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<< Text Pages >> The Gilgal associated peacefully with Joshua - Stone Circle in Palestine

Submitted by Andy B on Wednesday, 03 February 2010  Page Views: 7352

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: The Gilgal associated peacefully with Joshua Alternative Name: Khirbat al Mafjir
Country: Palestine
NOTE: This site is 2.483 km away from the location you searched for.

Type: Stone Circle
Nearest Town: Jericho  Nearest Village: Khirbat al Mafjir
Latitude: 31.883333N  Longitude: 35.466667E
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
Destroyed Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
no data Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
no data Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
2

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Stone Circle in The Bible. The main mention of Gilgal is when the Book of Joshua states that the Israelites first encamped there after having crossed the Jordan River. In the narrative, after setting up camp, Joshua orders the Israelites to take twelve stones from the river, one for each tribe, and place them there in memory. Some modern scholars have argued that this is an aetiological myth created by the author of Joshua to explain away what is in reality a neolithic stone circle.

According to the biblical narrative, Joshua then orders the Israelites who had been born during the exodus to be circumcised. The Bible refers to the location this occurred as Gibeath Haaraloth; some English translations of the Bible identify Gibeath Haaraloth as the name of the place. However, since the place is elsewhere identified as still being Gilgal, and since Gibeath Haaraloth means hill of foreskins, some scholars now think this is simply a description, and some modern translations follow their lead.

The narrative continues by stating that the place was named Gilgal in memory of the reproach of Egypt being removed by this act of mass circumcision. Although Gilgal is phonetically similar to gallothi, meaning I have removed in Hebrew, some believe that it is more likely that Gilgal means circle of standing stones, and refers to the stone circle that was there.

Some textual scholars see the circumcision explanation, and the 12 stones explanation, as having come from different source texts; the circumcision explanation being a way to explain how the location was regarded as religiously important in local culture, without mentioning the presence of a religious monument (the stone circle) whose existence might have offended the author's religious sensibilities. It is considered by some that this stone circle was the (unnamed) religious sanctuary that was severely condemned by the Book of Amos (Amos 4:4, 5:5) and Book of Hosea (Hosea 4:15)

This Gilgal 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.

Source: Wikipedia
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Nearby Images from Flickr
Al-Rahma Mosque, Jericho
Sunbeam Over the West Bank
The Shalom al Israel Synagogue in Jericho - the sign at the entrance
The Shalom al Israel Synagogue in Jericho - priestly blessing at the end of the shahrith prayer
noised
Shalom al Israel Synagogue - Mosaic

The above images may not be of the site on this page, but were taken nearby. They are loaded from Flickr so please click on them for image credits.


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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 4.7km SW 218° Jericho* Ancient Village or Settlement
 15.4km SE 125° Tulaylat al-Ghassul Ancient Village or Settlement
 15.8km S 182° Qumran* Ancient Village or Settlement
 21.4km ESE 106° Rawdah* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 22.8km WSW 249° Shuafat road Chalcolithic period site* Ancient Village or Settlement
 24.4km WSW 243° 2000 year old stone fragment in Jerusalem* Marker Stone
 24.8km WSW 242° Temple Mount* Ancient Temple
 25.0km WSW 241° City of David* Ancient Village or Settlement
 25.1km WSW 241° Hezekiah's Tunnel* Ancient Mine, Quarry or other Industry
 25.4km NNE 21° Damiyah dolmen field* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 25.6km NW 319° Tel Shiloh Ancient Village or Settlement
 27.9km WSW 238° Talpiot Tomb Rock Cut Tomb
 28.3km NW 305° The Gilgal associated with Elijah and Elisha Stone Circle
 29.4km SE 125° Dolmens at Wadi Jadid* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 29.9km WSW 250° Tel Motza* Ancient Village or Settlement
 30.8km SW 234° Rachel's Tomb Ancient Temple
 31.2km N 8° Argaman-Gilgal sanctuary Ancient Temple
 31.9km WSW 253° Motza Neolithic City* Ancient Village or Settlement
 32.2km ESE 103° Hesbon* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 32.2km SW 221° Herodion* Ancient Palace
 33.7km SE 139° el-Mareighat* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 33.7km SE 139° South of Khajar Mansub Menhirs & Dolmens* Chambered Tomb
 33.8km SE 139° Khajar Mansub* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 35.5km ESE 121° Adeihmeh* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 36.0km ESE 121° Madaba Mosaic Map* Misc. Earthwork
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"The Gilgal associated peacefully with Joshua" | Login/Create an Account | 1 comment
  
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Re: The Gilgal associated peacefully with Joshua by motist on Wednesday, 30 June 2010
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Andy ,my friend Prof. Adam Zartal did survey in the Gilgal

see: Archaeological discovery in Jordan valley: Enormous 'foot-shaped' enclosures

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-04/uoh-adi040609.php

http://www.astigan.com/2009/04/06/enormous-foot-shaped-enclosures-discovered-in-jordan/

http://www.biblewalks.com/sites/GilgalArgaman.html

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