁹And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more. (2 Samuel 10:15‑19).

Asa sought aid of, against Israel. 1 Kin. 15:18-20.

Elijah anointed Hazael king over, by divine direction. 1 Kin. 19:15.

Benhadad king of, besieged Samaria. 1 Kin. 20:1-12.

THE ISRAELITES

Under Ahab encouraged and assisted by God, overcame. 1 Kin. 20:13-20.

Forewarned of invasion by, at the return of the year. 1 Kin. 20: 22-25.

Insignificant before. 1 Kin. 20:26, 7.

Encouraged and assisted by God overcame, a second time. 1 Kin. 20:28-30.

Craftily drawn into a league with. 1 Kin. 20:31-43.

At peace with, for three years. 1 Kin. 22:1.

Under Ahab sought to recover Ramoth-gilead from. 1 Kin. 22:3-29.

Defeated by, and Ahab slain. 1 Kin. 22:30-36.

Harassed by frequent incursions of. 2 Kin. 5:2. 2 Kin. 6:23.

Heard the secrets of, from Elisha. 2 Kin. 6:8-12.

God smote with blindness those sent against Elisha by the king of. 2 Kin. 6:14, 18-20.

Besieged Samaria again. 2 Kin. 6:24-29.

Army of, miraculously routed. 2 Kin. 7:5, 6.

Death of the king of, and the cruelty of his successor foretold by Elisha. 2 Kin. 8:7, 15.

Joram king of Israel in seeking to recover Ramoth-gilead from, severely wounded. 2 Kin. 8:28, 29.

2 Kin. 9:15.

Israel delivered into the hands of, for the sins of Jehoahaz. 2 Kin. 13:3, 7, 22.

A savior raised up for Israel against. 2 Kin. 13:5, 23-25.

Elisha predicted to Joash his three victories over. 2 Kin. 13:14-19.

Joined with Israel against Ahaz and besieged Jerusalem. 2 Kin. 16:5. Isa. 7:12¹²But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord. (Isaiah 7:12).

Retook Elath and drove out the Jews. 2 Kin. 16:6.

Subdued and its inhabitants taken captive by Assyria. 2 Kin. 16:9.

PROPHECIES RESPECTING;

Destruction of Rezin king of. Isa. 7:8, 16⁸For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people. (Isaiah 7:8)
¹⁶For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings. (Isaiah 7:16).

Ceasing to be a kingdom. Isa. 17:1-3¹The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. ²The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. ³The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 17:1‑3).

Terror and dismay in, occasioned by its invasion. Jer. 49:23, 24²³Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. ²⁴Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail. (Jeremiah 49:23‑24).

Destruction of its inhabitants. Jer. 49:26²⁶Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the Lord of hosts. (Jeremiah 49:26).

Spoliation of Damascus. Isa. 8:4⁴For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria. (Isaiah 8:4).

Burning of Damascus. Jer. 49:27²⁷And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Ben-hadad. (Jeremiah 49:27). Amos 1:4⁴But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad. (Amos 1:4).

Its calamities, the punishments of its sins. Amos 1:3³Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron: (Amos 1:3).

Its inhabitants to be captives. Amos 1:5⁵I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the Lord. (Amos 1:5).

Its history in connection with the Macedonian empire. Dan. 11:6⁶And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times. (Daniel 11:6), &c.

Subdued and governed by the Romans. Luke 2:2²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) (Luke 2:2).

Gospel preached and many churches founded in. Acts 15:23, 41²³And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: (Acts 15:23)
⁴¹And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. (Acts 15:41).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Strangers in Israel.

• Syria.

• Temple, the Second.

• Theocracy, the, or Immediate Government by God.

• Threshing.

• Time.

• Tithe.