What is…
Giloh

Meaning: exile

This is a city in the hill-country of the Tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:51). Its residents are called Gilonites.

It was one of many Canaanite cities conquered under the command of Joshua.

In later years it became the native place or residence of the traitor Ahithophel “the Gilonite” (Joshua 15:51; 2 Samuel 15:12), and where he committed suicide (2 Samuel 17:23). Ahitophel was the grandfather of Bathsheba.

It has been identified with Beit Jala, Israel (aka Bayt Jala). Today, this is a Palestinian Christian town (mostly Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic).

“A site dating to the period of Israelite settlement during Iron Age I (1200–1000 BC) was identified and excavated at the nearby modern suburb of Gilo. The site revealed a small planned settlement with dwellings along the perimeter of the site, together with pottery dating to the 12th century BC. The southern part of the Iron Age site at Gilo is believed to be one of the earliest Israelite sites from this period.

The site was surrounded by a defensive wall and divided into large yards, possibly sheep pens, with houses at the edges. Buildings at the site are amongst the earliest examples of the pillared 4 room house characteristic of Iron Age Israelite architecture, featuring a courtyard divided by stone pillars, a rectangular back room and rooms along the courtyard. The foundations of a structure built of large stones were also uncovered, possibly a fortified defense tower.”