A study of the origin, history, and religion of the Arameans from their beginnings to the end of their political independence (ca. 1350–600 BCE), based on all the available textual and archaeological sources with particular reference to the Hebrew Bible.

Have questions about the program? Send an email to Peter Megginson (Travel Study Director) at [email protected] or call 800-221-4644, ext. 424 (Toll-free).

Topics We’ll Cover

• The origins and development of the Arameans.
• The growth, political influence and religion of the various Aramean polities throughout Syria.
• Biblical interactions with the Arameans throughout united and divided monarchy.

When Is the Course?

Live classes every Tuesday/Thursday in February and Tuesday/Thursday in the first 2 weeks in March 2026 | 7:30pm – 9pm EST
Classes will be recorded

This Course Includes

• 12 live classes, with a live Q&A session following each lecture
• Link to download the class recordings

Lecture Overview

Week 1

Feb. 3 – Introduction: This first session will introduce the geographic, chronological, and linguistic issues in the study of the Arameans. It will also discuss some of the biblical passages that appear to speak to Aramean origins.

Feb. 5 – The Origins of the Arameans: Investigate various forms of evidence for the rise of the Aramean entities (or polities) in the Iron Age I period (1200–1000 BCE), discussing issues like migrations, tribal structures, and the Late Bronze/Iron Age transition. Biblical parallels will be noted.

Week 2

Feb. 10 – The Aramean Polities of the Jezirah: Survey the evidence for different Aramean political entities in the Syrian steppe lands of the Jezirah, like Gōzān and Laqē. It will look at the politics, religion, and general culture of the Arameans in this region.

Feb. 12 – The Aramean Polities of the Jezirah: Ḫarrān, Bīt-Zamāni; The Arameans of North Syria: Bīt-Adīni. The class will look at the politics, religion, and general culture of the Arameans in this region of the Jezirah, as well as the north Syrian entity, Bīt-Adīni (Til Barsib).

Week 3

Feb. 17 – North Syria - Samʾal/Yādiya/Bīt-Gabbāri: This class will look at the politics and religion of this northern Syrian polity. The archaeology of the site of Zincirli will be part of the focus with its important finds.

Feb. 19 – North Syria - Hamath and Luǵath: Focus on the politics and religion of Hamath, an important ally to Israel beginning with the time of King David and moving into the period of the divided monarchy. We explore the archaeology of Hamā (ancient Hamath) and Tell Afis (ancient Hadrak), both of which are mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.

Week 4

Feb. 24 – North Syria - Bēt-Gūš/Arpad: The class will be devoted to investigating the rise of this political power. We will survey the important religious cult of the storm-god of Aleppo, and discuss the importance of the Sefire treaties for understanding the Deuteronomic covenant.

Feb. 26 – South Syria - Aram-Zobah; Aram-Damascus: Part 1 of a two-part discussion that will investigate the biblical presentation of the wars of David against the Zobah (Ṣobah) mentioned in 2 Samuel 10. It will also introduce the initial study of the important political power of Damascus.

Week 5

Mar. 3 – South Syria - Aram-Damascus: Part 2 will dive into the rise and fall of Damascus in the 9th and 8th centuries. We will discuss the impacts on the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel and Judah, particularly in the contexts of Hazael and Rezin.

Mar. 5 – South Syria - Geshur, Maacah: In this final class on the political entities in the south Syrian region, we take a look at the archaeological and historical evidence from these two small but important kingdoms. We will especially highlight some of the religious aspects discovered at the sites of Abel Beth Maacah and et-Tell (Geshur).

Week 6

Mar. 10 – The Arameans of Southern Mesopotamia: Survey the evidence concerning the various Aramean tribes of Babylonia, including their interrelationships with the local Chaldean population, and the history of the region. Biblical intersections will be discussed.

Mar. 12 – Postscript: The impact of the Arameans on the later ancient Near East. This final session will look at the legacy of the Arameans, especially in their linguistic and religious impacts on the Near East during the Persian and early Classical periods.

Your Instructor

K. Lawson Younger, Jr. is Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Semitic Languages, and Ancient Near Eastern History at Trinity International University’s Divinity School. His book A Political History of the Arameans (SBL Press, 2016) won a 2017 BAS Publication Award.

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