1. 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 (compare 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 center of heavenly things on which the Christian feeds (Josh. 4:19-20; Josh. 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 (Josh. 9:6; Josh. 10:6-15; Josh. 14:6). It was here that Saul was made king, 1 Samuel 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 (Hos. 4:15; Hos. 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 Nehemiah 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.
2. 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 neighborhood 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.)
3. A place whose king is called “the king of the nations of Gilgal,” or, as in the RV, “the king of Goiim in Gilgal.” He was slain under Joshua. Being mentioned between Dor and Tirzah it is apparently a third Gilgal (Josh. 12:23). It has been identified with Jiljulieh, 32° 10' N, 34° 57' E.
4. In Deuteronomy 11:30 Moses, speaking of the mounts of Gerizim and Ebal, asks “Are they not.... in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh?” This does not at all agree with any of the above, but has not been identified with any place in the neighborhood of the two mountains.