Gilgal
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Gilgal is a place name in the Bible.
Gilgal, mentioned in connection with the entering of the promised land, is said to have been "on the eastern border of Jericho" (Joshua 4:19). It has been identified with Khirbet en-Nitleh, but today scholars regard Khirbet El Mafjir as the more probable identification. Khirbet El Mafjir is located 2 km northeast of ancient Jericho.
It was the first encampment after crossing the Jordan river. At Gilgal all male persons were circumcised, because this had not been done in the wilderness. Joshua set up the twelve stones taken from the middle of the riverbed(Joshua chapters 4 and 5).
Although opinions may differ, the Gilgal mentioned in 2 Book of Kings, is commonly believed to be another place. It is said that Elijah and Elisha went down to Bethel from Gilgal, which means the place must have been in a mountainous region. This does not seem to fit the first mentioned place. It has been identified with the village Jiljilia, about 11 km north of Bethel.
It is then uncertain which one of the places that was included in Samuel's annual circuit. There he offered sacrifices after Saul was anointed as king. He also renewed Saul's kingship together with the people (1 Samuel chapters 7 and 11).
It may have been the second mentioned place, or yet another Gilgal, that is mentioned in Deuteronomy 11:29,30, as having Garizim and Ebal in front of it.
The Gilgal mentioned in a list of conquests under the leadership of Joshua (Joshua 12:7) may be the result of a scribal error. Some believe it should really have been Galilee. But it may have been the place marked by the modern village Jiljulieh, south of Antipatris, which lies northeast of Joppa. But another Gilgal, under the slightly different form of Kilkilieh, lies about two miles east of Antipatris.