Halhul
Halhul is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Halhul was a city in the hill country of Judah, listed in Joshua 15:58 among the towns of the sixth district of Judah's hill country inheritance alongside Beth-zur, Gedor, Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon — six cities in total. Though Halhul appears only in this single territorial list, its inclusion among the towns of Judah's highlands reflects its established role as a settlement community in the tribal apportionment. The name may derive from a root suggesting trembling or quaking. Situated in the Judean hills north of Hebron, Halhul occupied territory that was historically significant throughout the monarchic period. Jewish tradition, reflected in various post-biblical sources, associates Halhul with the tomb of the prophet Gad, and local traditions have long venerated a tomb at the site. The city's position in the highlands between Hebron and Jerusalem made it part of the strategic backbone of Judean territory throughout the monarchy.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Halhul retains its ancient name in the modern Arab town of Halhul, located north of Hebron in the Judean hills of the West Bank — one of the relatively rare cases in which a biblical place name has been preserved essentially unchanged through millennia. The modern town sits on and around the ancient tell, which has been identified by scholars since the nineteenth century. Archaeological surveys and limited excavations have confirmed Iron Age occupation at the site, consistent with its listing in the Joshua town lists. A mosque and associated shrine in the town incorporate older masonry and are traditionally associated with the tomb of the prophet Gad. The preservation of the ancient name provides one of the clearest toponymic links between biblical geography and the modern landscape.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →