Aijalon

 

    Aijalon in Hebrew is 'ayyālôn (אַיָּלוֹן).  It means "place of deer" or "gazelle".  Aijalon was city in the hill country of Judah in the Dan territory.  It was 14 miles NW of Jerusalem.  This city is remembered as the location where the sun stood still.  It had many different rulers over time.  Many battles were fought in it's valley including the crusades.

    Israel won the battle with the southern armies and Joshua prayed.  When we have victory in life, it is important to remember to thank God.  Don't pray a vague thank you for this, but choose your words to have meaning and show true gratitude like Joshua did.  He prayed publicly so his nation knew who the victory belonged.  

    Joshua's prayer made the sun stand still over Gibeon and the moon over the Valley of Aijalon.  This enabled the Israelites to have more than one victory, but they won the war too.  The sun did not set like a normal day and moon stayed still too.  There has never been another day like that day.  Jesus said that if you have the faith of a mustard, then you can move mountains.  Joshua's faithful prayer proves that it is true.

    Dan had the seventh lot to tell them of their territory.  It fell on several cities, but Aijalon was one of the cities.  Some of the land they still had to fight for, but they took their inheritance and renamed some of the cities.  It appears like they allowed Aijalon to keep it's name. 

    Each tribe was to give a portion of their land to the Levites to be homes for priest.  Aijalon was one of four cities given.  Aijalon was given for it's pasturelands,.  You see the violent history of the land and wonder if maybe God had assigned it to be prayed over long before the battles ever occurred.  That could be reaching too.

Joshua 10:12-15, 19:40-48, & 21:23-24