Where was Migdal-gad located in the Bible?

Migdal-gad was an ancient city in the territory of Judah, within the region of Judea. Its modern archaeological site is identified as Khirbet el Mejdeleh in Israel.

What does the Bible say happened at Migdal-gad?

The Bible does not record any specific events at Migdal-gad. It is only mentioned once as a location within the inheritance of the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:37), listed among other towns in the lowland district.

Why is Migdal-gad significant in biblical history?

Its significance lies in being part of the fulfillment of God's promise to give the land of Canaan to the tribes of Israel. As a town allotted to Judah, it represents the settlement and establishment of God's people in the Promised Land.

Migdal-gad

cityOld TestamentJudea

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Modern Name

Khirbet el Mejdeleh

Country

Israel

Region

Judea

Coordinates

31.5372, 34.9019

Migdal-gad is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Khirbet el Mejdeleh. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.

Biblical History

Migdal-gad appears in Scripture in Joshua 15:37, listed among the cities in the lowland (Shephelah) district allocated to the tribe of Judah during the distribution of the Promised Land. It is grouped with Zenan, Hadashah, and other towns in Judah's western foothills, the strategically important buffer zone between the coastal plain controlled by the Philistines and the Judean hill country. The name Migdal-gad means "tower of Gad" or "tower of fortune," with "Gad" possibly referring to a Canaanite deity of fortune rather than the Israelite tribe. This pre-Israelite name may reflect the site's Canaanite origins before its incorporation into Judah's tribal territory. Though no narrative events are recorded at Migdal-gad, its location in the Shephelah placed it within a region of frequent conflict between Israel and the Philistines, an area that witnessed many of the battles recorded in Judges and Samuel. The careful enumeration of such towns in Joshua 15 demonstrates the thoroughness of the land distribution and God's intent that Judah occupy and control this strategically vital lowland region.

Archaeological & Historical Notes

Migdal-gad has been identified with Khirbet el-Mejdeleh, a site in the Shephelah (Judean lowlands) of modern Israel. The Arabic name preserves the "Migdal" (tower) element of the ancient name. The site is located in the general area described in Joshua 15:37 among the western foothills towns of Judah. The Shephelah region has been extensively surveyed and many of its tells excavated, revealing rich Iron Age occupation layers reflecting the intense Israelite-Philistine interaction described in biblical narratives. However, Khirbet el-Mejdeleh itself has not been the subject of major archaeological excavation, and the identification, while plausible on the basis of name preservation and location, has not been confirmed through inscriptional evidence.

Verse Appearances (1)

Josh

Josh 15:37

Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →

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