Difference between revisions of "Gilgal"

<p> &nbsp;1. Hebrew: "the Gilgal," i.e. rolling. Israel's first encampment W. of Jordan (five miles) where they passed their first night after crossing, and set up the twelve stones taken from the river bed (&nbsp;Joshua 4:3; &nbsp;Joshua 4:19-20). Here they kept the first Passoverin Canaan (&nbsp;Joshua 5:10). On arising ground ("hill," &nbsp;Joshua 5:3; &nbsp;Joshua 5:9) in the hot sunken Ghor between [[Jericho]] and the Jordan, one mile and a half E. of Jericho; five miles and a half W. of Jordan (Josephus, Ant. 5:1, 4, 11). On the N. side of wady Kelt, one mile and a third from the tower of modern Jericho (Eriha); toward the E. is a tamarisk, "Shejaret el Ithleh," which tradition makes the site of "the city of brass," whose walls fell on their besiegers marching round them. A pool is 150 yards S.E. of the tree, such as Israel would need in their long encampment at Gilgal; it is built with well packed pebbles without cement. </p> <p> S.E. of this are twelve or more small mounds, Tell ayla't Jiljulieh, eight or ten ft. diameter, and three or four high, possibly remains of Israel's camp (Conder, [[Palestine]] Exploration). The distances stated by [[Josephus]] accord with this site. The [[Israelites]] born in the wilderness were here circumcised with stone knives (&nbsp;Joshua 5:2 margin; &nbsp;Exodus 4:25), which "rolling" away of the reproach of uncircumcision gave the name. The sons under 20 years, when at [[Kadesh]] in the second year of the wilderness journey the murmuring nation was rejected (Numbers 14), had been already circumcised; those born subsequently needed circumcision. As God abrogated at Kadesh the covenant, the sons of the rejected generation were not to receive the covenant rite. The manna and pillar of cloud were not withdrawn, because God would sustain the rising generation with the prospect of the ban being removed, and of the covenant temporarily suspended being renewed. </p> <p> The sentence was exhausted when they crossed the [[Zered]] and entered the Amorites' land (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 2:14; &nbsp;Numbers 21:12-13), when all the sentenced generation was dead (&nbsp;Numbers 26:63-65). Moses, himself under sentence to die, did not venture on the steppes of [[Moab]] to direct the circumcision of the younger generation without Jehovah's command. And the rule of divine grace is first to give, then to require; so first He showed His grace to [[Abraham]] by leading him to Canaan and giving the promises, then enjoined circumcision; also He did not give the law to Israel at [[Sinai]] until first He had redeemed them from Egypt, and thereby made them willing to promise obedience. So now He did not require the renewal of circumcision, the covenant sign of subjection to the law (&nbsp;Galatians 5:3), until He had first showed His grace in giving them victory over [[Og]] and Sihon, and in making a way through Jordan, a pledge that He would fulfill all His promises and finally give them the whole land. </p> <p> The circumcision was performed the day after crossing Jordan, i.e. the 11th day of the first month (&nbsp;Galatians 4:19). The [[Passover]] was kept on the 14th (verse 10). The objection that all could not have been circumcised in one day is futile. For the males in Israel at the census in Moab shortly before were 601,730 upward of 20 years old, besides 23,000 [[Levites]] of a month old and upward; at the outside all the males would be less than one million. Of these about 300,000 were 38 years old, therefore born before the census at Kadesh and circumcised already; so that only 600,000 would remain to be circumcised. The uncircumcised could easily be circumcised in one day with the help of the circumcised; the latter would prepare and kill the Passover lamb for their brethren whose soreness (&nbsp;Genesis 34:25) would be no bar to their joining in the feast. </p> <p> The "reproach of [[Egypt]] rolled off" is (like "the reproach of Moab" &nbsp;Zephaniah 2:8, and "Syria" &nbsp;Ezekiel 16:57) that heaped on Israel by Egypt, namely, that [[Jehovah]] had brought them into the wilderness to slay them (&nbsp;Exodus 32:12; &nbsp;Numbers 14:13-16; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 9:28). This "reproach of Egypt" rested on them so long as they were under the sentence of wandering and dying in the desert. The circumcision at Gilgal was a practical restoration of the covenant, and a pledge of their now receiving Canaan. No village was, or is, at Gilgal. In &nbsp;Micah 6:5, "O My people, remember ... what [[Balak]] ... consulted, and what [[Balaam]] ... answered ... from [[Shittim]] unto Gilgal," the sense is, [[Remember]] My kindness from Shittim. the scene of Balaam's wicked counsel taking effect in Israel's sin, from the fatal effects of which I saved thee, all along to Gilgal where I renewed the covenant with Israel by circumcision (&nbsp;2 Samuel 19:15). </p> <p> &nbsp;2. Gilgal from which [[Elijah]] and [[Elisha]] went down to [[Bethel]] (&nbsp;2 Kings 2:1-2). [[Clearly]] distinct from: </p> <p> &nbsp;3. Gilgal, which is below in the Ghor along Jordan, not above Bethel, which is 1,000 ft. above Jordan. Now perhaps the ruins Jiljilieh, a few miles N. of Bethel. Another Gilgal has been found four miles from Shiloh, and five from Bethel, which is 500 ft. lower; this may be the Gilgal of &nbsp;2 Kings 2:3. Gilgal not far from Shechem, beside the plains of [[Moreh]] (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 11:30). &nbsp;Joshua 12:23, "king of the nations (&nbsp;goim ) of Gilgal," i.e. of the nomadic tribes, the aboriginal inhabitants of the country whose center was Gilgal. </p> <p> &nbsp;4. To the N. of [[Judah]] (&nbsp;Joshua 15:7). (See &nbsp;GELILOTH.) </p>

<p> 1. Place west of the Jordan, 'in the east border of Jericho,' where the Israelites encamped after passing the river. Here the twelve memorial stones were placed that were taken out of Jordan. Here the Israelites were circumcised: type of the putting off the body of the flesh; that is, of separation from the system in which man in the flesh lives: cf. &nbsp;Colossians 3:3-5 . Here the reproach of Egypt was 'rolled away' (from which the name of the place was called 'Gilgal'), and they had communion figuratively with the death of Christ in the Passover. On the next day they ate of the old corn of the promised land: type of Christ being the centre of heavenly things on which the [[Christian]] feeds. &nbsp;Joshua 4:19,20; &nbsp;Joshua 5:2-11 . Gilgal was not only the starting point in taking possession of the land, but the place to which Joshua returned again and again: it was the place of strength. &nbsp;Joshua 9:6; &nbsp;Joshua 10:6-15; &nbsp;Joshua 14:6 . It was here that Saul was made king, &nbsp;1 Samuel 11:14,15; and here he offered sacrifices, and Samuel hewed [[Agag]] in pieces. &nbsp;1 Samuel 13:4-15; &nbsp;1 Samuel 15:12,21,33 . </p> <p> When David returned after the overthrow and death of Absalom, Judah gathered at Gilgal. to meet the king and conduct him over Jordan. &nbsp;2 Samuel 19:15 . In the days of [[Jeroboam]] Gilgal was defiled with idolatry. &nbsp;Hosea 4:15; &nbsp;Hosea 9:15; &nbsp;Amos 4:4 . Gilgal which signifies 'rolled away' should be itself 'rolled away.' &nbsp;Amos 5:5 . In &nbsp;Joshua 15:7 the border of Judah's portion 'looked toward' Gilgal, which well agrees with its being near Jericho. But in &nbsp; Joshua 18:17 the same place is called GELILOTH, which cannot be traced. Gilgal is identified with <i> Jiljulieh, </i> 32 10' N, 34 57' E . </p> <p> &nbsp;4. In &nbsp; Deuteronomy 11:30 Moses, speaking of the mounts of [[Gerizim]] and Ebal, asks "Are they not . . . . in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh?" This does not at all agree with any of the above, but has not been identified with any place in the neighbourhood of the two mountains. </p>

<p> &nbsp;Gilgal (&nbsp;gĭ&nbsp;l'găl), &nbsp;rolling. I. The name of the first station of the Israelites after crossing the Jordan, &nbsp;Joshua 4:19-20, where the twelve stones were set up, and the tabernacle remained until removed to Shiloh. &nbsp;Joshua 18:1. Samuel judged, and Saul was made king there; &nbsp;1 Samuel 7:16; &nbsp;1 Samuel 10:8; &nbsp;1 Samuel 11:14-15; at Gilgal the people gathered for war; there Agag was hewn in pieces. &nbsp;1 Samuel 13:4-7; &nbsp;1 Samuel 15:33. Gilgal is not named in the New Testament. Josephus places this Gilgal 10 furlongs from Jericho and 50 from the Jordan: [[Jerome]] had it pointed out 2 miles from Jericho. 2. The Gitgal in Elijah's time was above Bethel, since the prophet "went down" from that Gilgal to Bethel. &nbsp;2 Kings 2:2. As Bethel is 3300 feet above the Jordan plain, it must have been a Gilgal not in that plain, It has been identified with Jiljilia, 8 miles north of Bethel, where the school of the prophets was probably established. 3. Gilgal of &nbsp;Joshua 12:23 is supposed to be at a Jiljûlieh, near Antipatris, in the plain of Sharon. </p>

<li> A place, probably in the hill country of Ephraim, where there was a school of the prophets (&nbsp;2 Kings 4:38 ), and whence Elijah and Elisha, who resided here, "went down" to Bethel (2:1,2). It is mentioned also in &nbsp;Deuteronomy 11:30 . It is now known as Jiljilia, a place 8 miles north of Bethel. <div> <p> &nbsp;Copyright StatementThese dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> &nbsp;Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. Entry for 'Gilgal'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/g/gilgal.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>

<p> ''''' gil´gal ''''' (&nbsp; גּלגּל , <i> ''''' gilgāl ''''' </i> , "circle"; &nbsp; Γάλγαλα , <i> ''''' Gálgala ''''' </i> ): The article is always with the name except in &nbsp; Joshua 5:9 . There are three places to which the name is attached: </p> <p> (1) The first camp of Israel after crossing the Jordan (&nbsp;Joshua 4:19; &nbsp;Joshua 5:9 , &nbsp;Joshua 5:10; &nbsp;Joshua 9:6; &nbsp;Joshua 10:7; &nbsp;Joshua 14:6; &nbsp;Joshua 15:7; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 11:30 ). According to &nbsp;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 (&nbsp; Joshua 5:5 ) the people were circumcised preparatory to their possession of the land, when it is said in Josh, with a play upon the word, "This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you." [[Whereupon]] the Passover was celebrated (&nbsp;Joshua 5:10 ) and the manna ceased (&nbsp;Joshua 5:12 ). To Gilgal the ark returned every day after having compassed the city of Jericho during its siege (&nbsp;Joshua 6:11 ). [[Hither]] the [[Gibeonites]] came to make their treaty (&nbsp;Joshua 9:3 ), and again (&nbsp;Joshua 10:6 ) to ask aid against the Amorites. Gilgal was still the headquarters of the Israelites after the battle with the [[Amorites]] (&nbsp;Joshua 10:15 ); again after Joshua's extensive victorious campaign in the hill country of [[Judea]] extending to Kadesh-barnea and [[Gaza]] (&nbsp;Joshua 10:15 ); and still later upon his return from the great battle at the [[Waters]] of Merom (&nbsp;Joshua 14:6 ). At the conclusion of the conquest (&nbsp;Joshua 18:1 ), the headquarters were transferred to [[Shiloh]] on the summit of the mountain ridge to the West. </p> <p> Gilgal reappears frequently in subsequent history. Samuel (&nbsp;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 (&nbsp;1 Samuel 10:8; &nbsp;1 Samuel 13:8 , &nbsp;1 Samuel 13:9 , &nbsp;1 Samuel 13:10; &nbsp;1 Samuel 15:21 ), while it was here that Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the Lord (&nbsp;1 Samuel 15:33 ), and that Saul was both crowned (&nbsp;1 Samuel 11:14 , &nbsp;1 Samuel 11:15 ) and rejected as king. It was at Gilgal, also (&nbsp;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 (&nbsp;Hosea 4:15; &nbsp;Hosea 9:15; &nbsp;Hosea 12:11; &nbsp;Amos 4:4; &nbsp;Amos 5:5 ). Micah (&nbsp;Micah 6:5 ) represents Gilgal as at the other end of the [[Dead]] Sea from Shittim. </p> <p> In 1874 Conder recognized the name Gilgal as surviving in <i> ''''' Birket Jiljúlieh ''''' </i> , 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. </p> <p> (2) According to &nbsp;2 Kings 2:1; &nbsp;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 <i> '''''Jiljilia''''' </i> , standing on a high hill on the North side of the <i> '''''Wādy el''''' </i> - <i> '''''Jib''''' </i> . It is lower than Bethel, but the phrase in &nbsp;2 Kings 2:2 , "they went down to Beth-el," may refer to their initial descent into the <i> '''''wādy''''' </i> . It could not have been said that they went <i> down </i> from Gilgal to Bethel in the Jordan valley. The place seems to be referred to in &nbsp; Nehemiah 12:29 as Beth-gilgal. </p> <p> (3) Gilgal of the nations: In &nbsp;Joshua 12:23 Gilgal is mentioned as a royal city associated with Dor, evidently upon the maritime plain. Dor is identified with <i> '''''Tantura''''' </i> , while Conder identifies this Gilgal with <i> '''''Jiljúlieh''''' </i> , 30 miles South of Dor and 4 miles North of Anti-patris. </p>

<p> &nbsp;Bibliography InformationMcClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Gilgal'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and [[Ecclesiastical]] Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/g/gilgal.html. [[Harper]] & Brothers. New York. 1870. </p>