Gischala

Gischala (τὰ Γίσχαλα), a small city (πολιχνία) often mentioned by Josephus in his account of the last struggle of the Jews with the Romans, especially as being the scene of the operations of the famous "John (q.v.) of Gischala" (War, 4:1, 3). It was situated in Galilee (ib. 2:1); and, after having been destroyed by the Jewish zealots, it was rebuilt by John (Life, 10), and further fortified by the advice of Josephus himself (War, 2:20, 6), and was the last stronghold of Galilee captured by Titus (ib. 4:2). It is doubtless the Gush Chalab (גּוּשׁ חָלָב) of the Talmud (Menach. 8:3), famed for its oil (Erach. 9:6), named in connection with Meron and Capernaum (Gemara, Pesachim, fol. 33, a), and also by Peter Apollonius (De excid. Hierosol. page 63). Jerome, on several occasions, states a tradition that the parents of the apostle Paul emigrated thence to Tarsus (Reland, Palaest. page 813). The same Hebrew name likewise occurs in Hottinger (Cippi Hebraici, page 56) and in Benjamin of Tudela (page 108). Schwarz erroneously identifies it (Palest. page 198) with the AHLAB SEE AHLAB (q.v.) of the tribe of Asher (Jg 1:31). Dr. Robinson found the site in the modern El-Jish, on a hill about two hours northwest of Safed; the village had recently been totally destroyed by an earthquake, but was then partly rebuilt (Researches, 3:368 sq.).