Bashan: Light soil, first mentioned in
(Genesis 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
(Numbers 21:33-35; Deuteronomy 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
(Joshua 13:29-31) Golan, one of
its cities, became a "city of refuge"
(Joshua 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
(2 Kings 13:19). From this time
Bashan almost disappears from history, although we read of the wild
cattle of its rich pastures
(Ezekiel 39:18; Psalms 22:12) the oaks of its
forests
(Isaiah 2:13; Ezekiel 27:6; Zechariah 11:2) and the beauty of its
extensive plains
(Amos 4:1; Jeremiah 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,
