Bible Dictionaries
Trachonitis

Holman Bible Dictionary

(trak uh ni' tihss) Place name meaning “heap of stones.” A political and geographic district in northern Palestine on the east side of the Jordan River (Luke 3:1 ). Its terrain was rugged and best suited to raising sheep and goats. The area was almost totally devoid of timber. During John the Baptist's ministry Trachonitis was ruled by Philip, the brother of Herod Antipas. Known as Bashan in the Old Testament (Amos 4:1 ), it was just south of Damascus. See Bashan; Herods; Philip .