The city of Aijalom of Dan, was a small town located in the region of sefela, close to the Mediterranean Sea. The city was at the southern end of a small region that was named after the city.
Biblical History of Aijalom of Dan
This city was founded by the Canaanites or the Amorites before the Israeli arrival in the region. The city was used as a small fort that protected the region close to the valley.
Israeli Conquest of Aijalom of Dan
During the Israeli conquest of Canaan there was a tough battle near the valley of Aijalom. In the region Joshua and Israeli troops fought against five Amorite kings.
At the time, the Amorite kings made a military alliance to attack the Israeli army concentrated in the city of Gibeon, also called Gibeon.
Upon learning of the attack, Joshua consulted the Lord and gathered his army, which was in Gilgal, for the counterattack. Despite the strength of the Amorite army, God He cast confusion on the enemies and gave victory to Israel.
The Israelites pursued their enemies by the cities of Beth-Horom, Azeca and Maquedá. As described in Joshua 10:13, the leader Joshua prayed to God asking the sun and moon to stop over the city of Gieom and over the valley of Aijalom until all his enemies were dead. According to his prayer, the Lord stopped the sun and the moon, A also sent hail on his enemies.
After the conquest of Canaan, Aijalom was attributed to the tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:40-42) and later designated as the Levite city for the sons of Coate (Joshua 21:24).
Danita Domain on Aijalom
Initially the tribe of Dan failed to dominate the city of expelling the Amorites from Aijalom. However, the biblical text suggests that the tribe of Ephraim or the tribe of Manasseh came to the aid of the Danites and helped them to dominate the region.
As for the tribe of Dan, the Amorites forced it to return to the mountainous region and did not allow it to go down to the plain. The Amorites were determined to stay on Mount Heres, in Aijalom and Saalbim, but when Joseph’s descendants were strengthened, they subjected the Amorites to forced labor.
Judges 1:34-35 (NVT)
This may explain why in 1 Chronicles 6:69 he mentions Aijalom as belonging to the tribe of Ephraim and given by them to the Kohathites. A little ahead in the text, after the division of the Kingdom of Israel into the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah), the city is cited as the region dominated by Berias and Sema, men who drove the inhabitants of Gate.
King Saul’s Battles Against the Philistines in Aijalom
During the reign of King Saul, the city of Aijalom of Dan is mentioned as the first place where the king achieved victory against the Philistines.
The context of these battles that led to the first victory against the Philistine army is troubled. Saul took a foolish oath by saying ‘Cursed be everyone who eats before dusk, before I have revenge on my enemies!’ (1Sam 14:24 – NIV).
Jonathan, son of Saul, played a big role in this battle, with great courage and cunning, he and his squire infiltrated the Philistine army, killed some enemy soldiers and caused confusion among the Philistine troops. During this moment of confusion, the Israeli army invaded the enemy camp and defeated its troops.
According to the biblical text (1 Samuel 14:31) the Israelites persecuted the Philistines from the city of Michmas to the city of Aijalom of Dan.
Aijalom during the reign of Judah
Around 998 BC, a few years after the division of the kingdom of Israel in two. The city of Aijalom of Dan was fortified to defend the kingdom of Judah against the kingdom of Israel to the north (2 Chronicles 11:5-12).
Philistine domain in Aijalom of Dan
During the reign of the Ahaz of Judah, there was a great war between the Philistines and the Jews. At this time the people of Israel had lost the military strength of the times of David and Solomon.
due to this weakening of the army, and the apostasy Of the people, several Jewish cities ended up falling into Philistine rule. Among these cities were Beth-Semes and Aijalom of Dan (2Ch 28:18).
Decline and disappearance of Aijalom of Dan
Little is known about the city after the Philistine rule. Most likely, the city was refortified by the Philistines and used by them for a few years, until the Assyrian and Babylonian rule of Canaan.
With the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions, it is likely that the city was conquered by these peoples and destroyed, so that it would not be rebuilt and used as a fortress for the defense of regional peoples.
According to the letters tell amarna Written by Adoni-Zedec, the city was destroyed by invaders who brought great calamity over it. Supposedly its residents asked the Pharaoh of Egypt for help, who sent a small aid to the city.[1]
Geography of the city of Aijalom of Dan
The city was located in the valley of Aijalom. This valley is the northernmost of several valleys that cut through the hills of sefela, and historically served as a passage between the region of the plains and the central mountains of the country, close to Jerusalem.
This valley was well irrigated by the rains that rose from the Mediterranean Sea, which made the region very green with many trees and shrubs. Thanks to the rains and the favorable climate, the region was greatly explored by the planting of grains and vineyards.
The city’s economy was primarily centered on agriculture and the trade of small local ceramic products.
Location of Aijalom of Dan
It is believed that the ancient city of Aijalom de Dan is located where the small village of yalo. This village lies to the north of the road that connects Jerusalem to Tel Aviv-Yafo, about 21 km northwest of Jerusalem.
Despite being a possibility, the village of Yalo is located in the region that formerly belonged to the tribe of Judah and not the tribe of Dan. Because of this, it is not possible to clearly confirm that the ancient biblical city is close to Yalo.
Aijalom is mentioned on one of the tablets of Amarna, stone tablets found in Egypt that record letters exchanged between nations of antiquity. In these tables the city is identified as the old aialuna, a city that made several trade agreements with Egypt.
Meaning of the name “Aijalom”
The name “Aijalom” or “Aijalon” from Hebrew ayalon It means “place of the gazelles”, “place of the doe” or “region of the deer”[2].
Its name refers to the region where the city is located, a green place rich in fauna.
Other cities named Aijalom
In addition to Aijalom of the tribe of Dan, another city of the same name is already located in the tribe of Zebulun, in the northern region of Israel.
This other city was less important than that of the tribe of Dan, being used basically as housing by the peasants of the region.
The greatest mention of this other city is found in Judges 12:12, in which the city is mentioned as the burial place of Judge Elom, the tenth Israeli judge.
Learn more
[Vídeo] The Sun and the Moon are stopped: “Sun, stop at Gibeao and you, Moon, in the valley of Ayalom. Denise Godoy.
Sources
[1] aijalom. JW.
[2] aijalom. bible.com.br.
- Aroer – 10 de October de 2025
- Aijalom of Zebulun – 10 de October de 2025
- Aijalom of Dan – 10 de October de 2025