Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox

Keil and Delitzsch <strong>Commentary</strong> on the Old Testament
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.
(Note: 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 vv. 31-36, Lachish is to be sought for on the west of Eglon.)
Eglon: also in the lowlands of Judah (Josh 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. Beethalai'm (NT:963), Bethagla ), suits
Eglon exactly.
Joshua 10:5
Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of
Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered
themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before
Gibeon, and made war against it.
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.
Joshua 10:6-11
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