Hali
Hali is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Galilee in modern-day Israel. Known today as Tel Alil. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Hali was a border city in the territory allotted to the tribe of Asher following the Israelite conquest of Canaan. It appears in Joshua 19:25 within the description of Asher's boundary, listed alongside Helkath, Beten, Achshaph, Allammelech, and Amad as defining the tribe's southern border. The tribal territory of Asher extended from the western slopes of Galilee down to the Carmel coast, making it a prosperous coastal and agricultural region. Though Hali itself receives no further biblical attention, its inclusion in the boundary list reflects the careful divine demarcation of each tribe's inheritance in the Promised Land. The region of western Galilee in which Hali is situated was fertile and strategically positioned, with access to Mediterranean trade routes. The tribe of Asher was promised rich agricultural produce (Deuteronomy 33:24–25), and the towns of its territory, including Hali, were part of the fulfillment of those patriarchal blessings.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Hali is tentatively identified with Tel Alil (also written Tel Ali or Khirbet Ali), located in the western Galilee region of modern Israel near the Kishon basin. The site has been surveyed as part of broader archaeological investigations of the Asher tribal territory. Surface surveys have identified pottery from the Bronze and Iron Ages, consistent with the period of Israelite settlement. The identification of Asher's border towns in Joshua 19 presents ongoing challenges to scholars, as many of the place names are attested only once and their ancient spellings may have undergone significant change. The western Galilee lowlands in which Tel Alil sits were densely settled in antiquity, with numerous tells preserving evidence of continuous habitation from the Chalcolithic period through the Byzantine era.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →