Biblical History
Edrei, the modern city of Daraa in southern Syria, was one of two royal cities of Og, king of Bashan, and the site of a decisive battle in Israel's wilderness journey. Numbers 21:33–35 records that when Israel advanced from the south, Og came out to meet them at Edrei in battle. The Lord reassured Moses, "Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand" (Numbers 21:34), and Israel utterly defeated Og and his people, taking possession of his land. This victory was so significant that it was retold in Deuteronomy 1:4, 3:1–13, and later rehearsed in Psalms 135 and 136 as evidence of God's faithfulness in giving Israel the land east of the Jordan. Edrei subsequently became part of the tribal territory of Manasseh (Joshua 13:12, 31). The defeat of Og, described as the last of the Rephaim, a giant whose iron bed measured nine cubits in length, entered Israel's cultural memory as proof that no earthly power could withstand the God who fought for his people.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Daraa (ancient Edrei) in modern Syria has been occupied continuously from antiquity to the present, which limits systematic archaeological excavation. The city is notable for its remarkable underground city, a labyrinthine network of basalt-hewn tunnels, rooms, and streets that extends beneath the modern town, representing one of the most extensive ancient subterranean complexes in the Near East. Surface finds and limited excavations have confirmed occupation during the Bronze and Iron Ages, consistent with its biblical role as a Bashan capital. Roman-period remains are also substantial. The site's volcanic basalt geology shapes its distinctive architectural character and has contributed to its remarkably long period of habitation.
Verse Appearances (7)
References
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- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Lawrence, D. et al. (2025) Villages to Empires: a settlement dataset for the Southern Levant. doi:10.5281/zenodo.15111732. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]