King James 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.

wheel; rolling; heap

1. Place of the first encampment of the Israelites west of the Jordan

General references
Joshua 4:19; Joshua 9:6; Joshua 10:6; Joshua 10:43; Joshua 14:6

Monument erected in, to commemorate the passage of the Jordan by the children of Israel
Joshua 4:19-24

Circumcision renewed at
Joshua 5:2-9

Passover kept at
Joshua 5:10-11

Manna ceased at, after the Passover
Joshua 5:12

Quarries at
Judges 3:19

Eglon, king of Moab, resides and is slain at
Judges 3:14-26

A judgment seat, where Israel, in that district, came to be judged by Samuel
1 Samuel 7:16

Saul proclaimed king over all Israel at
1 Samuel 11:15

An altar built at, and sacrifice offered
1 Samuel 11:15; 1 Samuel 13:4-15; 1 Samuel 15:6-23

Agag, king of the Amalekites, slain at, by Samuel
1 Samuel 15:33

Tribe of Judah assembles at, to proceed to the east side of the Jordan to conduct King David back after the defeat of Absalom
2 Samuel 19:14-15; 2 Samuel 19:40-43

A school of the prophets at
2 Kings 4:38-40

Prophecies concerning
Hosea 4:15; Hosea 9:15; Hosea 12:11; Amos 4:4; Amos 5:5

2. A royal city in Canaan, conquered by Joshua
Joshua 12:23

(a wheel; rolling).

1. The site of the first camp of the Isr'lites 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, (Joshua 4:19,20) comp. Joshua 4:3 Where also they kept the first passover in the land of Canaan ch. (Joshua 5:10) It was "in the east border of Jericho," apparently on a hillock or rising ground, (Joshua 5:3) comp. Joshua 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. (Joshua 5:10) 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. (2 Samuel 19:40) A Gilgal is spoken of in (Joshua 15:7) in describing the north border of Judah. In (Joshua 18:17) it is given as Geliloth. Gilgal near Jericho is doubtless intended.
2. In (2 Kings 2:1,2; 4:38) 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 has 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. (Joshua 12:23) 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.