GILGAL (i.e., "circle" of sacred stones), the name of sev eral places in western Palestine mentioned in the Old Testament. The most important is that situated near Jericho (Josh. iv. 19: xv. 7). Josephus has recorded that it was Io stadia, and Jerome that it was 2 Roman miles, from Jericho, but neither was explicit in its location. The latter speaks of it as a deserted place held in deep veneration by the natives. The sacredness of the spot may have been due to the erection there of the 12 memorial stones (Josh. iv. 20). Zschokke (1865), Conder (1874) and Dal man (191I ), identify it with sites at or near Khirbet el-Ethilek between Jericho and Jordan, and about I2 m. from Jericho. Another Gilgal, mentioned in Josh. xii. 23, appears to have been situated in the maritime plain. This has been identified with Jiljuliyeh, 4 m. N. of Antipatris. A third Gilgal (2 Ki. iv. 38) was in the mountains near Bethel, evidently the modern Jiljuliyeh, about 7 m. N. of Bethel (Beitin). A fourth Gilgal (Deut. xi. 3o) would seem to be suggested in the neighbourhood of Mt. Gerizim. A place called Juleijil I m. E. of the foot of Mt. Gerizim is a likely identification.
See articles in Encyclop. Biblica and Hastings' Dict. of the Bible; G. Dalman, "Gilgal bei Jericho," Paldstina-Jahrbuch, 7 (191I) 303 seq.; C. Niebuhr, "Gilgal als entwicklungsgeschichtliches Problem," Orient. Litt. Zeitung, 23 (1920) 105 seq.; G. Dalman, "der Gilgal d. Bibel and die Steinkreise Palastinas," Paldstina-Jahrbuch, 15 (1920) , 5 seq.
(E. Ro.)