Gaulanitis* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Small province east of the Sea of Galilee, situated between Mt Hermon and the Yarmuk River and extending perhaps to the Jordan River. It took its name from the ancient town of Golan. Archaeologists have discovered extensive ruins 17 miles (27 kilometers) east of the Sea of Galilee, which they consider to be the remains of Golan. Moses named Golan as a city of refuge for Manasseh’s half-tribe east of the Jordan (Dt 4:41, 43 OET DEU 4:41 · OET DEU 4:43), and Joshua assigned it to the Gershonite Levites (Jos 20:8; 21:27; 1 Chr 6:71). According to Josephus, Alexander Janneus suffered a heavy defeat in this place and later destroyed the town (Antiquities 8.2.3). Josephus also identified a Judas who led a tax revolt as being from Gaulanitis (18.1.1), whereas Luke called him a Galilean (Acts 5:37). Later, Josephus called him a Galilean as well (Antiquities 20.5.2; War 2.8.1). It is quite possible that this Judas lived in these places at different times.

Show passage in OET: DEU 4:41; DEU 4:43

OET-RV DEU 4:41

41 Then Mosheh (Moses) selected three cities on that eastern side of the Yarden (Jordan)

OET-RV DEU 4:43

43 Betser in the wilderness for the tribe of Re’uven, Ramot in Gilead for the tribe of Gad, and Golan in the Bashan region for the tribe of Menasheh (Manasseh).

OET-LV DEU 4:41

41 Then Mosheh he _set _apart three cities on_the _other _side _of the _Yardēn/(Jordan) rising _of_towards_the the_sun.

OET-LV DEU 4:43

43 DOM Beʦer in_wilderness in_land of_the _plain for_Rəʼūⱱēnite[s] and_DOM Rāʼmōt in_Gilˊād for_Gādī[s] and_DOM Gōlān in_Bāshān for_Manassite[s].

Show passage in OET: JOS 20:8

OET-RV JOS 20:8

8 On the other side of the Yarden (Jordan) river, they chose Betser (in the wilderness on the plateau from the tribe of Re’uven), Ramot (in the Gilead from the tribe of Gad), and Golan (in the Bashan from the tribe of Menasheh (Manasseh)).

OET-LV JOS 20:8

8 And_from_the_other _side of_the _Yardēn/(Jordan) of _Yərīḩō/(Jericho) eastward_on they _assigned DOM Beʦer in_wilderness in_plain from_the _tribe _of Rəʼūⱱēn and_DOM Rāmot in_Gilˊād from_the _tribe _of Gād and_DOM Gōlān in_Bāshān from_the _tribe _of Mənashsheh.

Show passage in OET: JOS 21:27

OET-RV JOS 21:27

27 The Levite Gereshon clans were allocated cities from within the Menasheh (Manasseh) half-tribe’s territory: Golan in the Bashan (which was assigned as a refuge city for anyone who accidentally kills someone) and Be’eshterah—two cities with their surrounding fields.

OET-LV JOS 21:27

27 And_belonged_to_the _descendants _of Gērəshōn from_the _clans _of the _Lēviyyiy from_the _half _of the _tribe _of Mənashsheh DOM the _city _of (the)_refuge _of the _killer DOM Gōlān in_Bāshān and_DOM lands _of_its _pasture and_DOM Beeshtarah and_DOM lands _of_its _pasture cities two.

Show passage in OET: CH1 6:71

OET-RV CH1 6:71

71 Gereshon’s descendants also received, from the part of the Menasheh tribe that lived across the Yarden River, two cities and pastureland near them: Golan in the Bashan region, and Ashtarot.

OET-LV CH1 6:56

56  To_the _descendants _of Gērəshom from_the _clan _of the _half _of the _tribe _of Mənashsheh DOM Gōlān in_Bāshān and_DOM lands _of_its _pasture and_DOM ˊAshtārōt and_DOM lands _of_its _pasture.

Show passage in OET: ACT 5:37

OET-RV ACT 5:37

37 A bit later on, a Galili man named Yehudah (Judas; Grk. Yudas) became prominent at the time of the census and he attracted people to him. But he also died, and all those who’d been persuaded by him ended up being scattered.

OET-LV ACT 5:37

37 After this, Youdas/(Yəhūdāh) the Galilaios rose _up in the days of _the registration, and drew _away people after him, and _that one perished, and all as _many _as were _being _persuaded by _him were _scattered.

Jump to OET DEU 4:41 section. · OET DEU 4:43 section.

Jump to OET JOS 20:8 section.

Jump to OET JOS 21:27 section.

Jump to OET CH1 6:71 section.

Jump to OET ACT 5:37 section.

After Herod’s death in 4 BC, Philip inherited Gaulanitis, making his capital Bethsaida Julias, which he had rebuilt and named after Augustus Caesar’s daughter. Jesus traveled in this area (Mk 6:45; 8:22), and it remained under firm Roman control until AD 66, when the Jewish war broke out. Jewish revolutionaries subsequently hid in its heights and the Romans fought several campaigns here.