and besieged by Sennacherib and Nebuchadnezzar (2Ki 18:14; 2Ki 19:8; Jer 34:7), and was still inhabited by Jews after the return from the captivity (Neh 11:30). It is probably to be found in Um Lakis, an old place upon a low round hill, covered with heaps of small round stones thrown together in great confusion, containing relics of marble columns; it is about an hour and a quarter to the west of Ajlun, and seven hours to the west of Eleutheropolis.[1]Eglon: also in the lowlands of Judah (Jos 15:39). The present name is Ajlân, a heap of ruins, about three-quarters of an hour to the east of Um Lakis (see Rob. Pal. ii. p. 392, and Van de Velde, Mem. p. 308). In the Onom. (s. v. Eglon) it is erroneously identified with Odollam; whereas the situation of Agla, “at the tenth stone, as you go from Eleutheropolis to Gaza” (Onom. s. v. Βηθαλαΐ́μ, Bethagla), suits Eglon exactly.
Verse 5
These five kings marched against Gibeon and besieged the town. The king of Jerusalem headed the expedition, as his town was so near to Gibeon that he was the first to fear an attack from the Israelites.
- ↑ It is true that Robinson dispute the identity of Um Lakis with the ancient Lachish (Pal. ii. p. 388), but “not on any reasonable ground” (Van de Velde, Mem. p. 320). The statement in the Onom. (s. v. Lochis), that it was seven Roman miles to the south of Eleutheropolis, cannot prove much, as it may easily contain an error in the number, and Robinson does not admit its authority even in the case of Eglon (Pal. ii. p. 392). Still less can Knobel's conjecture be correct, that it is to be found in the old place called Sukkarijeh, two hours and a half to the south-west of Beit Jibrin (Eleutheropolis), as Sukkarijeh is on the east of Ajlun, whereas, according to Jos 10:31-36, Lachish is to be sought for on the west of Eglon.
