Easton's Bible Dictionary 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 (Joshua 9:6; 10:6). It was "beside the oaks of Moreh," near which Abraham erected his first altar (Genesis 12:6, 7). This was one of the three towns to which Samuel resorted for the administration of justice (1 Samuel 7:16), and here also he offered sacrifices when the ark was no longer in the tabernacle at Shiloh (1 Samuel 10:8; 13:7-9). To this place, as to a central sanctuary, all Israel gathered to renew their allegiance to Saul (11:14). At a later period it became the scene of idolatrous worship (Hosea 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 (Joshua 4:19, 20). Here they kept their first Passover in the land of Canaan (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 (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 (2 Kings 4:38), and whence Elijah and Elisha, who resided here, "went down" to Bethel (2:1, 2). It is mentioned also in Deuteronomy 11:30. It is now known as Jiljilia, a place 8 miles north of Bethel. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia GILGAL gil'-gal (gilgal, "circle"; Galgala): The article is always with the name except in Joshua 5:9. There are three places to which the name is attached: (1) The first camp of Israel after crossing the Jordan (Joshua 4:19; Joshua 5:9, 10; 9:06; 10:07; 14:06; 15:7 Deuteronomy 11:30). According to 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 (Joshua 5:5) the people were circumcised preparatory to their possession of the land, when it is said in Joshua, with a play upon the word, "This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you." Whereupon the Passover was celebrated (Joshua 5:10) and the manna ceased (Joshua 5:12). To Gilgal the ark returned every day after having compassed the city of Jericho during its siege (Joshua 6:11). Hither the Gibeonites came to make their treaty (Joshua 9:3), and again (Joshua 10:6) to ask aid against the Amorites. Gilgal was still the headquarters of the Israelites after the battle with the Amorites (Joshua 10:15); again after Joshua's extensive victorious campaign in the hill country of Judea extending to Kadesh-barnea and Gaza (Joshua 10:15); and still later upon his return from the great battle at the Waters of Merom (Joshua 14:6). At the conclusion of the conquest (Joshua 18:1), the headquarters were transferred to Shiloh on the summit of the mountain ridge to the West. Gilgal reappears frequently in subsequent history. Samuel (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 (1 Samuel 10:8; 1 Samuel 13:8, 9, 10; 15:21), while it was here that Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the Lord (1 Samuel 15:33), and that Saul was both crowned (1 Samuel 11:14, 15) and rejected as king. It was at Gilgal, also (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 (Hosea 4:15; Hosea 9:15; Hosea 12:11 Amos 4:4; Amos 5:5). Micah (6:5) represents Gilgal as at the other end of the Dead Sea from Shittim. In 1874 Conder recognized the name Gilgal as surviving in Barker Jiljuilieh, 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. (2) According to 2 Kings 2:1; 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 Jiljilia, standing on a high hill on the North side of the Wady el-Jib. It is lower than Bethel, but the phrase in 2 Kings 2:2, "they went down to Beth-el," may refer to their initial descent into the wady. It could not have been said that they went down from Gilgal to Bethel in the Jordan valley. The place seems to be referred to in Nehemiah 12:29 as Beth-gilgal. (3) Gilgal of the nations: In Joshua 12:23 Gilgal is mentioned as a royal city associated with Dor, evidently upon the maritime plain. Dor is identified with Tantura, while Conder identifies this Gilgal with Jiljuilieh, 30 miles South of Dor and 4 miles North of Anti-patris. George Frederick Wright

Multi-Version Concordance Gilgal (39 Occurrences) Deuteronomy 11:30 Aren't they beyond the Jordan, behind the way of the going down of the sun, in the land of the Canaanites who dwell in the Arabah, over against Gilgal, beside the oaks of Moreh? (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 4:19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 4:20 Joshua set up those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, in Gilgal. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 5:9 Yahweh said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you." Therefore the name of that place was called Gilgal, to this day. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 5:10 The children of Israel encamped in Gilgal. They kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening in the plains of Jericho. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 9:6 They went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him, and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a far country. Now therefore make a covenant with us." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 10:6 The men of Gibeon sent to Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, "Don't abandon your servants! Come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us; for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill country have gathered together against us." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 10:7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 10:9 Joshua therefore came on them suddenly. He went up from Gilgal all night. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 10:15 Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 10:43 Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 12:23 the king of Dor in the height of Dor, one; the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Joshua 14:6 Then the children of Judah drew near to Joshua in Gilgal. Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know the thing that Yahweh spoke to Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning you in Kadesh Barnea. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Joshua 15:7 The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the river. The border passed along to the waters of En Shemesh, and ended at En Rogel. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 2:1 The angel of Yahweh came up from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, "I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land which I swore to your fathers; and I said,'I will never break my covenant with you: (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 3:19 But he himself turned back from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, "I have a secret errand to you, king." The king said, "Keep silence!" All who stood by him went out from him. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 7:16 He went from year to year in circuit to Bethel and Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 10:8 "You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: you shall wait seven days, until I come to you, and show you what you shall do." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 11:14 Then said Samuel to the people, "Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 11:15 All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal; and there they offered sacrifices of peace offerings before Yahweh; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 13:4 All Israel heard that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. The people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 13:7 Now some of the Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead; but as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 13:8 He stayed seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed : but Samuel didn't come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 13:12 therefore I said,'Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven't entreated the favor of Yahweh.' I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 13:15 Samuel arose, and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 15:12 Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and it was told Samuel, saying, "Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, and turned, and passed on, and went down to Gilgal." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 15:21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and cattle, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God in Gilgal." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 15:33 Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women!" Samuel cut Agag in pieces before Yahweh in Gilgal. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 2 Samuel 19:15 So the king returned, and came to the Jordan. Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the king over the Jordan. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 2 Samuel 19:40 So the king went over to Gilgal, and Chimham went over with him. All the people of Judah brought the king over, and also half the people of Israel. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 2 Kings 2:1 It happened, when Yahweh would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 2 Kings 4:38 Elisha came again to Gilgal. There was a famine in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, "Set on the great pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Nehemiah 12:29 also from Beth Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had built them villages around Jerusalem. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Hosea 4:15 "Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, yet don't let Judah offend; and don't come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear,'As Yahweh lives.' (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Hosea 9:15 "All their wickedness is in Gilgal; for there I hated them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house! I will love them no more. All their princes are rebels. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Hosea 12:11 If Gilead is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV) Amos 4:4 "Go to Bethel, and sin; to Gilgal, and sin more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Amos 5:5 but don't seek Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and don't pass to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nothing. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Micah 6:5 My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of Yahweh." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)