Aijalon

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Aij'alon. (Place Of Gazelles).

1. A city of the Kohathites.  Joshua 21:24;  1 Chronicles 6:69. It was a Levitical city and a city of refuge. It was originally allotted to the tribe of Dan,  Joshua 19:42, Authorized Version, Ajalon , which tribe, however, was unable to dispossess the Amorites of the place.  Judges 1:35.

Aijalon was one of the towns fortified by Reheboam,  2 Chronicles 11:10, and the last we hear of it is being in the hands of the Philistines.  2 Chronicles 28:18. Being on the very frontier of the two kingdoms, we can understand how Aijalon should be spoken of sometimes,  1 Chronicles 6:69, compare with  1 Chronicles 6:66, as in Ephraim and sometimes,  2 Chronicles 11:10;  1 Samuel 14:31, as in Judah and Benjamin. It is represented by the modern Yalo , a little to the north of the Jaffa road, about 14 miles out of Jerusalem.

2. A broad and beautiful valley near the city of Aijalon over which Joshua commanded the moon to stand still during the pursuit after the battle of Gibeon.  Joshua 10:12.

3. A place in Zebulon, mentioned as the burial-place of Elon, one of the Judges.  Judges 12:12.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

(AIJALON or AJALON, "a place of gazelles" ( Joshua 19:42;  Joshua 21:24).

1. Originally of Dan; which tribe, however, could not dispossess the Amorites ( Judges 1:35). Assigned to the Levite Kohathites, among the 48 Levitical cities ( 1 Chronicles 6:69). Fortified by Rehoboam of Judah, in his war with Israel, the northern kingdom, though sometimes, as being a border city, mentioned as in Ephraim ( 2 Chronicles 11:10;  2 Chronicles 28:18). Taken by the Philistines from the weak Ahaz ( 1 Chronicles 6:66;  1 Chronicles 6:69). Now Yalo, N. of the Jaffa road, 14 miles from Jerusalem, on the hill side, bounding on the S. the valley Merj-ibn-Omeir. Alluded to in the memorable apostrophe of Joshua, "Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou moon in the valley of Ajalon" ( Joshua 10:12).

2. The burial place of the judge ( Judges 12:12) Elon in Zebulun.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

AIJALON . 1 . A city allotted to, but not occupied by, Dan (  Joshua 19:42 ,   Judges 1:35 ). We find it in the hands of Rehoboam (  2 Chronicles 11:10 ); later the Philistines took it (  2 Chronicles 28:18 ). It may be the modern Yâlo , 3 miles N.E. of Latrûn , 14 miles from Jerusalem. 2 . An unknown town in Zebulun (  Judges 12:12 ).

W. Ewing.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Joshua 10:12 Joshua 19:42 Judges 18:1 Joshua 21:24 Judges 1:34-35 1 Samuel 14:31 1 Chronicles 8:13 2 Chronicles 11:10 Judges 12:12

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

a city of the Canaanites; the valley adjoining to which is memorable in sacred history from the miracle of Joshua, in arresting the course of the sun and moon, that the Israelites might have sufficient light to pursue their enemies,  Joshua 10:12-13 . Aijalon was afterward a Levitical city, and belonged to the tribe of Dan; who did not, however, drive out the Amorite inhabitants,  Judges 1:35 .

Morrish Bible Dictionary

See AJALON.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ā´ja - lon ( איּלון , 'ayyālōn , "deerplace"; the King James Version, Ajalon (  Joshua 10:12 )):

(1) The name of a town allotted to the tribe of Dan ( Joshua 19:42 ), which was also designated a Levitical city ( Joshua 21:24 ), which fell to the Sons of Kohath ( 1 Chronicles 6:69 ). The first mention of Aijalon is in the narrative of Joshua's defeat of the five Amorite kings: "thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon" ( Joshua 10:12 ). The Danites failed to take it from the Amorites ( Judges 1:35 ), although the men of Ephraim held it in vassalage. Here Saul and Jonathan won a great victory over the Philistines ( 1 Samuel 14:31 ). At one time it was held by the tribe of Benjamin ( 1 Chronicles 8:13 ). Rehoboam fortified it against the kingdom of Israel ( 2 Chronicles 11:10 ). In the days of King Ahaz it was captured by the Philistines ( 2 Chronicles 28:18 ). It has been identified with the modern Yalo; its antiquity goes back to Tell el-Amarna Letters , in which it has mention. It Is situated Northwest of Jerusalem in a valley of the same name, which leads down from the mountains to the sea.

(2) A town in the tribe of Zebulun, site unknown, where Elon the judge was buried ( Judges 12:12 ).