INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS.

THE Syriac language, a branch of the Shemetic family, was the vernacular tongue of Syria for many ages previously to the Christian Era, and continued to be so till the period of the Mahometan invasion of the country, when Arabic being introduced as the sacred language of the conquerors, in a short time entirely superseded that which had been heretofore in use. It was also called Aramean, as the country itself had anciently the designation of Aramea or Aram probably, as is supposed from Aram the son of Shem, by whose descendants it was peopled. This name seems to have obtained in very remote times, being known to Homer, who calls the inhabitants Apeμot, Il. II. 783. The word is found in 2 Kings xviii. 26; Isaiah xxxvi. 11; Ezech. iv. 7, and Daniel ii. 4.

The early history of the Syrians is but little known. With the exception of a few particulars, which may be gathered from Scripture, little can be said about them till the time they were carried away into the kingdom of Assyria. The country of the Syrians was for a long time subjected to the monarchs of Persia ; but soon after the conquests of Alexander it got under Greek rule, and became more prominent among the nations. Seleucus, one of Alexander's generals, after the death of his master, became governor of Babylon, and, tempted by the example of his brother generals,