4 days ago
A Word for History about the Jordanian Kingdom of Bashan (4000 BCE – 450 BCE)
The Kingdom of Bashan, with its strategic geography and rich natural resources, formed a central pillar in the construction of ancient Jordanian identity—and indeed, the identity of the greater Arab East. Bashan was not an isolated entity; it was part of the system of distinguished Jordanian kingdoms that flourished in this land, including the Kingdom of Moab, the Kingdom of Ammon, the Kingdom of Edom, the long-forgotten Kingdom of Perea, and the kingdoms of the People of Lot. These kingdoms engaged in intricate interactions that ranged from alliances to conflicts, depending on the political and economic dynamics of each period.
For example, Bashan, Moab, and Perea contributed jointly to securing the major trade routes—especially the King's Highway—which linked Arabia to the Levant. They also experienced border disputes, as reflected in inscriptions such as the Mesha Stele, which refers to conflicts over the 'high lands,' including the fringes of Bashan and Perea. With Ammon and the kingdoms of the People of Lot, Bashan maintained strong commercial and cultural ties, as evidenced by archaeological finds from Jerash, Amman, and sites in the southern Jordan Valley. In contrast, relations with Edom were more strained, driven by competition over southern trade corridors and mineral wealth.
Despite these interactions, each of these kingdoms preserved its independence and distinct identity. This is clearly demonstrated by inscriptions and archaeological remains from Umm Qais, Pella, Irbid, Ramtha, Ajloun, and sites surrounding the Sea of Lot (the Dead Sea). These findings attest that these entities were not extensions of foreign powers but arose organically from Jordanian soil, reflecting a unique and enduring geographic, cultural, and political identity.
In this light, the falsity of Biblical narratives claiming ancient Israelite dominance over Bashan, Perea, the kingdoms of the People of Lot, or other Jordanian kingdoms becomes apparent. There is no archaeological or epigraphic evidence to support such claims. On the contrary, the abundant Assyrian inscriptions and records—such as those of Tiglath-Pileser III and Sargon II—demonstrate that the Biblical accounts are nothing more than distorted, self-serving adaptations of Assyrian imperial history, composed by Israelite scribes during the Babylonian Exile to construct a spurious historical legitimacy.
Therefore, it is our scholarly duty, as historians and researchers, to restore the rightful place of these authentic Jordanian kingdoms—Bashan, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Perea, and the kingdoms of the People of Lot—as cornerstones of Jordan's deeply rooted identity, and as contributors to the shaping of Near Eastern history, far removed from the myths of the Bible that lack any scientific or archaeological foundation.
