The region of TranJordan north of the R. Yarmuk. The region is known as Golan Heights today.
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An exceedingly fertile basaltic tableland and well-watered by the moisture blown in from the Mediterranean, Bashan was famous for its cattle, to which the prophet Amos likened the voluptuous women of Samaria (Amos 4:1). One of its sub-regions, probably near its center and known as Argob, was "Og's kingdom in Bashan" (Deut 3:4), and famous for its "sixty large walled cities with bronze gate bars" (1 Ki 4:13). It was conquered by and given to the half tribe of Manasseh just before the Israelites entered into Canaan as well as being one of the first territories to receive an Israelite name, Hawoth Jair (Deut 3:1).
In the post-exilic period, Bashan was divided into four smaller regions: Batanea, Gaulanitis, Iturea and Traconitis. Of these only the latter two are referred to in the NT at Lk 3:1, as being the realm ruled by Philip the Tetrarch.
Open Map of Bashan in NT times☰
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