the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Bible Dictionaries
Syria, Syrian
Morrish Bible Dictionary
or In scripture this name mostly signifies the district lying north and north-east of Palestine, the inhabitants of which were Syrians. If from Dan to Beersheba be taken as the boundaries of Palestine, it leaves for Syria a district quite as large on its north, besides extending also to the Euphrates on the east. For the sub-divisions of Syria mentioned in scripture see ARAM.
There are but few references to the Syrians in the early part of scripture. In connection with Rebekah the wife of Isaac, Laban (grandson of Nahor, Abraham's brother) 'the Syrian' is introduced, Genesis 25:20; Genesis 28:5; Genesis 31:20,24; and an Israelite, in presenting his basket of first-fruits, was instructed to confess before the Lord, "A Syrian ready to perish was my father," followed by a rehearsal of what God had done for the descendants of Jacob, and how He had brought them into the promised land. Deuteronomy 26:5 . The only reference to the name in the New Testament is in Luke 4:27 , where it is stated that there were many lepers in Israel in the days of Elisha, but none were cured but Naaman the Syrian.
Damascus was the capital of the part of Syria which was often in conflict with Israel. It was conquered in David's reign and was subject to Solomon; but after the division of the kingdom it revolted and was again hostile to Israel. It became merged into the Assyrian and Babylonian empires. After that it passed to the Persians, and then submitted to Alexander the Great. On his death it came under the power of Seleucus Nicator, who built Antioch and made it his capital. For many years his successors contended with the Ptolemies for the possession of Palestine. See ANTIOCHUS. In B.C. 63Syria was conquered by Pompey, and Palestine became subject to Rome. After the decline of Rome, Syria and Palestine had many different masters, and eventually fell into the hands of the Turks before obtaining independence.
The only governor of Syria mentioned in the New Testament is Cyrenius, q.v. Luke 2:2 . Palestine was divided into sub-provinces after the death of Herod. The Lord in His journeys visited some of the borders of Syria, and His fame went throughout all Syria. Matthew 4:24 . After Antioch had become a sort of central station from whence the gospel went out to the Gentiles, Paul travelled throughout Syria and Cilicia confirming the churches. Acts 15:23,41 .
The physical features of Western Syria and Palestine are very similar — their natural contour indeed being the same.
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Morrish, George. Entry for 'Syria, Syrian'. Morrish Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/mbd/s/syria-syrian.html. 1897.
