Lexical Summary
Argob: Argob
Original Word:אַרְגֹּב
Part of Speech:proper name; location; masculine
Transliteration:Argob
Pronunciation:ar-GOHV
Phonetic Spelling:(ar-gobe')
KJV: Argob
Word Origin:[from the same asH7263 (רֶגֶב - clods)]
1. stony
2. Argob, a district of Israel
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Argob
From the same asregeb; stony; Argob, a district of Palestine -- Argob.
see HEBREWregeb
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(heap, orregion of clods; 'glede' GASmG551); — alwaysDeuteronomy 3:4,14;1 Kings 4:13,Deuteronomy 3:13; =measured region of Argob; some well-defined district of Bashan (apparently identification withDeuteronomy 3:14 [where in Bashan, soJoshua 13:30], but this a harmonistic correction; in fact in Gilead [Numbers 32:41;Judges 10:4, and distinguished from1 Kings 4:13 compareDeuteronomy 3:13); exact location dubious, GASml.c. and especially DrDeuteronomy 3:4; BuhlGeogr.18 thinks of‚uwet, south of Upper Yarmuk, a border district between Bashan and Gilead. — ;1 Kings 4:13 ,L , A .
2 Kings 15:25, dubious; see Klo Kit Benz Bur.
Topical Lexicon
ArgobGeographical Setting
Argob denotes a rugged volcanic plateau east of the Jordan River, forming part of the ancient kingdom of Bashan. Modern explorers identify the region with the Lejah (Arabic) or Trachonitis (Greek) in southern Syria, a maze of black basalt outcrops, caves, and narrow defiles naturally fortified by its terrain. The land’s very name evokes “heap of stones” or “stony region,” matching both the topography and the biblical portrayal of impregnable strongholds.
Biblical Narrative
1. Conquest under Moses
Deuteronomy 3 records Israel’s dramatic victory over King Og of Bashan. “At that time we captured all sixty of his cities, the whole region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan” (Deuteronomy 3:4). The inspired emphasis on sixty walled towns, “with high walls, gates, and bars” (verse 5), magnifies the Lord’s power in granting triumph over seemingly invincible defenses.
2. Allotment to Jair of Manasseh
Following the conquest, Moses assigned Argob to Jair, descendant of Manasseh. “Jair son of Manasseh captured the whole region of Argob… and called it Havvoth Jair after himself” (Deuteronomy 3:14). The district thus became a notable possession of the eastern half-tribe of Manasseh, fulfilling the patriarchal promise of land beyond the Jordan.
3. Administrative District under Solomon
During Solomon’s reign, Argob formed part of one of the twelve commissariat districts providing food for the royal court. Ben-geber was placed “in Ramoth-gilead (to him belonged the villages of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan—sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars)” (1 Kings 4:13, paraphrased from). The verse confirms that centuries after Moses, the fortified towns were still standing and economically productive.
4. A Man Named Argob
In2 Kings 15:25, Argob appears as a personal name: one of two royal officials assassinated by Pekah during his coup against Pekahiah of Israel. The narrative contrasts the stability of Argob’s land with the political turmoil in the Northern Kingdom.
Historical Background
Archaeological surveys of the Lejah document hundreds of basalt blockhouses and walled enclosures, many with massive monolithic doors—tangible reminders of the “bronze bars” noted in Scripture. Classical writers (Josephus, Eusebius) speak of the region’s labyrinthine rocks, supporting the biblical description of sixty fortified cities within a compact area of roughly thirty miles by twenty.
Theological and Ministry Insights
• Divine Faithfulness: The capture and settlement of Argob showcase God’s fidelity to Abrahamic promises (Genesis 15:18-21). What appeared humanly impossible—overcoming sixty citadels—became reality through obedience.
• Spiritual Strongholds: Argob’s basalt bastions illustrate the spiritual strongholds believers face (2 Corinthians 10:4). Just as Israel toppled fortifications by God’s power, Christ’s disciples rely on divine weapons to demolish arguments raised against the knowledge of God.
• Stewardship and Service: Solomon’s use of Argob in feeding the royal household models administrative wisdom. Ministries today likewise depend on orderly stewardship of resources entrusted by God.
Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Correlations
Basalt architecture, cisterns carved into lava flows, and inscriptions dating back to the Early Iron Age corroborate a dense population during the period of the Judges and Monarchy. Greek and Roman records later call the area Trachonitis, still famed for its impenetrable rocks, echoing the biblical memory of “great cities with walls and bronze bars.”
Key References
Deuteronomy 3:4;Deuteronomy 3:13-14;1 Kings 4:13;2 Kings 15:25
Forms and Transliterations
אַרְגֹּ֔ב אַרְגֹּ֣ב אַרְגֹּב֙ ארגב הָֽאַרְגֹּב֙ הארגב ’ar·gōḇ ’argōḇ arGo hā’argōḇ hā·’ar·gōḇ haarGo
Links
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Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
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