Etymology and Meaning:
Ajalon, also spelled Aijalon, is derived from the Hebrew word "אַיָּלוֹן" (Ayyalon), which means "place of deer" or "field of stags." This name reflects the region's historical abundance of wildlife and fertile land.

Biblical References:
Ajalon is mentioned several times in the Old Testament, primarily as a geographical location of significance in the narratives of Israel's history.

1. Tribal Allocation:
Ajalon was allocated to the tribe of Dan as part of their inheritance in the Promised Land. In Joshua 19:42, it is listed among the towns given to Dan: "Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah."

2. Levitical City:
Ajalon was also designated as a Levitical city. In 1 Chronicles 6:69, it is mentioned as one of the cities given to the Levites: "Aijalon with its pasturelands, and Gath Rimmon with its pasturelands."

3. Battle of Ajalon:
Ajalon is famously known for the miraculous event during the battle led by Joshua against the Amorites. In Joshua 10:12-13, Joshua commands the sun to stand still over Gibeon and the moon over the Valley of Aijalon: "On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: 'O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.' So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies."

4. Philistine Conflict:
Ajalon was a site of conflict between Israel and the Philistines. In 1 Samuel 14:31, during the reign of King Saul, the Israelites pursued the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, indicating its strategic importance: "That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were very weary."

5. Rehoboam's Fortifications:
King Rehoboam fortified Ajalon as part of his defensive strategy against potential invasions. In 2 Chronicles 11:10, it is listed among the fortified cities: "Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin."

Geographical Significance:
Ajalon was located in the Shephelah, the lowland region of ancient Israel, which served as a buffer zone between the coastal plains and the central highlands. Its position made it a critical site for military and trade routes, contributing to its frequent mention in biblical military narratives.

Historical and Archaeological Insights:
The Valley of Ajalon is identified with the modern-day Ayalon Valley, situated northwest of Jerusalem. Archaeological findings in the region have uncovered remnants of ancient settlements, fortifications, and artifacts that corroborate its historical significance as depicted in biblical accounts.

Theological Implications:
The events associated with Ajalon, particularly the miraculous halting of the sun and moon, underscore themes of divine intervention and the power of God in the history of Israel. These narratives serve as testimonies to God's sovereignty and His active role in fulfilling His promises to His people.

Cultural Impact:
Ajalon's biblical legacy has influenced Christian thought and literature, often symbolizing divine aid and the triumph of faith over adversity. Its mention in hymns, sermons, and theological discussions continues to inspire believers with the assurance of God's presence and power in their lives.Ajalon

a chain; strength; a stag

And Aij'alon, place of deer.

(1.) A town and valley originally assigned to the tribe of Dan, from which, however, they could not drive the Amorites (Judges 1:35). It was one of the Levitical cities given to the Kohathites (1 Chronicles 6:69). It was not far from Beth-shemesh (2 Chronicles 28:18). It was the boundary between the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, and is frequently mentioned in Jewish history (2 Chronicles 11:10; 1 Samuel 14:31; 1 Chronicles 8:13). With reference to the valley named after the town, Joshua uttered the celebrated command, "Sun, stand thou still on Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon" (Joshua 10:12). It has been identified as the modern Yalo, at the foot of the Beth-horon pass (q.v.). In the Tell Amarna letters Adoni-zedek (q.v.) speaks of the destruction of the "city of Ajalon" by the invaders, and describes himself as "afflicted, greatly afflicted" by the calamities that had come on the land, urging the king of Egypt to hasten to his help.

(2.) A city in the tribe of Zebulun (Judges 12:12), the modern Jalun, three miles north of Cabul.

AJALON

aj'-a-lon. See AIJALON.

357. Ayyalon -- "deer," the name of several cities in Palestine
... NASB Word Usage Aijalon (10). Aijalon, Ajalon. From 'ayal; deer-field; Ajalon, the
name of five places in Palestine -- Aijalon, Ajalon. see HEBREW 'ayal. ...
/hebrew/357.htm - 6k

Praying Saints of the Old Testaments
... upon the occasion, cried out in the sight and in the hearing of Israel, "Sun, stand
thou still upon Gideon, and thou moon in the Valley of Ajalon." And the sun ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/i praying saints of the.htm

On the Prophet Isaiah. I.
... heathen host should escape on the descent of night, cried out, saying, "Sun, stand
thou still in Gibeon; and thou moon, in the valley of Ajalon," [1278] until ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on the prophet isaiah i.htm

From Letter xxix . --(For 357. ) from the Twenty-Ninth Letter, of ...
... And if the sun stood still in Gibeon [4532] , and the moon in the valley of Ajalon,
yet this was the work, not of the son of Nun, but of the Lord, Who heard ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/from letter xxix for 357.htm

Perpetual Youth
... Many a despairing voice has prayed as the sands ran out, and joys fled, 'Sun, stand
thou still on Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon,' but in vain ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/perpetual youth.htm

Of Stations, and of the Hours of Prayer.
... [1085] The sun "stood" in Gibeon, and the moon in Ajalon; the sun and the moon
"stood in station until the People was avenged of his enemies, and the sun stood ...
/.../on fasting in opposition to the psychics/chapter x of stations and of.htm

The Content of Prayer: Its Four Moods
... Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun,
stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon;" and in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen on prayer/chapter ix the content of.htm

On the Diversity of Spiritual Gifts.
... him, though in the war with the Jebusites he had made the sun stand still over against
Gibeon, and the moon over against the valley of Ajalon, [3569] because ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec i on the diversity of.htm

The Bitterness and Blessedness of the Brevity of Life
... pray, 'Sun! stand thou still on Gibeon; and thou moon! in the valley of
Ajalon,'"the tramp of the hours goes on. The poets paint ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the bitterness and blessedness of.htm

Letter cviii. To Eustochium.
... up lower and higher Beth-horon, cities founded by Solomon [2769] but subsequently
destroyed by several devastating wars; seeing on her right Ajalon and Gibeon ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cviii to eustochium.htm

Five Kings in a Cave
... up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/five kings in a cave.htm

Ajalon (10 Occurrences)
... to the valley named after the town, Joshua uttered the celebrated command, "Sun,
stand thou still on Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon" (Joshua 10 ...
/a/ajalon.htm - 10k

Shephelah (2 Occurrences)
... HGHL, 203;). "North of Ajalon the low hills which run out on Sharon are
connected with the high mountains behind them. You ascend ...
/s/shephelah.htm - 15k

Territory (140 Occurrences)
... the more broken mountain groups of "Samaria." Another less natural, though much
more historic, frontier is that which traverses the Vale of Ajalon, follows the ...
/t/territory.htm - 56k

Valley (187 Occurrences)
... 20:26); the king's "dale" (Genesis 14:17); of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2, 12), of Achor
(Joshua 7:24; Isaiah 65:10), Succoth (Psalm 60:6), Ajalon (Joshua 10:12 ...
/v/valley.htm - 75k

Jethlah (1 Occurrence)
... JETHLAH. jeth'-la (yithlah). See ITHLAH. Multi-Version Concordance Jethlah (1
Occurrence). Joshua 19:42 And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah, (KJV WBS YLT). ...
/j/jethlah.htm - 6k

Jithlah (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Jithlah (1 Occurrence). Joshua 19:42
and Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jithlah, (DBY). ...
/j/jithlah.htm - 6k

Guimzo (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Chronicles 28:18 And the Philistines invaded the cities of the lowland, and of
the south of Judah, and took Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Socho ...
/g/guimzo.htm - 6k

Beth-horon (12 Occurrences)
... were opposing King Saul at Michmash they sent a company of their men to hold "the
way of Beth-horon." This pass ascends from the plain of Ajalon (now Yalo) and ...
/b/beth-horon.htm - 30k

Beriah (10 Occurrences)
... (3.) A Benjamite who with his brother Shema founded Ajalon and expelled the Gittites
(1 Chronicles 8:13). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BERIAH; BERIITES. ...
/b/beriah.htm - 10k

Bethhoron (12 Occurrences)
... were opposing King Saul at Michmash they sent a company of their men to hold "the
way of Beth-horon." This pass ascends from the plain of Ajalon (now Yalo) and ...
/b/bethhoron.htm - 30k

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