Bashan
Scripture first
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Israel defeats Og of Bashan and takes his land.
Bashan's dark basalt soil grew the finest in the land. Israel took it from Og before crossing the Jordan, and it became the territory of half the tribe of Manasseh.
The rich volcanic plateau north-east of the Sea of Galilee, famed for its cattle, oaks and its giant king Og.
- Bashan
- Bashanitis, Gaulanitis (the Golan)
Bashan's fertility explains the biblical imagery: its cattle and oaks stand for strength and plenty because the plateau really was the richest grazing in the region.
- Numbers 21:33-35 Israel defeats Og king of Bashan and takes his land.
- Psalm 22:12 Strong bulls of Bashan surround me
- Ezekiel 39:18 Rams, lambs and goats of Bashan
- Amos 4:1 Cows of Bashan on the mountain of Samaria
What we know
Certain
- Scripture places Bashan east of the Sea of Galilee and the upper Jordan.