Giloh

Giloh is a Judahite town named in Joshua's allotment and remembered later as the home of Ahithophel, David's counselor.

A Town in Judah

It appears in the city-list of Judah's hill country, grouped with Goshen and Holon: "and Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages" (Jos 15:51).

The Home of Ahithophel the Gilonite

The town surfaces again at the start of Absalom's revolt. Absalom recalls his father's counselor from Giloh: "And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom" (2Sa 15:12). The gentilic "Gilonite" ties Ahithophel to the town directly, and the summons from Giloh is the moment David's chief counselor is brought across to the conspiracy.