argob Summary and Overview

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 ("the rugged region") in the New Testament (Luke 3:1). These cities were conquered by the Israelites (Deut. 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). (See BASHAN T0000461.)

(stony), a tract of country on the east of the Jordan, in Bashan, the kingdom of Og, containing 60 great and fortified cities. In later times it was called Trachonitis, and it is now apparently identified with the Leiah, a very remarkable district south of Damascus and east of the Sea of Galilee. #De 3:4,13,14|

AR'GOB (stony), a small district of Bashan, east of the Jordan; named only four times in the Bible. It is about 30 miles long by 20 miles wide, chiefly a field of basalt (black rock), elevated about 30 feet above the surrounding plain, and bordered by a rocky rampart of broken cliffs. It once contained 60 strong and fortified cities, the ruins of many of them being still to be seen. It is now called the Lejah. History. -- Jair took 60 of its cities. Deut 3:4, 1 Chr 6:5, 14. Absalom fled thither. 2 Sam 13:38. Solomon placed an officer over its 60 great cities with brazen walls. 1 Kgs 4:13. Porter describes this region as "literally crowded with towns and large villages; and though a vast majority of them are deserted, they are not ruined. 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." (See Giant Cities of Bashan.) But these ruins are now ascertained to belong to the Roman period, and after the Christian era. The American Palestine Exploration Society has explored that East Jordan region, and taken photographs of ruins of theatres, palaces, and temples.

2 Kings 15:25. Pekahiah's aide de camp, slain by the conspirators under Pekah, in defending the king.