Golan/Golan Heights is a strategic plateau and mountainous region straddling the borders of Israel, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. It is a prized piece of real estate covering approx-imately 690 highly contested square miles.
The term Golan/Golan Heights has two separate meanings, geographical and political. The Golan refers to the geo-graphical region situated south of Mt. Hermon and extends west toward Lebanon, southwest toward Israel and southeast toward Jordan. The political term Golan Heights has become the dominant name of the region since Israel captured the land in the 1967 Six Day War.
In biblical times the area was referred to as Bashan. The term Golan apparently derives its name from the biblical city in that region Golan in Basha. (Deut. 4.43; Joshua 21.27) The region was distributed to the tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 13.29-31).
The biblical record also shows this area to be a highly contested piece of real estate between Israel and the Aramean kingdom based in Damascus. King Ahab (who reigned circa 874-852 B.C.) defeated Ben-Hadad I in southern Golan. (1st Kings 20.26-30) Later, Elisha prophesied that Israel’s King, Jehoash (who reigned circa 801-785 B.C.), would defeat Ben-Hadad III of Damascus. This also happened in southern Golan. (2nd Kings 13.17)
After 70 years of captivity to Babylon, many returning Jews settled in the Golan region. In the mid 2nd century B.C., Judah Maccabee and his brothers aided local Jewish communities that had been attacked by their non-Jewish neighbors. (1st Maccabees 5) The Hasmonean King Alexander Jannai (who reigned circa 103-76 B.C.), grand-nephew of Judah Maccabee, added the Golan to his kingdom.
The Greeks referred to this area as Gaulanitis, a term adopted by the Romans, and shortened to the word Gaulan—Golan. Gamla is the main city of Golan. It was the last Jewish stronghold against the Romans in the area. The Romans defeated the resistance and the city fell in 67 A.D. (see The Jewish Wars, Josephus, chapter 13)
Today, I liken the (geographical) Golan to Napa Valley, California. The area is noted for its wine production and has many world-class wineries.
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