Argob
ARGOB
A city in Bashan and Manasseh east of the Jordan; also the region around it. This was very fertile, and contained at one time sixty walled towns, which were taken by Jair the son of Manasseh, and called after him, Deu 1:4,13,14 1Ki 4:13 .
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Argob
(Heb. Argob’, , for , with prosthetic, stone-hep), the name of a place and also of a man.
1. (Sept. , but in Kings ). A district in Bashan beyond the lale Gennesareth, containing 60 cities ( HAVOTH-JAIR SEE HAVOTH-JAIR), originally ruled over by Og (Deu 4:4; Deu 4:13), and eventually formed into a purveyorship by Solomon (1Ki 4:13). The name may probably be traced in the Ragab () of the Mishna (Menachoth, 8, 3), the Rigobah ( of the Samaritan version (see Winer’s Diss. de vess. Samar. indole, p. 55), the Ragaba ( ) of Josephus (Ant. 13, 15, 5), and the Arga or Ergaba () placed by Jerome and Eusebius (Onomas’. s.v. Argob) 15 Roman miles west of Gerasa (see Reland, Palaest. p. 959). Josephus elsewhere (Ant. 8:2, 3) seems to locate it in Trachonitis (q., v.), i.e. Gaulonitis, where Burckhardt is disposed to find it in El Husn, a remarkable ruined site (Syria, p. 279), but Mr. Banks (Quar. Rev. 26, 389) has assigned this to Gamala (comp. Jour. Sac. Lit. Jan. 1852, p. 364). Dr. Robinson identifies it with the modern village with ruins called Rajib, a few miles north-east of the junction of the Jabbok with the Jordan (Researches, 3, Append. p. 166); and Dr. Thomson very properly remarks that it probably denotes rather the whole adjacent region, for the hill on which Um-Keis (somewhat to the north) stands is called Arkub by the Bedouins (Land and Book, 2, 54). Kitto, s.v.
From this special or original locality, however, the term Argob seems to have been extended in its application to designate a large tract to the north- east; for we find it identified (as by Josephus above) with TRACHONITIS SEE TRACHONITIS (i.e. the rough country) in the Targums (Onkelos and Jonathan , Jerusalem ). Later we trace it in the Arabic version of Saadiah as Mujeb (with the same meaning); and it is now apparently identified with the Lejah, a very remarkable district south of Damascus, and east of the Sea of Galilee, which has been visited and described by Burckhardt (p. 111-119), Seetzen, and Porter (specially 2:240-245). This extraordinary region about 22 miles from north to south, by 14 from west to east, and of a regular, almost oval shape-has been described as an ocean of basaltic rocks and boulders, tossed about in the wildest confusion, and intermingled with fissures and crevices in every direction. It is, says Mr. Porter, wholly composed of black basalt, which appears to have issued from innumerable pores in the earth in a liquid state, and to have flowed out on every side. Before cooling, its surface was violently agitated, and it was afterward shattered and rent by internal convulsions. The cup-like cavities from which the liquid mass was extruded are still seen, and likewise the wavy surface a thick liquid assumes which cools while flowing. The rock is filled with little pits and air-bubbles; it is as hard as flint, and emits a sharp metallic sound when struck (p. 241). Strange as it may seem, this ungainly and forbidding region is thickly studded with deserted cities and villages, in all of which the dwellings are solidly built, and of remote antiquity (p. 238). The number of these towns visited by one traveler lately returned is 50, and there were many others to which he did not go. A Roman road runs through the district from south to north, probably between Bosra and Damascus. On the edge of the Lejah are situated, among others, the towns known in Biblical history as Kenath and Edrei. In the absence of more conclusive evidence on the point, a strong presumption in favor of the identification of the Lejah with Argob arises from the peculiar Hebrew word constantly attached to Argob, and in this definite sense apparently to Argob only. This word is (Che’bel), literally a rope (, , funiculus), and it designates with striking accuracy the remarkably defined boundary-line of the district of the Lejah, which is spoken of repeatedly by its latest explorer as a rocky shore; sweeping round in a circle clearly defined as a rocky shore- line; resembling a Cyclopean wall in ruins (Porter, 2, 19, 219, 239, etc.). The extraordinary features of this region are rendered still more remarkable by the contrast which it presents with the surrounding plain of the Hauran, a high plateau of waving downs of the richest agricultural soil stretching from the Sea of Galilee to the Lejah, and beyond that to the desert. almost literally without a stone; and it is not to be wondered at if the identification proposed above be correct that this contrast should have struck the Israelites, and that their language, so scrupulous of minute topographical distinctions, should have perpetuated in the words Mishor and Chebel (which see severally) at once the level downs of Bashan (q.v.), the stony labyrinth which so suddenly intrudes itself on the soil (Argob), and the definite fence or boundary which incloses it. SEE HAURAN.
2. (Sept. .) A subaltern or ally of Pekahiah (B.C. 757), as appears from 2Ki 15:25, where we read that Pekah conspired against Pekahiah, king of Israel, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh. In giving this version, some think our translators have mistaken the sense of the original, which they therefore render smote him in the harem of the palace of the king of Argob and Arieh, as if these were the names of two cities in Samaria. Others, however, maintain, with good reason, that the particle is properly translated uith, i.e. these two officers were assassinated at the same time; so the Sept. (). It will hardly bear the other construction: the word strictly denotes near (Vulg.juxta), but that would yield no tolerable sense to the whole passage (see Keil, Comment. in loc.). According to some, Argob was an accomplice of Pekah in the murder of Pekahiah. But Sebastian Schmid explained that both Argob and Arieh were two princes of Pekahiah whose influence Pekah feared, and whom he therefore slew with the king. Rashi understands by Argob the royal palace, near which was the castle in which the murder took place. In like manner, Arieh, named in the same connection (the lion, so called probably from his daring as a warrior), was either one of the accomplices of Pekah in his conspiracy against Pekahiah, or, as Schmid understands, one of the princes of Pekahiah, who was put to death with him. Rashi explains the latter name literally of a golden lion which stood in the castle. SEE PEKAH.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Argob
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)
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Argob (1)
2Ki 15:25. Pekahiah’s aide de camp, slain by the conspirators under Pekah, in defending the king.
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Argob (2)
(“the stony”.) A tract E. of Jordan, in Bashan, in Og’s kingdom, containing 60 great and fortified cities “with walls and brazen bars”; allotted to Manasseh, and taken by Jair a chief of that tribe (Num 32:41). Afterward one of Solomon’s commissariat divisions under an officer at Ramoth Gilead (1Ki 4:13). Trachonitis, “the rugged region,” was its later Greek name. Now the Lejah, S. of Damascus, E. of the sea of Galilee; described by Burckhardt, Porter, etc., 22 miles from N. to S., 14 from E. to W.; of oval shape, a vast accumulation of basaltic rocks, in wild disorder, intersected with fissures; the black basalt seemingly having issued from the ground liquid, then become agitated, them split by internal convulsion. The cuplike cavities whence it exuded, and the wavy surface, are still to be seen. The rock is hard as flint, and emits a metallic sound when struck.
A singular propriety appears in the Hebrew for “the region of Argob” (Deu 3:4; Deu 3:13); it is the same term as for a rope (chebel), i.e. a sharply defined frontier, as if measured off by a rope, the rocky rampart that encircles the Lejah “in a circle clearly defined as a rocky shore line.” This region stands 30 feet above the plain below. No other term is used of the region of Argob; it is possible therefore that (chebel) was a provincialism of Manasseh, the tribe that possessed Argob, for we find Manasseh using the term to Joshua (Jos 17:5; Jos 17:14), “portion,” Hebrew (chebel). (See TRACHONITIS.) Improbable as the statement of Scripture appears, yet it is strictly true.
Sixty walled cities are still traceable in a space of 308 square miles. The architecture is ponderous and massive. Solid walls, four 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. A striking contrast to Argob is the surrounding plain of the Hauran (Bashan) described as “the plain” (mishor), a high plateau of rich pasture and tillage, stretching from the sea of Galilee to the Lejah and beyond to the desert, aligned without a stone. The Hebrew terms could not have been more happily chosen, Argob, Chebel, Mishor.
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Argob
ARGOB.1. Argob and Arieh were guards of Pekahiah (2Ki 15:25), who fell by the hands of Pekah along with their master. 2. A district in the kingdom of Og, abounding in strong cities and unwalled towns. It was subdued by Jair son of Manasseh, and became the possession of his tribe (Deu 3:3; Deu 3:13, 1Ki 4:15 etc.). It is called the Argob (Deu 3:13). This, together with the fact that chebel, measured area, always precedes the name, seems to indicate a definitely marked district. This would apply admirably to the great lava field of el-Lej, N.W. of Jebel Haurn. Within this forbidding tract the present writer collected the names of 71 ruined sites. Had Gesenius rightly translated a heap of stones, the identification would be almost certain. But the name seems to mean arable land (regeb = clod, Job 21:33; Job 38:38). Argob must therefore be sought elsewhere. The W. slopes of the mountain (now Jebel ed-Druze) would always form a clearly defined district. They abound in ruins of antiquity; while the rich soil, now turned to good account by the Druzes, would amply justify the name of Argob.
W. Ewing.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Argob (1)
argob (, ‘argobh, story): A locality or a person mentioned in the obscure passage 2Ki 15:25. The context deals with Pekah’s conspiracy against Pekahiah; but it is not clear, owing to the state of the text, whether Argob and his associate Arieh (if these are the names of men) were officers of Pekahiah who were slain with him, or fellow-conspirators with Pekah. The vulg takes them as names of places; they may then be considered glosses that have crept into the text. Rashi holds that Argob was the royal palace. Argob is more likely the name of a place than a person. See ARIEH.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Argob (2)
argob (, ha-‘argobh; , ‘argobh or , Argob): A region East of the Jordan which in Deu 3:4, Deu 3:5 is equivalent to the kingdom of Og in Bashan, and in Deu 3:13 is referred to as all the region of Argob, even all Bashan. Deu 3:14 is evidently corrupt. Havvoth-jair lay not in Bashan but in Gilead (Jdg 10:4; Num 32:40 f; 1Ki 4:13). It contained threescore cities. All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates and bars; besides the unwalled towns a great many. Deu 3:14 seems to say that it marched with Geshur and Maacah; but we cannot lay stress on this. We may take it that Argob lay in the land of Bashan; beyond this, on available data, we cannot certainly go.
The word hebhel, translated region, means primarily a line or cord, then a measuring line, then the portion measured, e.g. the part of the children of Judah (Jos 19:9), the lot or portion of an inheritance (Deu 32:9; Jos 17:14, etc.). Hebhel precedes Argob in each of the four cases where it is named. This has led many to think that a district with very clearly marked borders is intended. No region so well meets this condition as el-Leja’, a volcanic tract lying about 20 miles South of Damascus, and 30 miles East of the Sea of Galilee. It is roughly triangular in form, with the apex to the North, and is about 25 miles long, with a base of some 20 miles. The lava which has hardened into this confused wilderness of black rock, rent and torn by countless fissures, flowed from the craters whose dark forms are seen on the East. It rises to an average height of about 20 ft. above the plain, on which it lies like an island on a sea of emerald, the edges being sharply defined. At all points it is difficult of entrance, and might be defended by a few resolute men against an army. To this fact doubtless it owes its name el-Leja’, the refuge. There are many traces of considerable cities in the interior. The present writer collected there the names of no fewer than seventy-one ruined sites. See further TRACHONITIS. This identification is supported by taking ‘argobh as the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek trachon, stony. This is possible only if, as Gesenius assumes, the root raghabh is cognate with ragham, an extremely precarious assumption. Clod is the translation of the word reghebh in Job 21:33; Job 38:38; probably therefore ‘argobh should be tendered a region of clods, i.e. arable land. This practically rules out el-Leja’. We have seen above that the term hebhel need have no reference to the clearly marked rocky boundaries. As regards the great cities, all Bashan is studded with the ruins of such. The splendid remains that everywhere meet the traveler’s eye were thought by Porter (Giant Cities of Bashan) and others, to be the wreck of the great cities that struck the invading Israelites with wonder. It is now clear that the ruins above ground are not older than the beginning of our era. The Greek and Roman architecture is easily recognized. Probably, however, excavation will prove that in very many cases the sites have been occupied from very ancient times. Cave dwellings, chambers cut in the rock and covered with stone vaults, and what may be described as subterranean cities, have been found in different parts, the antiquity of which it is impossible to estimate. There is nothing which enables us to identify the region of Argob. The whole country of Bashan., with the exception of el-Leja’, is arable land. The soil is very fertile, composed of lava detritus. In almost every district might have been found the threescore cities. Guthe suggests the western part of el-Hauran, stretching from Edrei (Derah) to Nawa. Buhl would locate it in the district of es-Suweit, to the Southeast of the low range of ez-Zumleh. This however seems too far to the South. The Southwest slopes of Jebel ed-Druze seem to meet the conditions as well as any. They form quite a wellmarked district; they are very fertile, and the strong cities in the region must have been numerous.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Argob
Argob, a district in Bashan; east of the Lake of Gennesareth, which was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh (Deu 3:4; Deu 3:13; 1Ki 4:13).
Fuente: Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature
Argob
[Ar’gob]
1. A district lying to the south of Damascus and which formed a part of Bashan, where the giants resided. It had at one time 60 cities, which were ruled over by Og. Its name signifies ‘stony’ and it forms a remarkable plateau of basalt, which rises some 30 feet above the surrounding fertile plain, and extends 22 miles N. and S. and 14 miles E. and W., the boundary line being marked by the Bible word chebel, which signifies ‘as by a rope.’ Og was conquered by Moses, and Jair of Manasseh took the fortified cities, and it became a part of Manasseh’s lot. Later it was called Trachonitis, and is now known as el-Lejah. There are many houses still in the district which, because of their massive proportions, are supposed to have been built by the giants. Deu 3:3-4; Deu 3:13-14; 1Ki 4:13.
2. One, apparently in the service of Pekahiah, killed by Pekah. 2Ki 15:25.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Argob
H709
1. A region east of the Jordan
Deu 3:4; Deu 3:13-14; 1Ki 4:13
2. A courtier of Pekah
2Ki 15:25
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Argob
Argob (r’gb), 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 Been. It is now called the Lejah.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Argob
Ar’gob. (stony).
1. 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. Deu 3:4; Deu 3:13-14.
2. Perhaps a Gileadite officer who was governor of Argob. He was either an accomplice of Pekah in the murder of Pekahiah or was slain by Pekah. 2Ki 15:25.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Argob
a canton lying beyond Jordan, in the half tribe of Manasseh, and in the country of Bashan, one of the most fruitful on the other side of Jordan. In the region of Argob there were sixty cities, called Bashan- havoth-Jair, which had very high walls and strong gates, without reckoning many villages and hamlets, which were not inclosed, Deu 3:4-14; 1Ki 4:13. But Argob was more peculiarly the name of the capital city of the region of Argob, which Eusebius says was fifteen miles west of Gerara.