Aram and Syria are often used in English works on the OT as if they are synonymous (see, e.g., NKJ, which uses 'Syria' everywhere for 'Aram,' unless it refers to the person). This is true only after about the 1st Mill BC, when the land we now know as Syria became occupied by them.
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The Arameans were a West Semitic people—very closely related to the Hebrews—who lived in the east and north-eastern regions of what was ancient Assyria/Elam or modern Iraq. This fact is evident in Genesis, or the sources used to compose it, for Gen 10:22-23 groups Aram together with Elam and Asshur. Additionally, Amos spoke of the people of Aram as originating in Kir/Qir (1:5 & 9:7), and Isaiah parallels Kir with Elam (22:6). They seemed to have begun their migration out of the east at about the same time as Abram began his journey out of Ur, and established themselves in the region we now call Syria. It is probably for this reason that Moses reminded Israel in their declaration that "my father was a wandering Aramean" (Deut 26:5). Abram's brother, Nahor stayed on in Haran where his son, Bethuel eventually gave birth to Rebekah. It is telling that, by the time Isaac married Rebekah, Bethuel is identified as "the Aramean" (Gen 25:20); he had evidently assimilated himself into them.
We hear no more of the Arameans in the OT until the time of David, but it should be noted here that though the kingdom of Aram from that point onwards is assumed to be the one centered in Damascus, there were other "Aramean" kingdoms. These included Arpad & Hamath (2 Ki 18:34), "Gozan, Harran, Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar" (Isa 37:12; the last is probably to be identified with "Beth Eden" of Amos 1:5).
David subdued the kingdom, making it a tribute-nation (2 Sam 8:6; 10:1-19). Israel's relationship with Aram remained cordial until the death of Solomon, when Israel split from Judah and a resurgence of Aramaic power plunge them into repeated conflict in the time, sometimes of Judah in alliance with Aram to fight Israel (1 Ki 15:16-20), more often of Aram against Israel (e.g., 1 Ki 20:1-20; 2 Ki 6-7;), and at the time of Assyria becoming the region's superpower, of Aram in alliance with Israel and other nations against Judah (2 Ki 15:5-16:9; Isa 7; what is known as the Syro-Ephramite War). For their meddling mischief the Arameans were deported—ironically, and in fulfilment of Amos' prophecy—to Kir, the ancient homeland from which they came.
Aram never recovered from the Assyrian onslaught, becoming successively Babylonian, Persian, Greek (Alexander & Seleucid) & Roman territory.
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