Arameans

Aram is the neighbor, trading partner and constant adversary of Israel. David defeats Hadadezer king of Zobah and the Arameans who came to help him, and Shobach commander of the army of Hadadezer is struck down at Helam (2 Samuel 8:3–6; 10:16–18). In the reign of Solomon, Rezon gathers men around him, seizes Damascus and becomes an adversary to Israel all his days (1 Kings 11:23–25).

Damascus then produces a line of kings who press the northern kingdom hard. Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon, son of Hezion is bought by Asa to break his treaty with Baasha (1 Kings 15:18–20). Another Ben-hadad besieges Samaria with thirty-two kings and hears the famous reply of Ahab, "Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off" (1 Kings 20:11). Hazael is anointed at the word of God through Elisha, and the prophet weeps as he tells him what he will do to Israel (2 Kings 8:11–13). Rezin allied with Pekah of Israel marches on Jerusalem and provokes the crisis in which Isaiah gives Ahaz the sign of Immanuel (2 Kings 16:5–9; Isaiah 7:1–14).

Yet the most memorable Aramean in Scripture is not a king. Naaman commander of the army of the king of Syria, is "a great man with his master and in high favor" and a leper (2 Kings 5:1). It is the servant girl of the wife of Naaman taken captive from Israel, who says, "Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria!" (2 Kings 5:3). Naaman goes away angry at being told to wash seven times in the Jordan, is talked round by his own servants, and comes up with flesh "like the flesh of a little child" (2 Kings 5:14).

The story of Aram also includes Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim, the first oppressor in Judges, from whom Othniel delivers Israel (Judges 3:8–10). Together these figures show a border that never settles — war, siege, treaty and healing running through the same frontier for centuries.