Aijalon
Aijalon is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Yalo. It appears across 8 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
The Valley of Aijalon is forever enshrined in biblical memory through the dramatic account of Joshua's long day in Joshua 10:12–14, where Joshua commanded the sun to stand still over Gibeon and the moon over the Valley of Aijalon as Israel defeated the five Amorite kings. The miracle confirmed Israel's divinely empowered conquest and stands as one of Scripture's most remarkable theophanic moments. Aijalon also appears in Joshua 19:42 among Dan's allotted cities and in Judges 1:35 where the Amorites persisted in holding it. It was later fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:10) as a key defensive position guarding access to the Judean highlands. The valley served as a natural corridor from the coastal plain into the interior, making it a perpetually strategic location. Its mention in 1 Samuel 14:31 during Jonathan's victory over the Philistines further illustrates its military importance throughout the period of the judges and the early monarchy.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
The Valley of Aijalon is identified with the Wadi Ajalon (modern Nahal Ayalon), a broad valley running from the Shephelah toward the Judean foothills near modern Yalo, the site of ancient Aijalon city. The modern village of Yalo, depopulated in 1967, sits atop a low ridge overlooking the valley and preserves the ancient toponym. Archaeological surveys in the valley have identified occupation from the Bronze Age through Byzantine periods. The site's strategic value — controlling a major route from Jaffa to Jerusalem — made it important throughout ancient history. Excavations at nearby sites confirm dense settlement in this corridor during the Iron Age, consistent with the biblical picture of contested Canaanite and Israelite presence.
Verse Appearances (8)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →