Halhul

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Joshua 15:582 Samuel 24:11

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

A town in the Judah mountains. The hill is still so named, with ruins of walls and foundations, a mile to the left of the road from Jerusalem to Hebron, four miles front the latter. A mosque stands there, named Nebi Yunus, the prophet Jonah (Joshua 15:58). Close to Beitsur (Bethzur) and Jedur (Gedor).

Holman Bible Dictionary

Joshua 15:58

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

HALHUL . A city of Judah ( Joshua 15:58 ). It is the modern Halhul , a large village 4 miles north of Hebron.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

City in the highlands of Judah. Joshua 15:58 . Identified with Hulhul, 31 35' N, 35 6' E .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Hal'hul. (trembling). A town of Judah in the mountain district. Joshua 16:68. The name still remains unaltered, attached to a conspicuous hill a mile to the left of the road from Jerusalem to Hebron, between three and four miles from the latter.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hal´hul ( חלחוּל , ḥalḥūl ): A city in the hill country of Judah ( Joshua 15:58 ), "Halhul, Beth-zur and Gedor." It is without doubt the modern Ḥalḥūl , a village on a hill, surrounded by fine fields and vineyards, some 4 miles North of Hebron and less than a mile to the East of the modern carriage road. It is conspicuous from a considerable distance on account of its ancient mosque, Wely Nebi Yûnas , the "shrine of the Prophet Jonah" - a tradition going back at least to the 14th century. The mosque, which has a minaret or tower, is built upon a rock platform artificially leveled. In the 14th century it was stated by Isaac Chilo (a Jewish pilgrim) that the tomb of Gad the Seer (1 Samuel 22:5; 2 Samuel 24:11 f) was situated in this town. Beth-zur ( Beit Sûr ) and Gedor ( Jedûr ) are both near. In Josephus ( BJ , IV, ix, 6) we read of an Alurus (where the Idumeans assembled), and in Jerome (OS 119 7) of a village Alula near Hebron, which both probably refer to the same place ( PEF , III, 305; Sh Xxi ).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Chalchul', חִלַחוּל, etymol. doubtful, but, according to Fü rst, full of hollows; Sept. Ἀλοὐλ . r. Αἰλουά), a town in the highlands of Judah, mentioned in the fourth group of six north of Hebron (Keil, Joshua p. 387), among them Beth-zur and Gedor (Joshua 15:58). Jerome (Onomast. s.v. Elul) says it existed in his time near Hebron as a small village ("vilula") by the name of Alta. Dr. Robinson found it in the modern Hulhul, a short distance north of Hebron, consisting of a ruined mosque (called Neby Yunas or "Prophet Jonah") upon a long hill, surrounded by the remains of ancient walls and foundations (Researches, 1, 319). During his last visit to Palestine he visited it again, and describes it as situated high on the eastern brow of the ridge, the head town of the district, inhabited by an uncivil people; the environs are thrifty and well cultivated. The old mosque is a poor structure, but has a minaret (new ed. of Researches, 3, 281). Schwarz also identifies it with this village on a mount, 5 Eng. miles north-east of Hebron" (Palestine, p. 107). So likewise De Saulcy (Dead Sea, i, 451). The hill is quite a Conspicuous one, half a mile to the left of the road from Jerusalem to Hebron, the village somewhat at its eastern foot, while opposite it, on the other side of the road, is Best-stir, the modern representative of Beth-zur, and a little further to the north is Jedfir, the ancient Gedor. In Jewish tradition quoted by Hottinger (Cippi Hebraicae p. 38), and reported by an old Hebrew traveler (Jo. Chel, 1334; see Carmody, Itin. Hebrew, p. 242), it is said to be the burial-place of (ad, David's seer (2 Samuel 24:11). Hence it was for a time a place of Jewish pilgrimage (Wilson, Lands of Bible, 1, 384). See also the citations of Zunz in Asher's Betj. of Tudela (2, 437, note). (See Chellus).