the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Gilgal
Morrish Bible Dictionary
or 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. 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. Joshua 4:19,20; 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. Joshua 9:6; Joshua 10:6-15; Joshua 14:6 . It was here that Saul was made king, 1 Samuel 11:14,15; and here he offered sacrifices, and Samuel hewed Agag in pieces. 1 Samuel 13:4-15; 1 Samuel 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. 2 Samuel 19:15 . In the days of Jeroboam Gilgal was defiled with idolatry. Hosea 4:15; Hosea 9:15; Amos 4:4 . Gilgal which signifies 'rolled away' should be itself 'rolled away.' Amos 5:5 . In Joshua 15:7 the border of Judah's portion 'looked toward' Gilgal, which well agrees with its being near Jericho. But in Joshua 18:17 the same place is called GELILOTH, which cannot be traced. Gilgal is identified with Jiljulieh, 32 10' N, 34 57' E .
4. In 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.
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Morrish, George. Entry for 'Gilgal'. Morrish Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/mbd/g/gilgal.html. 1897.
