Location: Bashan (Golan Heights)
Subject: Banias Nature Reserve
Reference: Sefer Bamidbar Perek 32 Posuk 33
Written by: David Magence
What we now call “Golan” was the western part of the biblical Bashan, which was captured by Israel from the giant King Og as described in Parashat Chukat (Sefer Bamidbar Perek 21 Pesukim 33-35).0
In fact, in biblical terms, Golan was a city within the Bashan, and was the northern most of the three Arei Miklat (Cities of Refuge) on the eastern side of the Jordan River.0
Among the sites to visit in the Golan is the Banias Nature Reserve, which includes one of the three sources of the Jordan River. Our Sages’ tradition (Masechet Bava Batra 74b) is that the Jordan River flows from the Banias Cave. Today, the water does not flow directly from the cave. Some suggest that this is the result of earthquakes, which altered the course of the water. Another suggestion is that the Sages’ intent is that the origin of the river is near the cave. The Banias water is chilly year-round, due to the fact that its source is the melted snow of Mount Hermon.0
Within the Banias Nature Reserve, there are a number of hiking trails, one of which leads to the remains of the palace of King Agrippa II, which was built almost 2000 years ago.0
