Halhul
Hal'hul (Heb. Chalchul', חִלַחוּל, etymol. doubtful, but, according to Fürst, full of hollows; Sept. Α᾿λοὐλ. r. Αἰλουά), a town in the highlands of Judah, mentioned in the fourth group of six north of Hebron (Keil, Joshua p.
387), among them Beth-zur and Gedor (Jos 15:58). Jerome (Onomast. s.v. Elul) says it existed in his time near Hebron as a small village ("vilula") by the name of Alta. Dr. Robinson found it in the modern Hulhul, a short distance north of Hebron, consisting of a ruined mosque (called Neby Yunas or "Prophet Jonah") upon a long hill, surrounded by the remains of ancient walls and foundations (Researches, 1, 319). During his last visit to Palestine he visited it again, and describes it as situated high on the eastern brow of the ridge, the head town of the district, inhabited by an uncivil people; the environs are thrifty and well cultivated. The old mosque is a poor structure, but has a minaret (new ed. of Researches, 3, 281). Schwarz also identifies it with this village on a mount, 5 Eng. miles north-east of Hebron" (Palestine, p. 107). So likewise De Saulcy (Dead Sea, i, 451). The hill is quite a Conspicuous one, half a mile to the left of the road from Jerusalem to Hebron, the village somewhat at its eastern foot, while opposite it, on the other side of the road, is Best-stir, the modern representative of Beth-zur, and a little further to the north is Jedfir, the ancient Gedor. In Jewish tradition quoted by Hottinger (Cippi Hebraicae p. 38), and reported by an old Hebrew traveler (Jo. Chel, 1334; see Carmody, Itin. Hebrew, p. 242), it is said to be the burial-place of (ad, David's seer (2Sa 24:11). Hence it was for a time a place of Jewish pilgrimage (Wilson, Lands of Bible, 1, 384). See also the citations of Zunz in Asher's Betj. of Tudela (2, 437, note). SEE CHELLUS.
