Gilgal

Definition

Gilgal was a town north of Jericho and was the first place that the Israelites camped after crossing the Jordan River to enter Canaan. The word “gilgal” means “circle of stones.”

• At Gilgal, Joshua set up twelve stones taken from the dry river bed of the Jordan River that they had just crossed over.
• Gilgal was one of the three places where Samuel judged the people and it was where he made Saul king.
• Gilgal was the city that Elijah and Elisha were leaving as they crossed the Jordan when Elijah was taken up to heaven.
• The prophets Amos and Hosea condemn Gilgal along with Bethel (“Beth-aven”) as a place where people sacrificed to idols.
• There were also several other places called “Gilgal” in the Old Testament.
• In the Old Testament, this name almost always occurs as “the gilgal.” This may indicate that it was more of a description of a certain kind of place rather than a name.

(Translation suggestions: Translate Names)

(See also: Elijah, Elisha, Jericho, Jordan River), Bethel

Bible References

• 1 Samuel 7:15-17
• 2 Kings 2:1-2
• Hosea 4:15
• Judges 2:1

Word Data

• Strong’s: H1537