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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMcClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Giloh
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(Heb. Giloh', âַּìֹä , exile [Gesenius] or circle [Furst]; Sept. in Joshua Ãéëώ v. r. Ãçëώì and Ãçëώí , in Sam. Ãåëώ v.r. ÃùëÜ ), the last named (after Goshen and Holon) in the first group of eleven cities in the south-western part (Keil, Joshua page 384) of the hill-country of the tribe of Judah (Jos_15:51); and afterwards the native place or residence of Ahithophel (hence called "the Gilonite" [q.v.], 2Sa_15:12; 2Sa_23:34), whence Absalom, on his way from Jerusalem to Hebron, summoned him (perhaps from a temporary banishment or disgrace at court) to join his rebellious standard (2Sa_15:12), and whither he returned to commit suicide on the failure of his colleagues to adopt his crafty counsel (2Sa_17:23). Josephus calls it Gelmon ( Ãåëìώí , Ant. 7:9, 8). De Saulcy (Dead Sea, 1:453) and Schwarz (Palest. page 105) both make it to be the modern Beit-Jala, near Bethlehem; but this is rather the ancient Zelah or Zelzah (q.v.), and the scriptural notices require a different position, perhaps at Rafat, a village with extensive ruins one hour twenty minutes south of Hebron (Van de Velde, Memoir, page 252).