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BASHAN

(Heb. bāšān)

Although its precise boundaries changed through time, the Bashan generally refers to the sloping, fertile plateau of northern Jordan, located E of the ancient Lake Huleh, the Sea of Galilee, and the Upper Jordan Valley. Its elevation varies from 850-500 m. (2800-1650 ft.) above sea level. When its maximum extent is considered, the Bashan’s northern limit was the present al-Wa’arah, a rocky desert 24 km. (15 mi.) SW of Damascus, while its southern limit was S of the Yarmuk River (which bisects the Bashan) at the point where the northern foothills of Gilead begin to emerge from the plateau, ca. 8 km. (5 mi.) S of the present Irbid-Mafraq highway.

Decomposed volcanics made the soil of the northern Bashan extremely fertile for both natural flora and agriculture. Thus, in biblical times the region was famous for its cattle, timber, and agriculture (Jer. 50:19; Mic. 7:14; Nah. 1:4; Isa. 2:13; Ezek. 27:6; Deut. 32:14; Ps. 22:12[MT 13]; Amos 4:1).

During OT times, it appears the Bashan was divided into at least four subregions which correspond fairly closely with the natural topography: (1) the land of Geshur, corresponding to the northern portion of the present Golan Heights, NE of Galilee; (2) the land of Maacah, equivalent to the Golan Heights immediately E and SE of the Galilee; (3) the Argob district in northeast Bashan; (4) Havvoth-jair, S of the Yarmuk River (Num. 32:41; Josh. 12: 4, 5; 13:30).

According to the OT, the original inhabitants of Bashan were called the Rephaim. The half-tribe of Manasseh took possession of the region, however, after defeating King Og in the battle of Edrei (Num. 21:33-35; Deut. 3:1-11; Josh. 13:7, 8, 12). Bashan technically remained within the territory of the northern kingdom after the secession, but it constantly changed hands during numerous conflicts with Damascus (1 Kgs. 22:3; 2 Kgs. 8:28; 10:32, 33; 14:25). Tiglath-pileser III finally made Bashan into an Assyrian dependency after his conquest of Damascus (2 Kgs. 15:29).

During the Greco-Roman period the Bashan was divided into three districts: (1) the Gaulanitis (which combined the former territories of Geshur and Maacah; (2) Batanea, which, although it preserves the ancient name of Bashan, actually refers only to northeastern Bashan (OT Argob) — specifically, the area sandwiched between the Gaulanitis to the west and the Jebel Druze to the east; (3) the Gadarene Plateau (southern Bashan), S of the Yarmuk. The region’s major cities during this period included Seleucia, Hippos, Gamala, Decapolis, Abila, and Dion. The Bashan was in Nabataean hands in the 2nd century b.c.e., until it came under the control of Herod the Great. It was then ruled by his son Philip and finally by Agrippa II, its last Jewish ruler.

Randall W. Younker

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

BASHAN

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)