Kedesh

Kedesh - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

Sanctuary. (1.) A place in the extreme south of Judah (Josh. 15:23). Probably the same as Kadesh-barnea (q.v.).

(2.) A city of Issachar (1 Chr. 6:72). Possibly Tell Abu Kadeis, near Lejjun.

(3.) A "fenced city" of Naphtali, one of the cities of refuge (Josh. 19:37; Judg. 4:6). It was assigned to the Gershonite Levites (Josh. 21:32). It was originally a Canaanite royal city (Josh. 12:22), and was the residence of Barak (Judg. 4:6); and here he and Deborah assembled the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali before the commencement of the conflict with Sisera in the plain of Esdraelon, "for Jehovah among the mighty" (9, 10). In the reign of Pekah it was taken by Tiglath-Pileser (2 Kings 15:29). It was situated near the "plain" (rather "the oak") of Zaanaim, and has been identified with the modern Kedes, on the hills fully four miles north-west of Lake El Huleh.

It has been supposed by some that the Kedesh of the narrative, where Barak assembled his troops, was not the place in Upper Galilee so named, which was 30 miles distant from the plain of Esdraelon, but Kedish, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, 12 miles from Tabor.

1. In the extreme south of Judah, (Joshua 15:23) same as Kadesh and Kadesh-barnea.
2. A city of Issachar, allotted to the Gershonite Levites. (1 Chronicles 6:72) The Kadesh mentioned among the cities whose kings were slain by Joshua, (Joshua 12:22) in company with Megiddo and Jokneam of Carmel, would seem to have been this city of Issachar.
3. Kedesh; also Kedesh in Galilee; and once, (Judges 4:6) Kedesh-naphtali, one of the fortified cities of the tribe of Naphtali, named between Hazor and Edrei, (Joshua 19:37) appointed as a city of refuge, and allotted with its "suburbs" to the Gershonite Levites. (Joshua 20:7; 21:32; 1 Chronicles 6:76) It was the residence of Barak, (Judges 4:6) and there he and Deborah assembled the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali before the conflict, being probably, as its name implies, a "holy place" of great antiquity. It was taken by Tiglath-pileser in the reign of Pekah. (2 Kings 15:29) It is identified with the village Kades , which lies four miles to the northwest of the upper part of the Sea of Merom.

Definition

Kedesh was a Canaanite city that was taken over by the Israelites when they entered the land of Canaan.

• This city was located in the northern part of Israel, in the portion of land that was given to the tribe of Naphtali.
• Kedesh was one of the cities that was chosen as a place where the Levite priests could live, since they did not have any land of their own.
• It was also set apart as a “city of refuge.”

(Translation suggestions: Translate Names)

(See also: Canaan, Hebron, Levite, Naphtali, priest, refuge, Shechem, twelve tribes of Israel)

Bible References

• 1 Chronicles 6:72
• Joshua 19:37
• Judges 4:10

Word Data

• Strong’s: H6943, H7191