Introduction:
Gilgal is a significant location in the biblical narrative, primarily in the Old Testament. It serves as a site of memorial, worship, and pivotal events in the history of Israel. The name "Gilgal" is thought to mean "circle of stones," which is fitting given its association with memorial stones and altars.

Biblical References and Significance:

1. Entry into the Promised Land:
Gilgal is first mentioned in the context of the Israelites' entry into the Promised Land. After crossing the Jordan River, Joshua set up twelve stones taken from the riverbed at Gilgal as a memorial to the miraculous crossing. This event is recorded in Joshua 4:19-20: "On the tenth day of the first month, the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. And there at Gilgal Joshua set up the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan."

2. Circumcision and Passover:
At Gilgal, the Israelites renewed their covenant with God through the rite of circumcision, as the new generation born in the wilderness had not been circumcised. This act is described in Joshua 5:2-9. Following this, they celebrated the Passover, marking their first observance of the feast in the Promised Land (Joshua 5:10-12).

3. Military Base:
Gilgal served as a strategic military base for Joshua and the Israelites during their conquest of Canaan. It was from Gilgal that Joshua launched several military campaigns, including the famous battle of Jericho (Joshua 6) and the southern campaign against the Amorite kings (Joshua 10:6-15).

4. Prophetic Activity:
Gilgal is also noted as a place of prophetic activity. It was one of the locations where Samuel judged Israel and where he anointed Saul as the first king of Israel (1 Samuel 11:14-15). The site is mentioned in the context of Samuel's rebuke of Saul for his disobedience (1 Samuel 15:12-23).

5. Religious Significance:
Over time, Gilgal became a center of religious activity, though not always in a positive sense. The prophets Hosea and Amos later condemned the idolatrous practices that took place there (Hosea 4:15; Amos 4:4). Despite its initial role as a place of covenant renewal, Gilgal's religious significance waned due to these practices.

6. Symbol of Renewal and Judgment:
Gilgal symbolizes both renewal and judgment. It was a place where Israel renewed its covenant with God, but it also became a symbol of Israel's failure to remain faithful. The dual nature of Gilgal serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience and faithfulness to God's commands.

Conclusion:
While Gilgal's role in Israel's history is multifaceted, it remains a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises and the importance of Israel's covenant relationship with Him. The events at Gilgal underscore the themes of remembrance, obedience, and the consequences of turning away from God.Gilgal

wheel; rolling; heap

Gilgal

(a wheel; rolling).

1. The site of the first camp of the Israelites on the west of the Jordan, the place at which they passed the first night after crossing the river, and where the twelve stones were set up which had been taken from the bed of the stream, (Joshua 4:19,20) comp. Josh 4:3 Where also they kept the first passover in the land of Canaan ch. (Joshua 5:10) It was "in the east border of Jericho," apparently on a hillock or rising ground, (Joshua 5:3) comp. Josh 5:9 In the Arboth-Jericho (Authorized Version "the plains"), that is, the hot depressed district of the Ghor which lay between the town and the Jordan. ch. (Joshua 5:10) Here Samuel was judge, and Saul was made king. We again have a glimpse of it, some sixty years later, in the history of David's return to Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 19:40) A Gilgal is spoken of in (Joshua 15:7) in describing the north border of Judah. In (Joshua 18:17) it is given as Geliloth. Gilgal near Jericho is doubtless intended.
2. In (2 Kings 2:1,2; 4:38) is named a Gilgal visited by Elijah and Elisha. This could not be the Gilgal of the low plain of the Jordan, for the prophets are said to have gone down to Bethel, which is 3000 feet above the plain. It haa been identified with Jiljilia , about four miles from Bethel and Shiloh respectively.
3. The "king of the nations of Gilgal" or rather perhaps the "king of Goim at Gilgal," is mentioned in the catalogue of the chiefs overthrown bv Joshua. (Joshua 12:23) Possibly the site of this place is marked by the modern village Jiljulieh , about four miles south of Antipatris, which lies 16 miles northeast of Joppa. But another Gilgal, under the slightly-different form of Kilkilieh , lies about two miles east of Antipatris.

Gilgal

A rolling,

1. A celebrated place between the Jordan and Jericho, where the Israelites first encamped, after the passage of that river; where also they were circumcised, and kept their first Passover in Canaan, Joshua 4:19 5:9,10. It continued to be the headquarters of the Israelites for several years, while Joshua was occupied in subduing the land, Joshua 9:6 10:6,15,43. A considerable city was afterwards built there, Joshua 15:7, which became famous for many events. Here the tabernacle rested, until its removal to Shiloh; here also, according to the prevalent opinion, Samuel offered sacrifices, and held his court as a judge of Israel; and here Saul was crowned, 1 Samuel 7:16 10:8 11:15 1 Samuel 13:7-9 15:33. A school of the prophets was established, 2 Kings 4:38; and yet it afterwards appears to have become a seat of idolatry, Hosea 4:15 9:15 12:11 Am 4:4 5:5. At this day, no traces of it are found. According to Josephus, it lay within two miles of Jericho.

2. Another Gilgol lay near Antipatris, Joshua 12:23 Nehemiah 12:29. And perhaps a third in the mountains of Ephraim, north of Bethel, De 11:30 2 Kings 2:1-6. There are not wanting those who would make the Gilgal near Antipatris the seat of Samuel's judgeship, and of one of the schools of the prophets.

Rolling.

(1.) From the solemn transaction of the reading of the law in the valley of Shechem between Ebal and Gerizim the Israelites moved forward to Gilgal, and there made a permanent camp (Joshua 9:6; 10:6). It was "beside the oaks of Moreh," near which Abraham erected his first altar (Genesis 12:6, 7). This was one of the three towns to which Samuel resorted for the administration of justice (1 Samuel 7:16), and here also he offered sacrifices when the ark was no longer in the tabernacle at Shiloh (1 Samuel 10:8; 13:7-9). To this place, as to a central sanctuary, all Israel gathered to renew their allegiance to Saul (11:14). At a later period it became the scene of idolatrous worship (Hosea 4:15; 9:15). It has been identified with the ruins of Jiljilieh, about 5 miles south-west of Shiloh and about the same distance from Bethel.

(2.) The place in "the plains of Jericho," "in the east border of Jericho," where the Israelites first encamped after crossing the Jordan (Joshua 4:19, 20). Here they kept their first Passover in the land of Canaan (5:10) and renewed the rite of circumcision, and so "rolled away the reproach" of their Egyptian slavery. Here the twelve memorial stones, taken from the bed of the Jordan, were set up; and here also the tabernacle remained till it was removed to Shiloh (18:1). It has been identified with Tell Jiljulieh, about 5 miles from Jordan.

(3.) A place, probably in the hill country of Ephraim, where there was a school of the prophets (2 Kings 4:38), and whence Elijah and Elisha, who resided here, "went down" to Bethel (2:1, 2). It is mentioned also in Deuteronomy 11:30. It is now known as Jiljilia, a place 8 miles north of Bethel.

GILGAL

gil'-gal (gilgal, "circle"; Galgala): The article is always with the name except in Joshua 5:9. There are three places to which the name is attached:

(1) The first camp of Israel after crossing the Jordan (Joshua 4:19; Joshua 5:9, 10; 9:06; 10:07; 14:06; 15:7 Deuteronomy 11:30). According to Joshua 15:7 it lay to the North of the valley of Achor, which formed the border between Judah and Benjamin. Here 12 memorial stones taken from the bed of the river were set up by Joshua, after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan; and here (Joshua 5:5) the people were circumcised preparatory to their possession of the land, when it is said in Joshua, with a play upon the word, "This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you." Whereupon the Passover was celebrated (Joshua 5:10) and the manna ceased (Joshua 5:12). To Gilgal the ark returned every day after having compassed the city of Jericho during its siege (Joshua 6:11). Hither the Gibeonites came to make their treaty (Joshua 9:3), and again (Joshua 10:6) to ask aid against the Amorites. Gilgal was still the headquarters of the Israelites after the battle with the Amorites (Joshua 10:15); again after Joshua's extensive victorious campaign in the hill country of Judea extending to Kadesh-barnea and Gaza (Joshua 10:15); and still later upon his return from the great battle at the Waters of Merom (Joshua 14:6). At the conclusion of the conquest (Joshua 18:1), the headquarters were transferred to Shiloh on the summit of the mountain ridge to the West.

Gilgal reappears frequently in subsequent history. Samuel (1 Samuel 7:16) made it one of the three places where he annually held circuit court, the other places being Bethel and Mizpah. The Septuagint text adds that these were holy places. The place continued as one of special resort for sacrifices (1 Samuel 10:8; 1 Samuel 13:8, 9, 10; 15:21), while it was here that Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the Lord (1 Samuel 15:33), and that Saul was both crowned (1 Samuel 11:14, 15) and rejected as king. It was at Gilgal, also (2 Samuel 19:15), that the people assembled to welcome David as he returned from his exile beyond Jordan during Absalom's rebellion. The early prophets refer to Gilgal as a center of idolatry in their day (Hosea 4:15; Hosea 9:15; Hosea 12:11 Amos 4:4; Amos 5:5). Micah (6:5) represents Gilgal as at the other end of the Dead Sea from Shittim.

In 1874 Conder recognized the name Gilgal as surviving in Barker Jiljuilieh, a pool beside a tamarisk tree 3 miles East of old Jericho. The pool measures 100 ft. by 84, and is surrounded with a wall of roughly hewn stones. North of the pool Bliss discovered lines of masonry 300 yds. long, representing probably the foundations of an ancient monastery. South of the pool there are numerous mounds scattered over an area of one-third of a square mile, the largest being 50 feet in diameter, and 10 feet in height. On excavation some pottery and glass were found. These ruins are probably those of early Christian occupation, and according to Conder there is nothing against their marking the original site. Up to the Middle Ages the 12 stones of Joshua were referred to by tradition.

(2) According to 2 Kings 2:1; 2 Kings 4:38, Elisha for a time made his headquarters at Gilgal, a place in the mountains not far from Bethel identified by Conder as Jiljilia, standing on a high hill on the North side of the Wady el-Jib. It is lower than Bethel, but the phrase in 2 Kings 2:2, "they went down to Beth-el," may refer to their initial descent into the wady. It could not have been said that they went down from Gilgal to Bethel in the Jordan valley. The place seems to be referred to in Nehemiah 12:29 as Beth-gilgal.

(3) Gilgal of the nations: In Joshua 12:23 Gilgal is mentioned as a royal city associated with Dor, evidently upon the maritime plain. Dor is identified with Tantura, while Conder identifies this Gilgal with Jiljuilieh, 30 miles South of Dor and 4 miles North of Anti-patris.

George Frederick Wright

1537. Gilgal -- "circle (of stones)," the name of several places ...
... Gilgal. 1538 . "circle (of stones)," the name of several places in Palestine.
Transliteration: Gilgal Phonetic Spelling: (ghil-gawl') Short Definition: Gilgal ...
/hebrew/1537.htm - 6k

1019. Beth Haggilgal -- "house of the Gilgal," a place in ...
... "house of the Gilgal," a place in Palestine. Transliteration: Beth Haggilgal Phonetic
Spelling: (bayth hag-gil gawl') Short Definition: Beth-gilgal. ...
/hebrew/1019.htm - 6k

1536. gilgal -- a wheel
... 1535, 1536. gilgal. 1537 . a wheel. Transliteration: gilgal Phonetic Spelling:
(ghil-gawl') Short Definition: wheel. ... 1535, 1536. gilgal. 1537 . ...
/hebrew/1536.htm - 6k

1472b. Goyim -- a kingdom N.East of Bab., probably also a place in ...
... 1472a, 1472b. Goyim. 1473 . a kingdom N.East of Bab., probably also a place
in Gilgal. Transliteration: Goyim Short Definition: Goiim. ...
/hebrew/1472b.htm - 5k

Gilgal, in Deuteronomy 11:30 what the Place Was.
... A Chorographical Century. Chapters 81-90 Chapter 88 Gilgal, in Deuteronomy
11:30: what the place was. That which is said by Moses ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 88 gilgal in deuteronomy.htm

Some Miscellaneous Matters Belonging to the Country About Jericho.
... From Jordan to Gilgal were fifty furlongs (six miles and a quarter). Therefore
the whole journey of that day, from Abel to Gilgal ...
/.../from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 48 some miscellaneous matters.htm

The Chariot of Fire
... 'And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind,
that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.2. And Elijah said unto Elisha ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the chariot of fire.htm

How the Philistines Made Another Expedition against the Hebrews ...
... his son, to be the guards of his body; and sent him to Gibeah, where he besieged
and took a certain garrison of the Philistines, not far from Gilgal; for the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 how the philistines.htm

The Sins of Society
... 'For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye Me, and ye shall live:
5. But seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the sins of society.htm

Saul Rejected
... the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set
him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.13. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/saul rejected.htm

Stones Crying Out
... And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month,
and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.80. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/stones crying out.htm

The Trial of Saul.
... to him. They came together to him at Gilgal. And the Philistines came
with their great host, and pitched over against him. Thus ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon iii the trial of.htm

A Summary of Israel's Faithlessness and God's Patience
... THE BOOK OF JUDGES A SUMMARY OF ISRAEL'S FAITHLESSNESS AND GOD'S PATIENCE. 'And
an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a summary of israels faithlessness.htm

Book 5 Footnotes
... Accordingly, this Valley of Achar, or Achor, was and is a known place, a little
north of Gilgal, so called from the days of Joshua till this day. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 5 footnotes.htm

Gilgal (39 Occurrences)
... (1.) From the solemn transaction of the reading of the law in the valley of Shechem
between Ebal and Gerizim the Israelites moved forward to Gilgal, and there ...
/g/gilgal.htm - 27k

Beth-gilgal (1 Occurrence)
Beth-gilgal. Bethgilgal, Beth-gilgal. Bethhaccerem . Easton's Bible Dictionary ...
(see GILGAL.). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BETH-GILGAL. ...
/b/beth-gilgal.htm - 7k

Bethgilgal
... House of Gilgal, a place from which the inhabitants gathered for the purpose of
celebrating the rebuilding of the walls on the return exile (Nehemiah 12:29). ...
/b/bethgilgal.htm - 7k

Quarries (4 Occurrences)
... (2.) The "quarries" (Hebrews pesilim) by Gilgal (Judges 3:19), from which Ehud turned
back for the purpose of carrying out his design to put Eglon king of Moab ...
/q/quarries.htm - 11k

Anem (1 Occurrence)
... 5: Alarm excited among the kings on the West of Jordan by the news of the successful
crossing of the river (5:1); circumcision of the people at Gilgal (5:2-9 ...
/a/anem.htm - 101k

Galgala
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia GALGALA. gal'-gal-a (Gallgala): Greek equivalent
for Gilgal. ... Compare Josephus, Ant, XII, xi, 1 see GILGAL. ...
/g/galgala.htm - 6k

Bochim (2 Occurrences)
... This caused them bitterly to weep, and hence the name of the place (Judges 2:1,
5). It lay probably at the head of one of the valleys between Gilgal and Shiloh ...
/b/bochim.htm - 7k

Tent-circle (45 Occurrences)
... Joshua 9:6 And they came to Joshua to the tent-circle at Gilgal, and said to him
and to the men of Israel, We have come from a far country: so now make an ...
/t/tent-circle.htm - 20k

Geliloth (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Circles; regions, a place in the border of Benjamin (Joshua
18:17); called Gilgal in 15:7. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GELILOTH. ...
/g/geliloth.htm - 8k

Gallim (2 Occurrences)
... It was the home of Palti the son of Laish (1 Samuel 25:44), and it is by many
authorities identified with the Gilgal on the North border of Judah (Joshua 15:7 ...
/g/gallim.htm - 8k

What is the significance of Shittim in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Gibeonites? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Saul in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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