geliloth Summary and Overview

circles; regions, a place in the border of Benjamin (Josh. 18:17); called Gilgal in 15:7.

(circuit), a place named among the marks of the south boundary line of the tribe of Benjamin. #Jos 18:17| The name Geliloth never occurs again in this locality, and it therefore seems probable that Gilgal is the right reading.

GEL'ILOTH (circle), one of the places marking the boundary of Benjamin. Josh 18:17. Gilgal is in place of Geliloth in Josh 15:7, and the two are supposed to be identical. See Gilgal.

Joshua 18:17. One of the southern bounds of Benjamin, "over against the going up (ascent) of Adummim." Gilgal occupied the same position "before the going up of Adummim" (Joshua 15:7) on the northern boundary of Judah, which is the southern bound of Benjamin; therefore Grove would substitute "Gilgal" for "Geliloth." Its derivation is gaalal "to roll"; like the Scotch "links," meaning both the windings of the stream (Geliloth is near the Jordan) and the coasts; whereas Ciccar is the circle of vegetation or dwellings round the bends of the water. Conder connects Geliloth with the "tells" or mounds of Israel, which he thinks to be the accumulated refuse of sun-dried bricks, which served as a platform on which others were baked, as at the present day in India and Egypt. They are found in the Jordan valley, and in the plain of Esdraelon. They always occur near water, and in alluvial clay plains, as in the clay lands between Succoth and Zarthan, where Solomon east his temple brasswork.