Geliloth
Geliloth is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Araq ed Deir. It appears across 3 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Geliloth is a geographic landmark on the boundary of the tribe of Benjamin, mentioned in Joshua 18:17 as a point along the tribal border running east of Jerusalem near the descent of the Adummim pass. The name means "circles" or "districts" in Hebrew and may refer to rounded hills or a distinct topographic feature in the landscape. Some scholars have identified Geliloth with Gilgal (Joshua 15:7), as both names share the same Hebrew root and appear in parallel boundary descriptions, suggesting they may refer to the same place known by variant names. In Joshua 18:17, the boundary of Benjamin "passed along toward Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim," positioning the site near the famous road descending from Jerusalem toward Jericho — a route later made famous by the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30–37). The Adummim pass, known for its reddish limestone cliffs, was a major arterial route connecting the hill country with the Jordan Valley. Geliloth thus served as a fixed landmark in the administrative geography of tribal Israel, helping define the boundary between Judah to the south and Benjamin to the north in the rugged terrain east of Jerusalem.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Geliloth is tentatively identified with Araq ed-Deir, a site located east of Jerusalem near the descent toward Jericho, in the vicinity of the modern Wadi Qelt region. The Adummim pass, referenced in connection with Geliloth in Joshua 18, is well-known archaeologically as an ancient road corridor traversed continuously from prehistoric times through the Byzantine period and beyond. The terrain east of Jerusalem in this region has been surveyed and studied in connection with the boundaries of ancient Benjamin and Judah. Roman-period remains, including a fortified caravanserai at the traditional site of the Good Samaritan inn (Khan el-Ahmar), attest to the route's long-term importance. Iron Age sites along this corridor remain less systematically documented than later periods.
Verse Appearances (3)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →