What is the importance of Gilgal in the Bible?
Answered from the commentary of Morrish Bible Dictionary, Arno Clemens Gaebelein, Leslie M. Grant and 6 others
Gilgal was the first camp of Israel in Canaan after they crossed the Jordan, and the place where the twelve stones were set up to keep alive the memory of how the Lord brought them over on dry ground. The memorial declared God’s power and faithfulness, and was to teach Israel’s children that the Lord had brought His people into the land. Thus Gilgal marked their entry into the promised inheritance and became their starting point for taking possession of it.
There Israel was circumcised, and the Lord said He had rolled away the reproach of Egypt; they kept the Passover and ate the old corn of the land. The authors commonly present Gilgal as a place of strength: Israel went out to battle from there and returned after victories, because the memorial recalled God’s deliverance and the people were to judge the flesh. They draw from it the lesson that victory and faithful service require self-judgment and the practical putting away of the flesh. **One author also warns that Gilgal later became a centre of idolatry and transgression, so its sacred memories could become an empty form when the people forgot their meaning.**
Verses: Joshua 4:19, Joshua 4:20, Joshua 4:21, Joshua 4:22, Joshua 4:23, Joshua 4:24, Joshua 5:2, Joshua 5:3, Joshua 5:4, Joshua 5:5, Joshua 5:6, Joshua 5:7, Joshua 5:8, Joshua 5:9, Joshua 5:10, Joshua 5:11, Joshua 5:12, Joshua 9:6, Joshua 10:6, Joshua 10:15, Joshua 10:43, Joshua 14:6, Joshua 15:7, Joshua 18:17, 1 Samuel 7:16, 1 Samuel 10:8, 1 Samuel 11:14, 1 Samuel 11:15, 1 Samuel 13:4, 1 Samuel 13:5, 1 Samuel 13:6, 1 Samuel 13:7, 1 Samuel 13:8, 1 Samuel 13:9, 1 Samuel 13:10, 1 Samuel 13:11, 1 Samuel 13:12, 1 Samuel 13:13, 1 Samuel 13:14, 1 Samuel 13:15, 1 Samuel 15:12, 1 Samuel 15:21, 1 Samuel 15:22, 1 Samuel 15:23, 1 Samuel 15:33, 2 Samuel 19:15, 2 Samuel 19:40, 2 Kings 2:1, 2 Kings 4:38, Hosea 4:15, Hosea 9:15, Hosea 12:11, Amos 4:4, Amos 5:5, Micah 6:5
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
Place west of the Jordan, 'in the east border of Jericho,' where the Israelites encamped after passing the river. Here the twelve memorial stones were placed that were taken out of Jordan. Here the Israelites were circumcised: type of the putting off the body of the flesh; that is, of separation from the system in which man in the flesh lives: cf. Col. 3:3-5. Here the reproach of Egypt was 'rolled away' (from which the name of the place was called 'Gilgal'), and they had communion figuratively with the death of Christ in the Passover. On the next day they ate of the old corn of the promised land: type of Christ being the centre of heavenly things on which the Christian feeds. Joshua 4:19-20; Joshua 5:2-11. Gilgal was not only the starting point in taking possession of the land, but the place to which Joshua returned again and again: it was the place of strength. Joshua 9:6; Joshua 10:6-15; Joshua 14:6. It was here that Saul was made king, 1 Sam. 11:14-15; and here he offered sacrifices, and Samuel hewed Agag in pieces. 1 Sam. 13:4-15; 1 Sam. 15:12, 21, 33.
When David returned after the overthrow and death of Absalom, Judah gathered at Gilgal. to meet the king and conduct him over Jordan. 2 Sam. 19:15. In the days of Jeroboam Gilgal was defiled with idolatry. Hosea 4:15; Hosea 9:15; Amos 4:4. Gilgal which signifies 'rolled away' should be itself 'rolled away.' Amos 5:5. In Joshua 15:7 the border of Judah's portion 'looked toward' Gilgal, which well agrees with its being near Jericho. But in Joshua 18:17 the same place is called GELILOTH, which cannot be traced. Gilgal is identified with Jiljulieh, 31 51' N, 35 29' E. In Neh. 12:29 occurs 'the house of Gilgal,' or 'Beth-gilgal,' which may refer to the same place, or may be one of the villages built 'round about' Jerusalem.
A place connected with the closing scene of Elijah's life and where Elisha wrought one of his miracles. 2 Kings 2:1; 2 Kings 4:38. The two prophets went 'down' from Gilgal to Bethel, whereas when No. 1 is referred to it is always 'going up' to the neighbourhood of Bethel, which seems to indicate that different places are alluded to. It has been identified with Jiljilia, 32 2' N, 35 13' E. (It should however be added that if the identification of Nos. 1 and 2, and that of Bethel is correct, No. 2 is not actually higher than Bethel, though being on a high hill it appears to be so, and a valley has to be crossed to reach it. The altitude of No. 2 is 2,441 feet, and that of Bethel 2,890 feet. No. 1 is below the sea level, which makes the 'going up' from thence to Bethel very apparent.)
Gilgal was the most interesting spot in the land: (1) There stood the twelve stones taken out of the bed of Jordan. (2) There circumcision took place. (3) The passover was celebrated. (4) They ate of the old corn of the land. (5) The Captain of the Lord's host took his place at their head as leader and guide.
Gilgal seems to have been "the base" for all the conquest of the land, and well it might be, for there the Lord (Jehovah) said unto Joshua, "This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of that place was called Gilgal (that is 'rolling') unto this day." There "the children of Israel kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho." (Joshua 5:9-10.)
(a) Gilgal is their first camp in Canaan, where the stones are pitched; and to it after their battles they constantly return. It is their impregnable stronghold, and base of support. How should they not be strong in the remembrance of that marvelous deliverance! God is for them: who shall be against them? who shall force them back into that flood through which He has so marvelously brought them? It would be His dishonor. The stones abide here solidly with their firm assurance: "Israel came over this Jordan on dry ground." Thus "as the hills are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people." To reach them their enemies must strike through Him!
Gilgal, which signifies "Rolling," or "Rolling away," is Israel's centre of strength all through the conflicts recorded in the book of Joshua. To Gilgal they repaired, whether after victory or defeat, and from this camp they issued forth to battle.
It was at Gilgal the twelve stones from the bed of the Jordan were pitched for the memorial, which declared not only the divine power which had arrested the river, but which reminded Israel of the depths wherein the ark of the covenant had stood for them.
Such for us is the import of the Jordan. But God desires that the memorial of this victory should be continually under our eyes. Joshua commands the representatives of the twelve tribes to take twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the feet of the priests stood firm. They were to be for a memorial to the children of Israel, and were to be laid in the place where the people passed their first night in the land of Canaan. The place was Gilgal, but what was the signification of the stones? They represented the twelve tribes, the people, snatched from death by the ark which had stood in the very spot where deliverance was needed, and which had stayed the waters of Jordan so that Israel could pass over. They became a monument at the very entrance of Canaan, at Gilgal, a place to which (as we shall see later on) the people had always to return; they were henceforth to be a sign constantly under their eyes and those of their children.
Gilgal was the place to which Israel had come after they crossed the Jordan: the place where twelve stones from the river's bed had been set up as a monument to the might of Jehovah's hand, stretched forth on behalf of His people. There the reproach of Egypt had been rolled away, and there they had eaten of the old corn of the land. In marked contrast with the blessedness of Gilgal is the weeping of Bochim which was the result of Israel's failure. Like them, we can have the celebration of the Lord's goodness, if we act in obedience to the word of God; or we can experience the effects of our failure in the weeping of Bochim.
Gilgal
Gilgal is the place where Israel was circumcised after they eventually entered the promised land (Josh. 4:19–5:12). It represents the practical application of every typical lesson previously given concerning Christ’s death. The value of all the acts of God to bring them out of Egypt was made good here. At Gilgal, all those acts are rolled together, and the reproach of Egypt is finally rolled off Israel. For this latter reason it was named (Josh. 5:9).
Gilgal was a spot fraught with solemn and significant memories to a godly Israelite; and as a type, serves to remind the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ of what must of necessity be the true starting point of a walk of faithful testimony to God, and of realised fellowship with Christ.
Gilgal was the place where in the early days of their national life, Jehovah rolled away the reproach of Egypt from His redeemed people. Egypt, with its bitter memory of hardship, idolatry and slavery, was the house of bondage out of which, by the sprinkled blood of the Paschal lamb, and by the might of God's outstretched arm, they had been for ever delivered. At Gilgal, therefore, by the distinctive rite of circumcision — sign and seal of the covenant of grace made to Abraham — the people re-affirmed their separation to God and death to the old life.
Verses
- Joshua 4:19–2419And the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the eastern extremity of Jericho. 20And those twelve stones which they had taken out of the Jordan did Joshua set up in Gilgal. 21And he spoke to the children of Israel, saying, When your children hereafter ask their fathers, saying, What [mean] these stones? 22then ye shall let your children know, saying, On dry land did Israel come over this Jordan; 23because Jehovah your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until ye had passed over, as Jehovah your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had passed over; 24that all peoples of the earth might know the hand of Jehovah, that it is mighty; that ye might fear Jehovah your God continually.
- Joshua 5:2–122At that time Jehovah said to Joshua, Make thee stone-knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. 3And Joshua made him stone-knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of Araloth. 4And this is the cause why Joshua circumcised [them] all the people that had come out of Egypt, the males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they came out of Egypt. 5For all the people that came out were circumcised; but all the people that were born in the wilderness on the way, after they came out of Egypt, [them] had they not circumcised. 6For the children of Israel had walked forty years in the wilderness, till the whole nation of men of war had perished who had come out of Egypt, who had not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah; to whom Jehovah had sworn that he would not show them the land which Jehovah had sworn unto their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7And their sons [whom] he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised, for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them on the way. 8And it came to pass when the whole nation had finished being circumcised, that they abode in their place in the camp, till they were whole. 9And Jehovah said to Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. And the name of the place was called Gilgal to this day. 10And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and held the passover on the fourteenth day of the month, at even, in the plains of Jericho. 11And they ate of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened loaves, and roasted [corn] on that same day. 12And the manna ceased on the morrow, when they had eaten of the old corn of the land; and there was no more manna for the children of Israel; and they ate of the produce of the land of Canaan that year.