Ajalon

Ajalon (also spelled Aijalon, meaning place of deer) was a town and valley of strategic importance in the Shephelah. Originally assigned to Dan and later to Benjamin, it was among the Levitical cities given to the Kohathite priests (1 Chr. 6:69). The valley of Ajalon is most famous as the site of Joshua's command for the sun and moon to stand still while Israel pursued the five Amorite kings (Josh. 10:12), a miracle extending daylight long enough to complete the rout.

Rehoboam fortified the town (2 Chr. 11:10), and it later fell to Philistine attack during Ahaz's reign (2 Chr. 28:18). Its position commanding the gateway between the coastal plain and the Judean highlands made it a recurrently contested site throughout the monarchy period.