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Bible Dictionaries
Bashan
Morrish Bible Dictionary
or Now best known for the Golan Heights, it is a large district on the east of the Jordan, having Gilead on the south and extending northward to Mount Hermon; westward to the Jordan valley, and eastward nearly as far as 37 E. It is sometimes called the "land of Bashan," and it was the kingdom of Og the Amorite. It was conquered by Moses, and became, with part of Gilead, the portion of the half-tribe of Manasseh. Its principal cities were Ashtaroth (or Beeshterah) given to the Levites, Golan a 'city of refuge,' Edrei, and Salcah on its border. It was ravaged by Hazael in the time of Jehu, and is not often alluded to in the later history of the kings of Judah and Israel. Joshua 13:30,31; Joshua 21:27; 2 Kings 10:33; 1 Chronicles 5:11 .
The district was in later days divided into
1. GAULANITIS on the west, now called Jaulan , a rich district with noble forests.
2. AURANITIS, in the centre, now called Hauran , a magnificent plain.
3. TRACHONITIS, on the north-east, also called ARGOB, q.v.; now called El Lejah, a wild district of basaltic rocks.
4. BATANAEA, on the south-east, now called Ard el Bathanyeh. The four districts have relics of a numerous population, with massive houses built of stone in some parts.
THE OAKS OF BASHAN are used symbolically for great strength and loftiness, which God in His judgement brings down. Isaiah 2:13; Ezekiel 27:6;Zechariah 11:2 .
BULLS OF BASHAN are figurative of strong ruthless enemies, Amos 4:1 , whom God in the coming judgement on Gog will crush, and will call for the fowls and the beasts to come and feed upon their flesh and their blood, Ezekiel 39:18 : and lastly, when the blessed Lord was on the cross, His description of His vindictive enemies includes the strong bulls of Bashan which beset Him around, and gaped upon Him with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. Psalm 22:12,13 .
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Morrish, George. Entry for 'Bashan'. Morrish Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/mbd/b/bashan.html. 1897.
