📖 Biblical Definition
Major Israelite encampment between the Jordan River and Jericho immediately after the crossing of the Jordan under Joshua (Joshua 4:19-20; 5:9-10; 9:6; 10:6-7, 9, 15, 43; 14:6). Gilgal became Joshua's military base of operations throughout the conquest of southern Canaan: and Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal is a refrain in Joshua 9-10. Two foundational episodes occurred at Gilgal. (1) The second circumcision of Israel: the wilderness generation had not circumcised their sons; before the conquest could begin, Joshua circumcised the new generation (Joshua 5:2-9), and the LORD said, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day — the name Gilgal meaning rolling away. (2) The first Passover in the land: And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho (Joshua 5:10). The next day they ate of the old corn of the land; the manna ceased after they had eaten the corn of the land (Joshua 5:11-12). Gilgal remained significant through the period of the Judges (the Angel coming from Gilgal to Bochim, Judges 2:1) and Samuel (Samuel's regular circuit of Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah, 1 Samuel 7:16); Saul was confirmed king at Gilgal (1 Samuel 11:14-15) and later rebuked by Samuel at Gilgal for the unlawful sacrifice (1 Samuel 13:7-15). Hosea and Amos later condemn Gilgal for its idolatries (Hosea 4:15; 9:15; 12:11; Amos 4:4; 5:5). The patriarchal-Reformed reader receives Gilgal as the type of the LORD's rolling-away of the reproach of bondage at the moment of entry into the inheritance.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Major Israelite encampment between Jordan and Jericho after the Jordan crossing; site of the second circumcision and first Passover in the land (Joshua 5); Joshua's military base; later corrupted by idolatry.
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GILGAL, proper n. (OT place; Hebrew circle, wheel, rolling) Major Israelite encampment between Jordan and Jericho after Joshua's Jordan crossing. Joshua's military base for southern Canaan conquest. (1) Second circumcision of Israel (Joshua 5:2-9): the wilderness generation's uncircumcised sons circumcised before the conquest; the LORD rolled away the reproach of Egypt; the name Gilgal means rolling away. (2) First Passover in the land (Joshua 5:10-12); manna ceased the next day. Samuel's regular circuit included Gilgal (1 Samuel 7:16); Saul confirmed king there (1 Samuel 11:14-15) and rebuked there (1 Samuel 13:7-15). Later condemned for idolatries (Hosea 4:15; Amos 4:4; 5:5).
📖 Key Scripture
Joshua 5:9 — "And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day."
Joshua 5:10-12 — "And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land."
1 Samuel 7:16 — "And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places."
Hosea 4:15 — "Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, The LORD liveth."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
No major postmodern redefinition. The principal pastoral application is the typology of Gilgal as the LORD's rolling-away of the reproach of bondage at the moment of entry into the inheritance.
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Gilgal as a place name does not undergo lexical corruption. The principal theological recovery is the typological substance: Gilgal is the site of the LORD's rolling-away of the reproach of Egyptian bondage at the moment of Israel's entry into the inheritance. The double sign of circumcision (the covenant identification) and Passover (the redemption from bondage) accomplished at Gilgal sets the theological frame for the entry into the land: covenant identification + redemption-applied is the LORD's preparation of His people for inheritance. The NT believer is gilgal-people: identified by baptism (the NT covenant sign replacing OT circumcision), redeemed by Christ our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7), entering the inheritance of the kingdom under His command.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Joshua 4-5; first encampment after Jordan crossing; second circumcision and first Passover in the land; Samuel's circuit; Saul's rebuke.
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['Hebrew', 'H1537', 'Gilgal', 'circle, wheel, rolling']
['Hebrew', 'H1556', 'galal', 'to roll (verbal root)']
['Hebrew', 'H6235', "'eseh", 'Passover (related concept)']
Usage
"Gilgal: first encampment after Jordan crossing; Joshua's military base."
"Site of second circumcision and first Passover in the land (Joshua 5)."
"Typologically: the LORD's rolling-away of the reproach at entry into inheritance."