Reference: Gilgal
American
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, Jos 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, Jos 9:6; 10:6,15,43. A considerable city was afterwards built there, Jos 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, 1Sa 7:16; 10:8; 11:15; 1Sa 13:7-9; 15:33. A school of the prophets was established, 2Ki 4:38; and yet it afterwards appears to have become a seat of idolatry, Ho 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, Jos 12:23; Ne 12:29. And perhaps a third in the mountains of Ephraim, north of Bethel, De 11:30; 2Ki 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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Are, they, not over the Jordan on the way towards the entering in of the sun, in the land of the Canaanite who dwelleth in the plain over against Gilgal beside the Teacher's Terebinths?
So, the people, came up out of the Jordan, on the tenth of the first month, - and encamped in Gilgal, at the eastern end of Jericho.
Then said Yahweh unto Joshua, To-day, have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of that place is called Gilgal unto this day. Thus then the sons of Israel encamped in Gilgal, - and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, in the waste plains of Jericho.
So they took their journey unto Joshua, unto the camp, at Gilgal, - and said unto him, and unto the men of Israel, From a far country, are we come, Now, therefore, solemnise with us a covenant.
So the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua, unto the camp at Gilgal, saying, Do not withhold thy hand from thy servants, - Come up unto us quickly, and save us, and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill-country, are gathered together against us.
and the boundary goeth up towards Debir, out of the vale of Achor, then northward, turning unto Gilgal, which is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the ravine, - then the boundary passeth over unto the waters of En-shemesh, and so the extensions thereof are unto En-rogel:
And he used to take his journey, from year to year, and go round to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpah, - and used to judge Israel, at all these places.
And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal, for lo! I am coming down unto thee, to offer up ascending-offerings, to sacrifice peace-offerings, - seven days, shalt thou tarry, until I come unto thee, then will I let thee know what thou shalt do.
So all the people went to Gilgal, and made Saul king there, before Yahweh, in Gilgal, and offered there sacrifices of peace-offerings before Yahweh, - and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced there, exceedingly.
Now, Elisha, returned to Gilgal, and there was, a famine, in the land, and, the sons of the prophets, being seated before him, he said to his young man - Put on the large pot, and boil a mess of food, for the sons of the prophets.
also out of Beth-gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba, and Azmaveth, - for, villages, had the singers builded for themselves, round about Jerusalem.
Though unchaste art thou, O Israel, let not Judah, become guilty, neither let them enter Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, and then swear, By the life of Yahweh!
All their wickedness, is in Gilgal, yea, there, have I come to hate them, For the wickedness of their doings - out of my house, will I drive them forth, - no more will I love them, all their rulers, are unruly.
If, Gilead, is in sorrow, surely false, have they been, In Gilgal, have they sacrificed, bullocks, - their very altars, shall become as heaps upon the furrows of the field.
Enter ye Bethel, and transgress, At Gilgal, cause transgression, to abound, - Yea, carry in, every morning, your sacrifices, every three days, your tithes;
Then do not seek Bethel, and, Gilgal, shall ye not enter, and, unto Beer-sheba, shall ye not cross over, For, Gilgal, shall, surely go into exile, and, Bethel, shall become a trouble.
Easton
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 (Jos 9:6; 10:6). It was "beside the oaks of Moreh," near which Abraham erected his first altar (Ge 12:6-7). This was one of the three towns to which Samuel resorted for the administration of justice (1Sa 7:16), and here also he offered sacrifices when the ark was no longer in the tabernacle at Shiloh (1Sa 10:8; 13:7-9). To this place, as to a central sanctuary, all Israel gathered to renew their allegiance to Saul (1Sa 11:14). At a later period it became the scene of idolatrous worship (Ho 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 (Jos 4:19-20). Here they kept their first Passover in the land of Canaan (Jos 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 (Jos 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 (2Ki 4:38), and whence Elijah and Elisha, who resided here, "went down" to Bethel (2Ki 2:1-2). It is mentioned also in DE 11:30. It is now known as Jiljilia, a place 8 miles north of Bethel.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Abram passed along throughout the land, as far as the place of Shechem as far as the Teacher's Terebinth, the Canaanite being then in the land. And Yahweh appeared unto Abram, and said: To thy seed, will I give this land, - And he built there an altar, unto Yahweh who appeared unto him.
So, the people, came up out of the Jordan, on the tenth of the first month, - and encamped in Gilgal, at the eastern end of Jericho. And, these twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, did Joshua set up, in Gilgal.
Thus then the sons of Israel encamped in Gilgal, - and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, in the waste plains of Jericho.
So they took their journey unto Joshua, unto the camp, at Gilgal, - and said unto him, and unto the men of Israel, From a far country, are we come, Now, therefore, solemnise with us a covenant.
So the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua, unto the camp at Gilgal, saying, Do not withhold thy hand from thy servants, - Come up unto us quickly, and save us, and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill-country, are gathered together against us.
Then were gathered together all the assembly of the sons of Israel at Shiloh, and they set up there, the tent of meeting, - the land, having been subdued before them.
And he used to take his journey, from year to year, and go round to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpah, - and used to judge Israel, at all these places.
And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal, for lo! I am coming down unto thee, to offer up ascending-offerings, to sacrifice peace-offerings, - seven days, shalt thou tarry, until I come unto thee, then will I let thee know what thou shalt do.
Then said Samuel unto the people, Come and let us go to Gilgal, - and let us there renew the kingdom.
And, Hebrews, had passed over the Jordan, to the land of Gad, and Gilead, - but, Saul, was yet in Gilgal, and all the people, trembled after him. And he waited seven days, by the set time that Samuel had named, but Samuel came not to Gilgal, - and the people were scattered from him. read more. Then said Saul, Bring near unto me, the ascending-sacrifice and the peace-offerings. And he offered up the ascending-sacrifice.
And it came to pass, when Yahweh was about to take up Elijah in a storm into the heavens, that Elijah departed, with Elisha, from Gilgal. Then said Elijah unto Elisha - Tarry here, I pray thee, for, Yahweh, hath sent me as far as Bethel. And Elisha said, By the life of Yahweh and by the life of thine own soul, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
Now, Elisha, returned to Gilgal, and there was, a famine, in the land, and, the sons of the prophets, being seated before him, he said to his young man - Put on the large pot, and boil a mess of food, for the sons of the prophets.
Though unchaste art thou, O Israel, let not Judah, become guilty, neither let them enter Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, and then swear, By the life of Yahweh!
All their wickedness, is in Gilgal, yea, there, have I come to hate them, For the wickedness of their doings - out of my house, will I drive them forth, - no more will I love them, all their rulers, are unruly.
Fausets
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 (Jos 4:3,19-20). Here they kept the first Passoverin Canaan (Jos 5:10). On arising ground ("hill," Jos 5:3,9) 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.
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 (Jos 5:2 margin; Ex 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.
The sentence was exhausted when they crossed the Zered and entered the Amorites' land (De 2:14; Nu 21:12-13), when all the sentenced generation was dead (Nu 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 (Ga 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.
The circumcision was performed the day after crossing Jordan, i.e. the 11th day of the first month (Ga 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 (Ge 34:25) would be no bar to their joining in the feast.
The "reproach of Egypt rolled off" is (like "the reproach of Moab" Zep 2:8, and "Syria" Eze 16:57) that heaped on Israel by Egypt, namely, that Jehovah had brought them into the wilderness to slay them (Ex 32:12; Nu 14:13-16; De 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 Mic 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 (2Sa 19:15).
2. Gilgal from which Elijah and Elisha went down to Bethel (2Ki 2:1-2). Clearly distinct from:
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 2Ki 2:3. Gilgal not far from Shechem, beside the plains of Moreh (De 11:30). Jos 12:23, "king of the nations (goim) of Gilgal," i.e. of the nomadic tribes, the aboriginal inhabitants of the country whose center was Gilgal.
4. To the N. of Judah (Jos 15:7). (See GELILOTH.)
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took each man his sword, and came in upon the city, boldly, - and slew every, male;
So Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it down at his feet, - and said - Surely, a bridegroom by rites of blood, art thou to me!
Wherefore should the Egyptians speak saying - For mischief, hath he taken them forth to slay them among the mountains, and to make an end of them from off the face of the ground? Turn thou from the kindling of thine anger, and be grieved over the calamity to thy people,
Then said Moses unto Yahweh, - So shall the Egyptians hear, For thou hast brought up. in thy might, this people out of their midst; And will tell it unto the inhabitants of this land: They have heard, That, thou, Yahweh, art in the midst of this people, - That eye to eye, is he seen - thou, Yahweh, And thy cloud, is standing over them, And in a pillar of cloud, thou thyself, art going on before them by day, And in a pillar of fire, by night. read more. As soon, therefore, as thou hast put to death this people as one man, so soon will the nations who have heard thy fame speak saying: Because Yahweh, was not able, to bring in this people into the land which he had sworn unto them, therefore did he slay them in the desert.
From thence, brake they up, - and encamped in the ravine of Zered. From thence, brake they up, and encamped on the other side of Arnon which is in the desert, that cometh forth out of the boundary of the Amorites, - for, Arnon, is the boundary of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
These, are they who were numbered by Moses, and Eleazar, the priest, - when they numbered the sons of Israel, in the waste plains of Moab, by Jordan, near Jericho. And among these, was there not found a man of them who had been numbered by Moses, and Aaron the priest, - when they numbered the sons of Israel in the desert of Sinai. read more. For Yahweh had said of them, They shall surely die, in the desert. And there was not left of them a man, save only, Caleb on of Jephunneh, and Joshua son of Nun.
Now, the days in which we journeyed from Kadesh-barnea, as far as where we crossed the ravine of Zered, were thirty-eight years, - until all the generation of the men of war were consumed out of the midst of the camp, as Yahweh had sworn unto them.
lest the land out of which thou hast brought us forth say, Because Yahweh was not able to bring them into the land of which he had spoken to them, - and because he hated them, took he them forth to put them to death in the desert.
Are, they, not over the Jordan on the way towards the entering in of the sun, in the land of the Canaanite who dwelleth in the plain over against Gilgal beside the Teacher's Terebinths?
and command ye them, saying, Take you up from hence, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where stood the feet of the priests with firm footing, twelve stones; - and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place where ye shall lodge, tonight.
So, the people, came up out of the Jordan, on the tenth of the first month, - and encamped in Gilgal, at the eastern end of Jericho. And, these twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, did Joshua set up, in Gilgal.
At that time, said Yahweh unto Joshua, Make thee knives of flint, - and again circumcise the sons of Israel, a second time. So Joshua made him knives of flint, - and circumcised the sons of Israel, at the Hill of Foreskins.
Then said Yahweh unto Joshua, To-day, have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of that place is called Gilgal unto this day. Thus then the sons of Israel encamped in Gilgal, - and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, in the waste plains of Jericho.
and the boundary goeth up towards Debir, out of the vale of Achor, then northward, turning unto Gilgal, which is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the ravine, - then the boundary passeth over unto the waters of En-shemesh, and so the extensions thereof are unto En-rogel:
Then the king returned, and came as far as the Jordan, - and, Judah, came to Gilgal, to go and meet the king, to escort the king over the Jordan.
And it came to pass, when Yahweh was about to take up Elijah in a storm into the heavens, that Elijah departed, with Elisha, from Gilgal. Then said Elijah unto Elisha - Tarry here, I pray thee, for, Yahweh, hath sent me as far as Bethel. And Elisha said, By the life of Yahweh and by the life of thine own soul, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. read more. And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came forth unto Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that, to-day, Yahweh is taking away thy lord, from thy head? And he said - I also, know, be silent.
Before thy wickedness was discovered, As now, thou art the reproach of the daughters of Syria and all round about her the daughters of the Philistines, - who are despising thee on every side.
O my people! remember, I pray you, what Balak king of Moab, counseled, and what Balaam son of Beer, answered him, - from the Acacias as far as Gilgal, that ye may know the righteousness of Yahweh.
I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the sons of Ammon, - who have reproached my people, and have magnified themselves up to their bounds.
My dear children! for whom I, again, am in birth-pains, until Christ be formed within you; -
Yea, I bear solemn witness again, unto every man getting circumcised, - that he is, a debtor, to do, the whole law.
Hastings
A name meaning 'stone circle' applied to several places mentioned in the OT. 1. A place on the east border of Jericho (Jos 4:19), where the Israelites first encamped after crossing Jordan, and which remained the headquarters of the congregation till after the rout of the northern kings at Merom (Jos 14:6). The stone circle from which it certainly took its name (in spite of the impossible etymology given in Jos 5:9), was no doubt that to which the tradition embodied in Jos 4:20 refers, and the same as the 'images' by Gilgal in the story of Ehud (Jg 3:19 Revised Version margin). The name is still preserved in the modern Jilj
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Are, they, not over the Jordan on the way towards the entering in of the sun, in the land of the Canaanite who dwelleth in the plain over against Gilgal beside the Teacher's Terebinths?
So, the people, came up out of the Jordan, on the tenth of the first month, - and encamped in Gilgal, at the eastern end of Jericho. And, these twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, did Joshua set up, in Gilgal.
Then said Yahweh unto Joshua, To-day, have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of that place is called Gilgal unto this day.
Then came near the sons of Judah unto Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, said unto him, - Thou, knowest the word which Yahweh spake unto Moses the man of God in my behalf and in thine in Kadesh-barnea.
and the boundary goeth up towards Debir, out of the vale of Achor, then northward, turning unto Gilgal, which is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the ravine, - then the boundary passeth over unto the waters of En-shemesh, and so the extensions thereof are unto En-rogel:
but, he himself, turned back from the images that were by Gilgal, and said, A secret word, have I, unto thee, O king! And he said - Silence! Thereupon went out from his presence all who had been standing near him.
And he used to take his journey, from year to year, and go round to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpah, - and used to judge Israel, at all these places.
Now, Elisha, returned to Gilgal, and there was, a famine, in the land, and, the sons of the prophets, being seated before him, he said to his young man - Put on the large pot, and boil a mess of food, for the sons of the prophets.
For, as a heifer that is stubborn, hath Israel, been stubborn, - Now, can Yahweh, turn them out to pasture, like a young ram in a wide place?
Smitten is Ephraim, their root, hath dried up, fruit, shall they not bear, - yea, though they do bring forth, yet will I slay the darlings of their womb.
If, Gilead, is in sorrow, surely false, have they been, In Gilgal, have they sacrificed, bullocks, - their very altars, shall become as heaps upon the furrows of the field.
Enter ye Bethel, and transgress, At Gilgal, cause transgression, to abound, - Yea, carry in, every morning, your sacrifices, every three days, your tithes;
Seek ye Yahweh, and live, - lest he break forth, like a fire, upon the house of Joseph, and it devour with none to quench it, for Bethel.
Morish
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. Col 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. Jos 4:19-20; 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. Jos 9:6; 10:6-15; 14:6. It was here that Saul was made king, 1Sa 11:14-15; and here he offered sacrifices, and Samuel hewed Agag in pieces. 1Sa 13:4-15; 15:12,21,33.
When David returned after the overthrow and death of Absalom, Judah gathered at Gilgal. to meet the king and conduct him over Jordan. 2Sa 19:15. In the days of Jeroboam Gilgal was defiled with idolatry. Ho 4:15; 9:15; Am 4:4. Gilgal which signifies 'rolled away' should be itself 'rolled away.' Am 5:5. In Jos 15:7 the border of Judah's portion 'looked toward' Gilgal, which well agrees with its being near Jericho. But in Jos 18:17 the same place is called GELILOTH, which cannot be traced. Gilgal is identified with Jiljulieh, 31 51' N, 35 29' E. In Ne 12:29 occurs 'the house of Gilgal,' or 'Beth-gilgal,' which may refer to the same place, or may be one of the villages built 'round about' Jerusalem.
2. A place connected with the closing scene of Elijah's life and where Elisha wrought one of his miracles. 2Ki 2:1; 4:38. The two prophets went 'down' from Gilgal to Bethel, whereas when No. 1 is referred to it is always 'going up' to the neighbourhood of Bethel, which seems to indicate that different places are alluded to. It has been identified with Jiljilia, 32 2' N, 35 13' E. (It should however be added that if the identification of Nos. 1 and 2, and that of Bethel is correct, No. 2 is not actually higher than Bethel, though being on a high hill it appears to be so, and a valley has to be crossed to reach it. The altitude of No. 2 is 2,441 feet, and that of Bethel 2,890 feet. No. 1 is below the sea level, which makes the 'going up' from thence to Bethel very apparent.)
3. A place whose king is called 'the king of the nations of Gilgal,' or, as in the R.V., 'the king of Goiim in Gilgal.' He was slain under Joshua. Being mentioned between Dor and Tirzah it is apparently a third Gilgal. Jos 12:23. It has been identified with Jiljulieh, 32 10' N, 34 57' E.
4. In De 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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Are, they, not over the Jordan on the way towards the entering in of the sun, in the land of the Canaanite who dwelleth in the plain over against Gilgal beside the Teacher's Terebinths?
So, the people, came up out of the Jordan, on the tenth of the first month, - and encamped in Gilgal, at the eastern end of Jericho. And, these twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, did Joshua set up, in Gilgal.
At that time, said Yahweh unto Joshua, Make thee knives of flint, - and again circumcise the sons of Israel, a second time. So Joshua made him knives of flint, - and circumcised the sons of Israel, at the Hill of Foreskins. read more. Now, this, is the cause why Joshua did circumcise, - all the people who came forth out of Egypt, who were males, all the men of war, died in the desert, by the way, after they came forth out of Egypt. For, though all the people who came forth had been circumcised, yet, all the people who were born in the desert by the way, after they came forth out of Egypt, had they not circumcised. Because, for forty years, did the sons of Israel journey in the desert, until all the nation who were men of war, who came forth out of Egypt, were consumed, because they hearkened not unto the voice of Yahweh, - unto whom Yahweh sware that he would not let them see the land, which Yahweh sware unto their fathers, that he would give unto us, a land flowing with milk and honey. Their sons, therefore, whom he had raised up in their stead, them, did Joshua circumcise, - for, uncircumcised, they were, in that they had not circumcised them by the way. And so it came to pass, when they had made an end of circumcising all the nation, they remained in their place, in the camp, until they were healed. Then said Yahweh unto Joshua, To-day, have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of that place is called Gilgal unto this day. Thus then the sons of Israel encamped in Gilgal, - and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, in the waste plains of Jericho. And they did eat of the corn of the land, on the morrow of the passover, unleavened cakes and parched ears of corn, - on this selfsame day.
So they took their journey unto Joshua, unto the camp, at Gilgal, - and said unto him, and unto the men of Israel, From a far country, are we come, Now, therefore, solemnise with us a covenant.
So the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua, unto the camp at Gilgal, saying, Do not withhold thy hand from thy servants, - Come up unto us quickly, and save us, and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill-country, are gathered together against us. So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, even all the mighty men of valour. read more. And Yahweh said unto Joshua: Do not fear because of them, for, into thy hand, have I delivered them, - not a man of them shall stand before thee. So then Joshua came in unto them, suddenly, - all the night, came he up, from Gilgal. And Yahweh confused them before Israel, and smote them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, - and chased them along the way that goeth up Beth-horon, and smote them as far as Azekah and as far as Makkedah. And it came to pass, when they fled from before Israel, they, being on the slope of Beth-horon, that, Yahweh, cast down upon them great stones out of the heavens, as far as Azekah, and they died, - more, were they who died by the hailstones, than they whom the sons of Israel slew with the sword. Then, spake Joshua unto Yahweh, on the day when Yahweh delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, - yea he said, in the presence of Israel - Thou Sun! in Gibeon, be still, and thou Moon! in the vale of Aijalon. So the sun, was still, and, the moon, stayed, until a nation should be avenged on its fees. Is not, that, written in the Book of the Upright? So then the sun stayed in the middle of the heavens, and hastened not to go in, about a whole day. And there was no day like that - before it or after it, when Yahweh hearkened unto the voice of a man, - in that, Yahweh, himself fought for Israel. So Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp at Gilgal.
Then came near the sons of Judah unto Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, said unto him, - Thou, knowest the word which Yahweh spake unto Moses the man of God in my behalf and in thine in Kadesh-barnea.
and the boundary goeth up towards Debir, out of the vale of Achor, then northward, turning unto Gilgal, which is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the ravine, - then the boundary passeth over unto the waters of En-shemesh, and so the extensions thereof are unto En-rogel:
and it turneth on the north, and goeth out at En-shemesh, and goeth out unto Geliloth, which is over against the ascent of Adummim, - and goeth down by the Stone of Bohan, son of Reuben;
Then said Samuel unto the people, Come and let us go to Gilgal, - and let us there renew the kingdom. So all the people went to Gilgal, and made Saul king there, before Yahweh, in Gilgal, and offered there sacrifices of peace-offerings before Yahweh, - and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced there, exceedingly.
And, all Israel, heard say - Saul hath smitten the garrison of the Philistines, Moreover, also, Israel have made themselves odious among the Philistines, - so the people were called together to follow Saul, to Gilgal. And, the Philistines, gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, a people also like the sand that is on the sea-shore for multitude, - and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven. read more. So, the men of Israel, saw they were in a strait, for the people had been harassed, - and the people had hidden themselves in caves, and in thickets, and among cliffs, and in holes, and in pits. And, Hebrews, had passed over the Jordan, to the land of Gad, and Gilead, - but, Saul, was yet in Gilgal, and all the people, trembled after him. And he waited seven days, by the set time that Samuel had named, but Samuel came not to Gilgal, - and the people were scattered from him. Then said Saul, Bring near unto me, the ascending-sacrifice and the peace-offerings. And he offered up the ascending-sacrifice. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of offering up the ascending-sacrifice, lo! Samuel, had come, - and Saul went out to meet him, that he might bless him. Then said Samuel - What hast thou done? And Saul said - Because I saw that the people had been scattered from me, and, thou, hadst not come within the appointed days, and, the Philistines, had gathered themselves together to Michmash, therefore I said - Now, will the Philistines come down against me, at Gilgal, but, the face of Yahweh, have I not appeased: So I forced myself, and offered up the ascending-sacrifice. And Samuel said unto Saul - Thou hast shewn thyself foolish, - thou hast not kept the commandment of Yahweh thy God, which he commanded thee, for, now, would Yahweh have established thy kingdom unto Israel until times age-abiding; Whereas, now, shall thy kingdom not be established, - Yahweh hath sought out for him a man after his own heart, and Yahweh hath commanded him to be leader over his people, because thou hast not kept that which Yahweh commanded thee. And Samuel arose, and ascended from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people who were found with him, about six hundred men.
And Samuel rose early to meet Saul, in the morning, and it was told Samuel, saying - Saul having come to Carmel, and lo! having set him up a sign, hath gone round, and passed over, and descended to Gilgal.
And the people took, of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things so devoted, - to sacrifice unto Yahweh thy God, in Gilgal.
And Samuel said, As women have been made childless by thy sword, So, childless among women, shall be, thine own mother. And Samuel cut Agag asunder before Yahweh, in Gilgal.
Then the king returned, and came as far as the Jordan, - and, Judah, came to Gilgal, to go and meet the king, to escort the king over the Jordan.
And it came to pass, when Yahweh was about to take up Elijah in a storm into the heavens, that Elijah departed, with Elisha, from Gilgal.
Now, Elisha, returned to Gilgal, and there was, a famine, in the land, and, the sons of the prophets, being seated before him, he said to his young man - Put on the large pot, and boil a mess of food, for the sons of the prophets.
also out of Beth-gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba, and Azmaveth, - for, villages, had the singers builded for themselves, round about Jerusalem.
Though unchaste art thou, O Israel, let not Judah, become guilty, neither let them enter Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, and then swear, By the life of Yahweh!
All their wickedness, is in Gilgal, yea, there, have I come to hate them, For the wickedness of their doings - out of my house, will I drive them forth, - no more will I love them, all their rulers, are unruly.
Enter ye Bethel, and transgress, At Gilgal, cause transgression, to abound, - Yea, carry in, every morning, your sacrifices, every three days, your tithes;
Then do not seek Bethel, and, Gilgal, shall ye not enter, and, unto Beer-sheba, shall ye not cross over, For, Gilgal, shall, surely go into exile, and, Bethel, shall become a trouble.
For ye have died, and, your life, is hid, together with the Christ, in God, - As soon as, the Christ, shall be made manifest - our life, then, ye also, together with him, shall be made manifest in glory; read more. Make dead, therefore, your members that are on the earth - as regardeth fornication, impurity, passion, base coveting, and greed, the which, is idolatry, -
Smith
Gil'gal
(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,
comp. Josh 4:3 where also they kept the first passover in the land of Canaan ch.
It was "in the east border of Jericho," apparently on a hillock or rising ground,
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.
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.
A Gilgal is spoken of in
in describing the north border of Judah. In
it is given as Geliloth. Gilgal near Jericho is doubtless intended.
2. In
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.
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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
So, the people, came up out of the Jordan, on the tenth of the first month, - and encamped in Gilgal, at the eastern end of Jericho. And, these twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, did Joshua set up, in Gilgal.
So Joshua made him knives of flint, - and circumcised the sons of Israel, at the Hill of Foreskins.
Thus then the sons of Israel encamped in Gilgal, - and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, in the waste plains of Jericho.
Thus then the sons of Israel encamped in Gilgal, - and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, in the waste plains of Jericho.
and the boundary goeth up towards Debir, out of the vale of Achor, then northward, turning unto Gilgal, which is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the ravine, - then the boundary passeth over unto the waters of En-shemesh, and so the extensions thereof are unto En-rogel:
and it turneth on the north, and goeth out at En-shemesh, and goeth out unto Geliloth, which is over against the ascent of Adummim, - and goeth down by the Stone of Bohan, son of Reuben;
And the king passed over to Gilgal, and, Chimham, passed over with him, - and, all the people of Judah, escorted the king, yea moreover, half the people of Israel.
And it came to pass, when Yahweh was about to take up Elijah in a storm into the heavens, that Elijah departed, with Elisha, from Gilgal. Then said Elijah unto Elisha - Tarry here, I pray thee, for, Yahweh, hath sent me as far as Bethel. And Elisha said, By the life of Yahweh and by the life of thine own soul, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
Now, Elisha, returned to Gilgal, and there was, a famine, in the land, and, the sons of the prophets, being seated before him, he said to his young man - Put on the large pot, and boil a mess of food, for the sons of the prophets.
Watsons
The word Gilgal signifies rolling. Here the ark was long stationed, and consequently the place was much resorted to by the Israelites. It seems to have been the place in which Jeroboam or some of the kings of Israel instituted idolatrous worship; and hence the allusions to it by the prophets, Ho 4:15; Am 4:4. It is probable that there were idols at Gilgal as early as the days of Ehud, who was one of the judges; for it is said that, having delivered his presents to the king, "Ehud went away, but returned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal," Jg 3:19. The margin of our Bibles reads, "the graven images," or idols set up by the Moabites, the viewing of which, it is thought, stirred up Ehud to revenge the affront thereby offered to the God of Israel. At this same place, the people met to confirm the kingdom to Saul, 1Sa 11:14-15. It was at Gilgal, too, that Saul incurred the divine displeasure, in offering sacrifice before Samuel arrived, 1 Samuel xiii; and there also it was that he received the sentence of his rejection for disobeying the divine command, and sparing the king of Amalek with the spoils which he had reserved, 1 Samuel 15.
It has been supposed that the setting up of stones, as at Gilgal and other places, gave rise to the rude stone circular temples of the Druids, and other Heathens. The idea, however, appears fanciful, and there is an essential difference between stones erected for memorials, and those used to mark sacred, or supposed sacred, places for worship.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
but, he himself, turned back from the images that were by Gilgal, and said, A secret word, have I, unto thee, O king! And he said - Silence! Thereupon went out from his presence all who had been standing near him.
Then said Samuel unto the people, Come and let us go to Gilgal, - and let us there renew the kingdom. So all the people went to Gilgal, and made Saul king there, before Yahweh, in Gilgal, and offered there sacrifices of peace-offerings before Yahweh, - and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced there, exceedingly.
Though unchaste art thou, O Israel, let not Judah, become guilty, neither let them enter Gilgal, nor go up to Beth-aven, and then swear, By the life of Yahweh!
Enter ye Bethel, and transgress, At Gilgal, cause transgression, to abound, - Yea, carry in, every morning, your sacrifices, every three days, your tithes;