The children of Israel returned to their former camp at Gilgal near Jericho, and not to some new “Gilgal” near Shechem as some have thought (see PP 505 and on 2 Kings 2:1). Chapter 9:17 states that Israel arrived at the city of Gibeon from their encampment at Gilgal on the third day. But Shechem is only a short distance from Gibeon, and three days would not have been required to make the journey. The expression, “Joshua ascended” (ch. 10:7), again points to the Israelite camp as being in the Jordan valley.