Bible Dictionary
Ajalon
Ajalon, also called Aijalon, was a town and valley assigned to Dan and later associated with the Levites. Another Ajalon lay in Zebulun; its valley was named in Joshua’s command concerning the sun and moon.
Definition
Ajalon, also called Aijalon, was a town and valley assigned to Dan and later given to the Kohathite Levites. Another Ajalon lay in Zebulun.
Biblical Usage
The Amorites remained in the Danite Ajalon, and the place later marked boundaries and military events. Joshua mentioned its valley in the command concerning the sun and moon. Ajalon also appears in the account of Jephthah’s conflict with Zebulun.
Historical Background
The principal Ajalon was near Beth-shemesh and has been identified with modern Yalo at the foot of the Beth-horon pass. It marked a boundary between Judah and Israel and was an important location in Israelite history.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
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 (Judg. 1:35). It was one of the Levitical cities given to the Kohathites (1 Chr. 6:69). It was not far from Beth-shemesh (2 Chr. 28:18). It was the boundary between the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, and is frequently mentioned in Jewish history (2 Chr. 11:10; 1 Sam. 14:31; 1 Chr. 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” (Josh. 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 (Judg. 12:12), the modern Jalun, three miles north of Cabul.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>aj'-a-lon. See AIJALON.</p>