Location

Giloh is located in the neighborhood of Giloh on a ridge southwest of Jerusalem, between the Valley of Rephaim to the north and the town of Beit Jala to the south. The site offers an extensive view of Jerusalem, the Judean Hills, and the Judean Desert. It is situated in barren terrain without local water sources.

Identification

Giloh may be identified with Baal-Perazim, mentioned in the account of David’s struggle against the Philistines in the Valley of Rephaim (2 Samuel 5:20). This was probably the name of one of the summits in the vicinity of this valley. The hill on which Giloh is situated is near the Rephaim Valley and is the only summit in this area where Iron Age I remains have been found. Its fortified Iron Age II tower reinforces the possibility that this is the Mount Perazim mentioned in Isaiah 28:21. The name Perazim may be related to the Perez family, one of the most prominent in Judah, who settled in the vicinity of Bethlehem.

History and Biblical Context

Giloh’s history spans from the Iron Age I to the Iron Age II. The site’s biblical context, particularly its association with Baal-Perazim and Mount Perazim, places it within the narrative of David’s reign and the territorial dynamics of ancient Judah.

Excavations

Salvage excavations were carried out between 1978 and 1982, directed by A. Mazar, under the auspices of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums and the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Findings

• Iron Age I: A single-phase settlement from the Iron Age I covers approximately 2 acres. The southern sector was surrounded by a stone defensive wall, about 1 meter wide. Inside this defensive wall, remains of dwellings were found, including a complete dwelling unit with a house and a large open area used as an animal pen. The dwelling included a square inner courtyard, divided by a row of three hewn stone pillars, and rooms on the northern and western sides. This house can be regarded as an early attempt to construct a “four-room house.”
• Iron Age II: A watchtower was constructed in the Iron Age II on the highest point on the site. The square tower (11.15 by 11.15 meters) was built of stones more than 1 meter wide. The tower was likely a lookout post guarding the southwestern approach to Jerusalem.

Sources

Stern, Ephraim-New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land 2-Israel Exploration Society (1993)