Location
Overview
Gilgal, in the Jordan plain near Jericho, was Israel's first encampment west of the Jordan and the operating base for the conquest of Canaan.
The twelve stones
After crossing the Jordan on dry ground, Israel set up twelve stones taken from the riverbed "in Gilgal" as a memorial for their children (Joshua 4:19–20).
The reproach rolled away
There the new generation was circumcised, and God said, "This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal" (Joshua 5:9). Israel kept the Passover and the manna ceased.
The base of operations
From Gilgal Joshua marched against Jericho, Ai, and the southern kings, returning each time to camp (Joshua 10:15). It remained important through the judges and into Saul's reign, where Samuel judged on circuit and Saul was confirmed king (1 Samuel 7:16; 11:15).
Events Here
Israel camps at Gilgal and raises twelve memorial stones
The reproach of Egypt is "rolled away"; Passover kept
Scripture References
39 versesDeuteronomy1 verse
Deuteronomy 11:30
Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh?
Joshua13 verses
Joshua 4:19
And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.
Joshua 4:20
And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.
Joshua 5:9
And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. Gilgal: that is Rolling
Joshua 5:10
And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
Joshua 9:6
And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
Joshua 10:6
And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
Joshua 10:7
So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.
Joshua 10:9
Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
Joshua 10:15
And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
Joshua 10:43
And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
Joshua 12:23
The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one;
Joshua 14:6
Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.
Joshua 15:7
And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed toward the waters of Enshemesh, and the goings out thereof were at Enrogel:
Judges2 verses
Judges 2:1
And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. angel: or, messenger
Judges 3:19
But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. quarries: or, graven images
1 Samuel12 verses
1 Samuel 7:16
And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. in circuit: Heb. and he circuited
1 Samuel 10:8
And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.
1 Samuel 11:14
Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
1 Samuel 11:15
And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
1 Samuel 13:4
And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal. was: Heb. did stink
1 Samuel 13:7
And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. followed: Heb. trembled after him
1 Samuel 13:8
And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
1 Samuel 13:12
Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. made: Heb. intreated the face
1 Samuel 13:15
And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men. present: Heb. found
1 Samuel 15:12
And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
1 Samuel 15:21
But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
1 Samuel 15:33
And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
2 Samuel2 verses
2 Samuel 19:15
So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.
2 Samuel 19:40
Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel. Chimham: Heb. Chimhan
2 Kings2 verses
2 Kings 2:1
And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 Kings 4:38
And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.
Nehemiah1 verse
Nehemiah 12:29
Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.
Hosea3 verses
Hosea 4:15
Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
Hosea 9:15
All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.
Hosea 12:11
Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
Amos2 verses
Amos 4:4
Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years: three: Heb. three years of days
Amos 5:5
But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.
Micah1 verse
Micah 6:5
O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.
Archaeology & History
The precise site of the conquest-era Gilgal near Jericho is uncertain; several locations in the Jordan plain have been proposed. (A different Gilgal in the hill country is associated with Elijah and Elisha.) Its lasting importance was as a sanctuary and assembly point through the early history of Israel.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Gilgal
Where is Gilgal today?
Today, Gilgal corresponds to Near Jericho, West Bank (site uncertain).
What does the name Gilgal mean?
The name Gilgal means “Circle (of stones); "rolling away"”.
What happened at Gilgal in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Gilgal include israel camps at gilgal and raises twelve memorial stones; the reproach of egypt is "rolled away"; passover kept.
Where is Gilgal first mentioned in the Bible?
Gilgal is first mentioned in Deuteronomy 11:30.
How often is Gilgal mentioned in the Bible?
Gilgal is mentioned in 39 verses across 10 books: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 2 Kings, Nehemiah, Hosea, Amos, Micah.
Why is Gilgal important?
It was Israel’s first camp in Canaan after crossing the Jordan, the site of the twelve memorial stones and the renewal of circumcision and Passover, and the base from which Joshua conducted the conquest.
What does Gilgal mean?
It is connected with "rolling" — God said he had "rolled away the reproach of Egypt" there — and with the circle of memorial stones.