Argob: Stony heap, an "island," as it has been called, of rock about 30
miles by 20 rising 20 or 30 feet above the table-land of Bashan; a
region of crags and chasms wild and rugged in the extreme. On this
"island" stood sixty walled cities, ruled over by Og. It is called
Trachonitis rugged region") in the New Testament
(Luke 3:1) These
cities were conquered by the Israelites
(Deuteronomy 3:4; 1 Kings 4:13) It is
now called the Lejah. Here "sixty walled cities are still traceable
in a space of 308 square miles. The architecture is ponderous and
massive. Solid walls 4 feet thick, and stones on one another without
cement; the roofs enormous slabs of basaltic rock, like iron; the
doors and gates are of stone 18 inches thick, secured by ponderous
bars. The land bears still the appearance of having been called the
'land of giants' under the giant Og." "I have more than once entered
a deserted city in the evening, taken possession of a comfortable
house, and spent the night in peace. Many of the houses in the
ancient cities of Bashan are perfect, as if only finished yesterday.
The walls are sound, the roofs unbroken, and even the window-shutters
in their places. These ancient cities of Bashan probably contain the
very oldest specimens of domestic architecture in the world"
(Porter's Giant Cities).
