The valley of Gilgal is in proximity to the land of Moron and next to the plains of Heshlon.
Commentaries (
view it on a map)
III NEPHI 4:31 [9:6]: And behold, the city of Gilgal have I caused to be sunk, and the inhabitants thereof to be buried up in the depths of the earth;
Commentary: This verse references the place of Gilgal. From the description in this verse, there is insufficient information to determine its location. Due to being buried in the earth, the only premise that can be made is that the city of Gilgal is not close to the seashore, otherwise, it would have been covered by water. Using Occam's Razor, it should be in proximity to the other cities that were destroyed by being buried or sunk (Moronihah, Gimgimno, Jacob, Gadiomnah, and Gadiandi). In the Book of Ether, there is a reference to a valley of Gilgal. The Nephite practice was to name the valley the same as the city in the valley. For example, the city of Gideon was in the valley of Gideon. However, the Jaredites, a people that came before the Nephites, named the valley of Gilgal. The only plausible connection between the valley of Gilgal and the city of Gilgal would be that the Book of Ether had been found about 200 years before the destruction of the city of Gilgal. The Nephites would have certainly known the location of the valley of Gilgal from the Book of Ether and could have kept the name as the Jaredites gave it. It just happens that the valley of Gilgal is in proximity to the other cities that were destroyed by being sunk. So, without any information to the contrary and again by Occam's Razor, the valley of Gilgal is as likely a spot for the city of Gilgal as any other location.
ETHER 6:29 [13:27]: And it came to pass that Coriantumr was exceeding angry with Shared, and he went against him with his armies to battle; and they did meet in great anger; and they did meet in the valley of Gilgal; and the battle became exceeding sore.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Moron, and the valley of Gilgal. The valley of Gilgal is in proximity to the land of Moron.
ETHER 6:31 [13:28]: And it came to pass that Coriantumr beat him, and did pursue him until he came to the plains of Heshlon.
Commentary: This verse references the places of the plains of Heshlon and the valley of Gilgal. The term 'him' refers to Shared. The pursuit started in the valley of Gilgal. The plains of Heshlon are near the valley of Gilgal.
ETHER 6:32 [13:29]: And it came to pass that Shared gave him battle again upon the plains; and behold he did beat Coriantumr, and drove him back again to the valley of Gilgal.
Commentary: This verse references the places of the plains of Heshlon and the valley of Gilgal. The term 'him' refers to Coriantumr. Shared drove Coriantumr back again to the valley of Gilgal. The term 'drove' implies a continual fight and not a retreat, indicating that the valley of Gilgal is probably next to the plains of Heshlon.
Map
