Giloh
“Exile or circle”
Summary
A town in the hill country of Judah, notable as the birthplace of Ahithophel, David's counselor who joined Absalom's rebellion.
☩Location and History
Giloh was among the first group of cities assigned to Judah in the southwestern hill country, listed after Goshen and Holon. The name may mean 'exile' or 'circle.' The site has been tentatively identified with ruins at Khirbet Jala in the hills northwest of Hebron, though De Saulcy associated it with Beit-Jala near Bethlehem. The settlement appears to have been located in a region suited to Ahithophel's hasty return after his counsel was rejected.
☩Home of Ahithophel
Giloh is most famous as the hometown of Ahithophel, David's counselor whose wisdom was regarded as though one had inquired at the oracle of God. When Absalom raised his rebellion at Hebron, he summoned Ahithophel from Giloh to join his standard. After Absalom rejected Ahithophel's military counsel in favor of Hushai's, the disgraced advisor returned to Giloh, put his household in order, and hanged himself.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Giloh," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Giloh," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Giloh," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Giloh," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 5.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Giloh," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).