Bashan (Hebrew הבשן ha-Bashan, meaning "the light soil") is a biblical place first mentioned in Bible verse |Genesis|14:5|NIV, where it is said that Chedorlaomer and his confederates "smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth," where Og the king of Bashan had his residence. At the time of Israel's entrance into the Promised Land, Og came out against them, but was utterly routed (Bible verse |Numbers|21:33-35|NIV; Bible verse |Deuteronomy|3:1-7|NIV). This country extended from Gilead in the south to Hermon in the north, and from the Jordan river on the west to Salcah on the east. Along with the half of Gilead it was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh (Bible verse |Joshua|13:29-31|NIV). Golan, one of its cities, became a city of refuge (Bible verse |Joshua|21:27|NIV).

Argob, in Bashan, was one of Solomon's commissariat districts (Bible verse 1|Kings|4:13|NIV). The cities of Bashan were taken by Hazael (Bible verse 2|Kings|10:33|NIV), but were soon after reconquered by Jehoash (Bible verse 2|Kings|13:25|NIV), who overcame the Syrians in three battles, according to the prediction of Elisha (19). From this time Bashan almost disappears from history, although we read of the wild cattle of its rich pastures (Bible verse |Ezekiel|39:18|NIV; Bible verse |Psalms|22:12|NIV), the oaks of its forests (Bible verse |Isaiah|2:13|NIV; Bible verse |Ezekiel|27:6|NIV; Bible verse |Zechariah|11:2|NIV), and the beauty of its extensive plains (Bible verse |Amos|4:1|NIV; Bible verse |Jeremiah|50:19|NIV). Soon after the conquest, the name "Gilead" was given to the whole country beyond Jordan. After the Exile, Bashan was divided into four districts:

• Gaulonitis, or Jaulan, the most western
• Auranitis, the Hauran (Bible verse |Ezekiel|47:16|NIV)
• Argob or Trachonitis, now the Lejah
• Batanaea, now Ard-el-Bathanyeh, on the east of the Lejah, with many deserted towns almost as perfect as when they were inhabited.