Bashan

Bashan emerges in Scripture as a fertile expanse east of the Jordan, celebrated for its oak forests and powerful cattle that symbolized strength and abundance. Israel secured this territory through the defeat of its ruler Og, whose vast kingdom fell to Moses and the people as they advanced toward the Promised Land, with portions later granted to the tribes of Manasseh, Reuben, and Gad. The region's prosperity later served as a vivid image in the prophecies of Amos, where its well-fed cows illustrated the complacency and injustice that invited divine judgment.

0:00

Auto Play

Details

Region: Transjordan
Modern Location: Golan Heights and southwestern Syria

Strongest connections in Scripture

Numbers 21 Deuteronomy 3 Amos 4

Key Passages

Defeat of Og

Numbers 21:33-35

Records Israel's victory over Og king of Bashan at Edrei.

A³³nd they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei.

³⁴ And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon. ³⁵ So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.

Og's Kingdom Conquered

Deuteronomy 3:1-7

Details the capture of Bashan's sixty cities and the land's allotment to Israel.

T¹hen we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.

² And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon. ³ So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining. ⁴ And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. ⁵ All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many. ⁶ And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city. ⁷ But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey to ourselves.

Cows of Bashan

Amos 4:1

Uses the well-fed cattle of Bashan as a metaphor for the wealthy oppressors in Samaria.

H¹ear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.