Topical Encyclopedia
Etymology and Location:Golan is a term that appears in the Bible as a city of refuge and a region. The name "Golan" is believed to derive from a root meaning "circle" or "enclosure." It is located in the territory of Bashan, east of the Jordan River, in what is now the modern-day Golan Heights.
Biblical References:Golan is first mentioned in the Book of Deuteronomy as one of the three cities of refuge east of the Jordan River. These cities were designated as places where individuals who had accidentally committed manslaughter could seek asylum from the avenger of blood until they stood trial. In
Deuteronomy 4:43, it is stated: "Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau for the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites."
The city is also mentioned in
Joshua 20:8, which reiterates its role as a city of refuge: "Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh."
Historical and Theological Significance:Golan's designation as a city of refuge highlights the biblical principle of justice tempered with mercy. The cities of refuge were part of the Mosaic Law, which provided a system for protecting individuals who had caused accidental death, ensuring that they received a fair trial. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's justice and provision for His people.
The region of Bashan, where Golan is located, is often associated with strength and fertility in the Bible. Bashan was known for its rich pastures and strong cattle, as mentioned in
Psalm 22:12: "Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me." This imagery underscores the region's reputation and the strategic importance of Golan within it.
Tribal Allocation:Golan was allocated to the half-tribe of Manasseh, one of the tribes of Israel that settled east of the Jordan River. This allocation is part of the broader division of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes of Israel, as described in the Book of Joshua.
Archaeological and Modern Context:The Golan Heights, where the ancient city of Golan was located, remains a region of significant geopolitical interest today. It is a fertile plateau with a rich history that has seen various civilizations and conflicts over the centuries. Archaeological findings in the area have provided insights into the ancient cultures that inhabited the region, including the Israelites.
In summary, Golan serves as a testament to the biblical themes of justice, mercy, and God's provision for His people. Its historical and geographical significance continues to be a point of interest for both biblical scholars and modern historians.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Golanpassage; revolution
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Golan(circle), a city of Bashan, (4:43) allotted out of the half tribe of Manasseh to the Levites, (Joshua 21:27) and one of the three cities of refuge east of the Jordan. ch (Joshua 20:8) Its very site is now unknown. It gave its name to the province of Gaulanitis. It lay east of Galilee and north of Gadaritis [GADARA], and corresponds to the modern province ofJaulan .
ATS Bible Dictionary
GolanA Levitical city of refuge, in the northwest portion of Bashan. It lay east or northeast of the Sea of Galilee, but its site is now lost. SeeGAULAN.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Exile, a city of Bashan (
Deuteronomy 4:43), one of the three cities of refuge east of Jordan, about 12 miles north-east of the Sea of Galilee (
Joshua 20:8). There are no further notices of it in Scripture. It became the head of the province of Gaulanitis, one of the four provinces into which Bashan was divided after the Babylonish captivity, and almost identical with the modern Jaulan, in Western Hauran, about 39 miles in length and 18 in breath.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
GOLAN; GAULONITISgo'-lan (golan), (Gaulanitis): Golan was a city in the territory allotted to Manasseh in Bashan, the most northerly of the three cities of refuge East of the Jordan (Deuteronomy 4:43Joshua 20:8); assigned with its "suburbs" to the Gershonite Levites (Joshua 21:271 Chronicles 6:71). It must have been a great and important city in its day; but the site cannot now be determined with any certainty. It was known to Josephus (Ant., XIII, xv, 3). Near Golan Alexander was ambushed by Obodas, king of the Arabians; and his army, crowded together in a narrow and deep valley, was broken in pieces by the multitude of camels (BJ, I, iv, 4). This incident is located at Gadara in Ant, XIII, xiii, 5. Later, Golan was destroyed by Alexander. It had already given its name to a large district, Gaulonitis (BJ, III, iii, 1, 5; IV, i, 1). It formed the eastern boundary of Galilee. It was part of the tetrarchy of Philip (Ant., XVII, viii, 1; XVIII, iv, 6). The city was known to Eusebius as "a large village," giving its name to the surrounding country (Onomasticon, under the word Gaulon). This country must have corresponded roughly with the modern Jaulan, in which the ancient name is preserved. The boundaries of the province today are Mt. Hermon on the North, Jordan and the Sea of Galilee on the West, Wady Yarmuk on the South, and Nahr `Allan on the East. This plateau, which in the North is about 3,000 ft. high, slopes gradually southward to a height of about 1,000 ft. It is entirely volcanic, and there are many cone-like peaks of extinct volcanoes, especially toward the North It affords good pasturage, and has long been a favorite summer grazing-ground of the nomads. Traces of ancient forests remain, but for the most part today it is treeless. To the East of the Sea of Galilee the soil is deep and rich. Splendid crops of wheat are grown here, and olives flourish in the hollows. The country is furrowed by deep valleys that carry the water southwestward into the Sea of Galilee. This region has not yet been subjected to thorough examination, but many important ruins have been found, which tell of a plentiful and prosperous population in times long past. The best description of these, and of the region generally, will be found in Schumacher's The Jaulan, and Across the Jordan. To him also we owe the excellent maps which carry us eastward to the province of el-Chauran.
Schumacher inclines to the belief that the ancient Golan may be represented by Sahm el-Jaulan, a large village fully 4 miles East of Nahr `Allan, and 4 miles Southeast of Tsil. The extensive ruins probably date from early in the Christian era. The buildings are of stone, many of them of Spacious dimensions, while the streets are wide and straight. The inhabitants number not more than 280. The surrounding soil is rich and well watered, bearing excellent crops. The present writer, after personal examination, corroborates Dr. Schumacher's description. Standing in the open country, it would be seen from afar; and it was easily accessible from all directions.
W. Ewing
Strong's Hebrew
1474.Golan -- a city and a region East of the Jordan in Manasseh... 1473, 1474.
Golan. 1475 . a city and a region East of the Jordan in Manasseh.
Transliteration:
Golan Phonetic Spelling: (go-lawn') Short Definition:
Golan.
...Library
Six Cities
... [Illustration:Golan]. Sixth City"Golan.GOLAN was situated in Bashan, in the tribe
of Manasseh, among the pastoral hills north of the lake of Gennesaret....
What Actions were done by Alexander Janneus, who Reigned Twenty...
... 4. However, when he fought with Obodas, king of the Arabians, who had laid an ambush
for him nearGolan, and a plot against him, he lost his entire army, which...
The Cities of Refuge
... eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe
of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, andGolan in Bashan...
The Gospel Refuge.
... RAMOTH, Exaltation.GOLAN, Joy.... I think her favourite city would have beenGOLAN,
"Joy." Her heart seemed ever to be filled with "peace and joy in believing."....
The Six Cities.
... eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe
of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, andGolan in Bashan...
The Cities of Refuge.
... These cities were six in number: Kedesh, Shechem, and Kirjath-arba, on the west
of Jordan; and Bezer, Ramoth, andGolan, on the east of that river....
Of the Cities of Refuge.
... a vineyard: Hebron in Judea against Bezer in the wilderness: Shechem in mount Ephraim
against Ramoth in Gilead: Kedesh in mount Napthali againstGolan in Basan...
Perea. Beyond Jordan.
... with them.Golan was the chief city of this country, Joshua 20:8. Whence
is Gaulonitis, and that "Upper and Nether Gaulonitis.". In...
How Antiochus, who was Called Dionysus, and after Him Aretas Made...
... best part of Zeno's treasures, and there he encompassed the place with three walls;
and when he had taken the city by fighting, he marched toGolan and Seleucia...
How the Hebrews Fought with the Midianites, and Overcame Them.
... Now the cities which were set apart for this flight were these: Bezer, at the borders
of Arabia; Ramoth, of the land of Gilead; andGolan, in the land of Bashan...
Thesaurus
Golan (4 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
GOLAN; GAULONITIS. go'-lan (
golan),
(Gaulanitis):
Golan was a city in the territory allotted to
...Gaulonitis
... Int. Standard Bible EncyclopediaGOLAN; GAULONITIS. go'-lan (golan),
(Gaulanitis):Golan was a city in the territory allotted to...
Bashan (54 Occurrences)
... 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)....
Refuge (111 Occurrences)
... 2. On the east of Jordan were, (1)Golan, in Bashan; (2) Ramoth-Gilead, in Gad;
and (3) Bezer, in Reuben. (See under each of these names.)....
Tableland (8 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 4:43 Bezer in the wilderness, in the table-land, for the Reubenites;
and Ramoth in Gilead, for the Gadites; andGolan in Bashan, for the Manassites...
Table-land (8 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 4:43 namely , Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, for the
Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, for the Gadites; andGolan in Bashan, for...
Ramoth (30 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 4:43 namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, for the
Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, for the Gadites; andGolan in Bashan, for the...
Plateau (13 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 4:43 Bezer in the wilderness, in the plateau, of the Reubenites, and
Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites, andGolan in Bashan, of the Manassites....
Bezer (5 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 4:43 namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, for the
Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, for the Gadites; andGolan in Bashan, for the...
Pasturelands (42 Occurrences)
... Joshua 21:27 They gave to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites,
out of the half-tribe of ManassehGolan in Bashan with its suburbs, the city...
Resources
Should Israel be building settlements in the occupied territories, i.e., the West Bank and East Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.orgWhat were the cities of refuge in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
