Dictionary Article

The road running north-south across the Transjordanian plateau. It appears in the OT only twice in requests by the Israelites to use this road when passing through Edom (Nm 20:17) and the Amorite kingdom of Heshbon (21:22). The route may also be called simply “the highway” (20:19). The northern segment is called “the way of Bashan” (Nm 21:33; Dt 3:1).

Show passage in OET: NUM 20:17

OET-RV NUM 20:17

17 Now please let us pass through your country. We won’t go through the countryside or the vineyards, and we won’t drink water from any well. We’ll stay on the king’s highway without turning to the right or the left, until after we’ve exited at your northern border.

OET-LV NUM 20:17

17 Let _us _pass please in_land _of_your not we _will _pass in_a _field and_in_a _vineyard and_not we _will _drink water _of a _well the _way _of the_king we _will _go not we _will _turn _aside right _hand and_left _hand until that we _will _pass _through territory _of_your.

Show passage in OET: NUM 21:22

OET-RV NUM 21:22

22 “Let us pass through your country. We won’t turn off into any field or vineyard. We won’t take water from any well. We’ll stay on the king’s highway until we’ve exited at your northern border.”

OET-LV NUM 21:22

22 Let _me _pass in_land _of_your not we _will _turn _aside in_a _field and_in_a _vineyard not we _will _drink water _of a _well on_the _way _of the_king we _will _go until that we _will _pass _through territory _of_your.

Show passage in OET: NUM 20:19

OET-RV NUM 20:19

19 The Israelis reiterated, “We’ll stay on the highway, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, then we’ll pay what it’s worth so that’s no big deal. Just let us walk through.”

OET-LV NUM 20:19

19 And_they _said to_him/it the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) on_highway we _will _go _up and_if waters _of_your I and_livestock _of_my we _will _drink and_I _will _give price _of_their only there_is_not a _thing on_feet _of_my let _me _pass _through.

Show passage in OET: NUM 21:33

OET-RV NUM 21:33

33 Then they turned and went up the road towards Bashan, but Bashan’s King Og came out with his army to meet them, and attacked them at Edre’i.

OET-LV NUM 21:33

33 And_they _turned and_they _went _up the _way _of (the)_Bāshān and_ ˊŌg the _king _of (the)_Bāshān _he/it _went _out to_meet_them he and_all people _of_his for_battle ʼEdreˊī.

Show passage in OET: DEU 3:1

OET-RV DEU 3:1

3 “Then we turned and went towards the Bashan region but King Og came out with all his warriors to battle against us at Edre’i,

OET-LV DEU 3:1

3 And_we _turned and_we _went _up the _way _of (the)_Bāshān and_ ˊŌg the _king _of (the)_Bāshān _he/it _went _out to_meet_us he and_all people _of_his for_battle ʼEdreˊī.

Jump to OET NUM 20:17 section.

Jump to OET NUM 21:22 section.

Jump to OET NUM 20:19 section.

Jump to OET NUM 21:33 section.

Jump to OET DEU 3:1 section.

This highway connected Damascus with the caravan route running through the Hijaz down to southern Arabia and the rich sources of spices, perfumes, and other exotic products (1 Kgs 10:2; Ez 27:22). Control over it was a key factor in the geopolitics of Israel and its rivals.

Show passage in OET: KI1 10:2

OET-RV KI1 10:2

2 She came to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) with lots of her top people, camels carrying spices and gemstones and a lot of gold. Then she went to Shelomoh and started asking him everything that had been on her mind.

OET-LV KI1 10:2

2 And_she _came to_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) with_a _retinue numerous very camels which _were_carrying spices and_gold much very and_stone _of precious and_she _came to Shəlomoh/(Solomon) and_she _spoke to_him/it DOM all _of that it _was with heart _of_her.

Show passage in OET: EZE 27:22

OET-RV EZE 27:22

22 Traders from Sheva and Ramah came to sell you the best of every spice and all kinds of precious gems—they traded gold for your goods.

OET-LV EZE 27:22

22 The _traders _of Shəⱱāʼ and_Raˊmāh they were_your(pl)_of_traders for_the_best _of every _of spice and_on/over_all stone precious and_gold they _exchanged wares _of_your.

Jump to OET KI1 10:2 section.

Jump to OET EZE 27:22 section.

The local topography limits the possible lines of march to two parallel routes. A double watershed exists the full length of the Transjordanian plateau. One is created by the shorter streams that bisect the mountains from east to west; they leave a watershed about 13 to 16 miles (21 to 26 kilometers) east of the Jordan Valley. The larger streams, the Yarmuk, Jabbok, Arnon, and Zered, begin some 25 to 30 miles (40 to 48 kilometers) to the east, usually running north before curving westward. The route bypassing them on the east must follow the fringes of the north Arabian Desert. Though the latter has an easier course to follow, it passes fewer good water sources and settlements where supplies could be obtained. The former, on the western watershed, had ample water and was lined with major towns; however, the caravans had to negotiate the steep canyons of the four large wadis.

The earliest record of movement along this route is in Genesis 14. The four kings went from Ashtaroth, the capital of Bashan, to Ham in northern Gilead, then to Shaveh-kiriathaim on the Moabite plateau, and finally to Mt Seir as far as El-paran. The patriarchs probably always came this way when traveling to Canaan; Jacob came through Gilead (Gn 31:21) and established a base at Succoth before crossing the Jordan to Canaan (33:17).

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary