<P> Sources for this state come from texts that can be divided into three categories: Assyrian annals, Aramaean texts, and the Hebrew Bible . </P> <P> The largest portion of the textual sources come from Assyria . There are, however, often several copies of the same texts . Most of the texts are annals from the Assyrian kings Shalmaneser III, Adad - Nirari III, and Tiglath - Pileser III . The texts mention Aram - Damascus (Ša - imērišu, Imērišu, Imirishu) from an Assyrian perspective, but are in many ways informative of the strength of the state, and give us several names of its rulers . </P> <P> Aramaean royal inscriptions are rare, and only one royal stele from Aram - Damascus proper has been identified--the Tel Dan Stele . Other sources in Aramaic that shed light on the history of Aram - Damascus include two "booty inscriptions" from Eretria and Samos, and the Zakkur stele of the king Zakkur . </P> <P> The Hebrew Bible gives more detailed accounts of Aram - Damascus' history, mainly in its interaction with Israel . For instance, there are texts of the Bible mentioning David's battles against Aramaeans in southern Syria in the 10th century BCE. (2 Samuel 10: 6 - 19) In contrast, the sources for the early history of Aram - Damascus are almost nonexistent . In an annal dating to Tiglath - Pileser I (1114 - 1076 BCE), we learn that Aramaean people have begun settling in the southern half of Syria . </P>

Who was the king of aram in the bible