Encyclopedia entry
Bashan
Disambiguation
The source enumerates 4 distinct subjects under Bashan. Jump to one below, or read in order.
Light soil, first mentioned in Gen. 14:5, where it is said that Chedorlaomer and his confederates “smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth,” where Og the king of Bashan had his residence. At the time of Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land, Og came out against them, but was utterly routed (Num. 21:33-35; Deut. 3:1-7). This country extended from Gilead in the south to Hermon in the north, and from the Jordan on the west to Salcah on the east. Along with the half of Gilead it was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh (Josh. 13:29-31). Golan, one of its cities, became a “city of refuge” (Josh. 21:27). Argob, in Bashan, was one of Solomon’s commissariat districts (1 Kings 4:13). The cities of Bashan were taken by Hazael (2 Kings 10:33), but were soon after reconquered by Jehoash (2 Kings 13:25), who overcame the Syrians in three battles, according to the word of Elisha (19). From this time Bashan almost disappears from history, although we read of the wild cattle of its rich pastures (Ezek. 39:18; Ps. 22:12), the oaks of its forests (Isa. 2:13; Ezek. 27:6; Zech. 11:2), and the beauty of its extensive plains (Amos 4:1; Jer. 50:19). Soon after the conquest, the name “Gilead” was given to the whole country beyond Jordan. After the Exile, Bashan was divided into four districts,
Bashan (1)
#Gaulonitis, or Jaulan, the most western;
Bashan (2)
#Auranitis, the Hauran (Ezek. 47:16);
Bashan (3)
#Argob or Trachonitis, now the Lejah; and
Bashan (4)
#Batanaea, now Ard-el-Bathanyeh, on the east of the Lejah, with many deserted towns almost as perfect as when they were inhabited. (See HAURAN.)
Also from Smith's (1884) +−
(fruitful), a district on the east of Jordan. It is sometimes spoken of as the “land of Bashan,” (1 Chronicles 5:11) and comp. Numb 21:33; 32:33 And sometimes as “all Bashan.” (3:10,13; Joshua 12:5; 13:12,30) It was taken by the children of Israel after their conquest of the land of Sihon from Arnon to Jabbok. The limits of Bashan are very strictly defined. It extended from the “border of Gilead” on the south to Mount Hermon on the north, (3:3,10,14; Joshua 12:5; 1 Chronicles 5:23) and from the Arabah or Jordan valley on the west to Salchah (Sulkhad) and the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites on the east. (Joshua 12:3-5; 3:10) This important district was bestowed on the half-tribe of Manasseh, (Joshua 13:29-31) together with “half Gilead.” This country is now full of interesting ruins, which have lately been explored and from which much light has been thrown upon Bible times. See Porter’s “Giant Cities of Bashan.”
In the Bible
53
Verses where Bashan is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Chronicles 5:11
The descendants of Gad lived next to the Reubenites in the land of Bashan, as far as Salecah:
- 1 Chronicles 5:12
Joel was the chief, Shapham the second, then Jaanai and Shaphat, who lived in Bashan.
- 1 Chronicles 5:16
They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its towns, and throughout the pasturelands of Sharon.
- 1 Chronicles 5:23
Now the people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were numerous. They settled in the land from Bashan to Baal-hermon (that is, Senir, also known as Mount Hermon).
- 1 Chronicles 6:62
The Gershomites, according to their clans, were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh in Bashan.
- 1 Chronicles 6:71
The Gershomites received the following: From the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth, together with their pasturelands.
+47 more verses naming Bashan.
Scripture on Bashan
37
See all 37 +−
- Joshua 211 Kings 4Deuteronomy 4Joshua 172 Kings 101 Chronicles 6Psalms 22Psalms 68Isaiah 2Jeremiah 50Ezekiel 27Ezekiel 39Amos 4Zechariah 11Genesis 14Numbers 32Deuteronomy 1Deuteronomy 29Deuteronomy 32Deuteronomy 33Joshua 9Joshua 20Joshua 222 Kings 13Nehemiah 9Psalms 135Psalms 136Isaiah 33Jeremiah 22Ezekiel 47Micah 7Nahum 1
Entries that reference Bashan
49
See all 49 +−
- AmoritesArgobAshtarothBashan, Hill ofBashanhavothjairCarmelCattleCities Of RefugeCityDecapolisEdreiGergesaGeshurGileadGolanHauranHavothjairHeiferHermonJaazer, Or JazerJabbokJachanJairJoraiJordanLebanonMahanaimManassehMeromMeshullamMichaelMoabiteOakOgOx goadPalestina And PalestinePalestineRabbahRefuge, Cities ofSalcahSalcah, Or SalchahShaphatSharonZia
Bashan references
30
Voices on Bashan
3
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
Sources · Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869) · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.