AIALON (Hebrew, from the root 'ajjāl' and 'deer', almost 'place of deer'). — I. Amorrite city (Judg. 1:35), called Ajalāna or 'Afalāna in the el-Amarna letters, and Ajirun in Egyptian documents. First mentioned in connection with the miracle of the sun (Josh. 10:12), it was first assigned to the tribe of Dan (Josh. 19:42), then to the Levites (Josh. 21:24). Fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chron. 11:10), it was taken by the Philistines under Ahaz (ibid. 28:18); after this occupation, no further news of the city is recorded. It is identified with 'Ayal', 4 km west of Amarcas (Emmaus-Nicopolis; St. Jerome, *De situ et nominibus locorum hebraicorum*, 19).
2. City of the tribe of Zebulun (Judg. 12:12), of uncertain identification.