Tel 'Eton, widely identified by scholars as the formidable Biblical city of Eglon, stands as a massive, elevated ruin (Tell) at a critical strategic junction where the western foothills of Hebron meet the plains of the Judean low hills (Shefela). This commanding site, spanning approximately 60 dunams (6 hectares), was a major urban center and a crucial fortified outpost of the Kingdom of Judah. Around the site is a large necropolis, consisting of hundreds of ancient burial places.
The king of Eglon was a key player in the coalition of five Amorite kings who massed against Joshua, setting the stage for one of the Bible's great battles. The conquest is vividly recorded (Joshua 10:5): “Therefore the five kings of the Amorites… king of Eglon, gathered themselves … and made war against it.”
Later, Joshua captured Eglon (Joshua 10 34-36): “And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it… And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword".
Recent, large-scale excavations have dramatically unearthed the deep, multi-layered history of this frontier fortress, revealing continuous occupation throughout the Canaanite and Israelite periods, as well as Persian and Byzantine periods. The excavations revealed a powerful Iron Age II city that was violently annihilated by the relentless forces of the Assyrian Empire. The archaeological record confirms a violent destruction in 701 BC during King Sennacherib’s infamous campaign against Judah. Excavators found a profound destruction layer peppered with evidence of siege, including numerous Assyrian arrowheads, a sad reminder of the city's last stand. A small settlement was later built on the hill during the Persian period, followed by Byzantine period farming activity.
More: https://www.biblewalks.com/eton/
