Kedesh

Ke´desh. There were two cities of this name; one in the tribe of Judah (Jos 15:23), and the other in the tribe of Naphtali (Jos 19:37). This last was the more considerable of the two; it was a Levitical city, and one of the six cities of refuge. As the Kedesh whose king was slain by Joshua is mentioned among the cities of the north (Jos 12:22), it was doubtless the Kedesh of Naphtali, of which also Barak was a native (Jdg 4:6).

1. A city of refuge, in Naphtali; now Kedis, three miles northwest of lake Merom, Jos 19:37 ; 20:7. Barak the judge of Israel was born there, Jdg 4:6 \par 2. A city in the south of Judah, Jos 15:23 .\par 3. A city in Issachar, 1Ch 6:72 .\par

Ke’desh. (a sanctuary).

1. In the extreme south of Judah, Jos 15:23. The same as Kadesh and Kadesh-barnea.

2. A city of Issachar, allotted to the Gershonite Levites. 1Ch 6:72. The Kadesh mentioned among the cities whose kings were slain by Joshua, Jos 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, Jdg 4:6, Kedesh-naphtali, one of the fortified cities of the tribe of Naphtali, named between Hazor and Edrei, Jos 19:37, appointed as a city of refuge, and allotted with its "suburbs" to the Gershonite Levites. Jos 20:7; Jos 21:32; 1Ch 6:76. It was the residence of Barak, Jdg 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. 2Ki 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.

1. A town in Judah’s extreme S. (Jos 15:23). ("sanctuary".)

2. Of Issachar, assigned to the Gershonite Levites (1Ch 6:72); Kishon in Jos 21:28 probably the better reading.

3. Kedesh Naphtali, or Kedesh in Galilee (Jos 19:37), a Levitical city of refuge assigned to the Gershonite Levites (Jos 20:7). Barak’s birthplace (Jdg 4:6; Jdg 4:9-10), where he and Deborah assembled Zebulun and Naphtali as being a "holy" place, which Kedesh means. Kedesh Naphtali is now Kades at the western edge of Huleh, the marshy basin through which Jordan passes into the sea of Merom, from which Kedesh lies N.W. four miles distant. Its site is on a high ridge jutting out from the western hills, well watered, and environed by plains well cultivated and peopled. Conder (Palestine Exploration Quarterly Statement, January, 1877, p. 25) conjectures that the Kedesh to which Barak called Israel together is distinct from Kadesh (or Kedesh) Naphtali, Barak’s native place.

For Kadesh Naphtali is 30 miles from Tabor, the scene of the battle, and separated by some of the most difficult country in Palestine. Probably Bezanaim was E. of Tabor, and answers to the modern Bessum. Harosheth of the Gentiles will thus be Harothiyeh. In this direction probably stood Kedesh, at the place now called Kadis, on the shore of the sea of Galilee. Taken by Tiglath Pileser (2Ki 15:29). Tell Hara, standing out prominently to the S.E., is connected by Lieut. Kitchener with Harosheth the head quarters of Sisera (Palestine Exploration Quarterly Statement, October, 1877, p. 197).

Kedesh. (kç’desh), sanctuary. 1. A town on the southern boundary of Judah, Jos 15:23; perhaps identical with Kadesh or Kadesh-barnea. 2. A city of Issachar; assigned to the Gershonite Levites. 1Ch 6:72. In the parallel list, Jos 21:28, its name is Kishon. 3. A fortified city belonging to the tribe of Naphtali; allotted to the Gershonite Levites, Jos 20:7; Jos 21:32; 1Ch 6:76, and made a city of refuge. It was the residence of Barak, Jdg 4:6, and here Deborah assembled the tribes of Zebulon and Naphtali. Jdg 4:11. It was taken by Tiglath-pileser in the reign of Pekah, 2Ki 15:29, and here the battle took place between Jonathan Maccabæus and Demetrius. 1Ma 11:63. Now it is a small village, Kades, ten miles north of Safed and four miles northwest of Merom, beautifully situated on a high ridge jutting out in the depressed basin through which the Jordan flows to the Sea of Merom. It is surrounded with ruins; numerous sarcophagi have been found here.

[Ke’desh]

1. City in the extreme south of Judah. Jos 15:23. Supposed by some to refer to Kadesh-barnea.

2. Canaanite city, taken by Joshua, allotted to Issachar, and given to the Levites. 1Ch 6:72. Called KISHION in Jos 19:20 and KISHON in Jos 21:28. Identified with Tell Abu Kudeis, 32° 34’ N, 35° 13’ E.

3. City in Naphtali, allotted to the Levites, and a city of refuge. Jos 12:22; Jos 19:37; Jos 20:7; Jos 21:32; 2Ki 15:29; 1Ch 6:76. Called KEDESH-NAPHTALI in Jdg 4:6. Identified with ruins at Kades, 33° 7’ N, 35° 32’ E. It has been supposed that Barak assembled his army, not at Kedesh in Naphtali, but somewhere nearer to Mount Tabor and to the river Kishon, where Sisera had his troops. Jdg 4:10-13. It was possibly at Kadish, 32° 44’ N, 35° 33’ E.

KEDESH.—1. A city in the south of Judah (Jos 15:23) whose site is uncertain. It is probably to be distinguished from Kadesh-barnea. 2. A city in Issachar (1Ch 6:72), where, however, Kedesh is not improbably a textual error for Kishion of the parallel passage (Jos 21:28). 3. See next article.

kē´desh (קדשׁ, ḳedhesh; Κάδης, Kádēs):

(1) One of the “uttermost cities” of Judah “toward the border of Edom in the South” (Jos 15:23). Possibly it is to be identified with KADESH-BARNEA (which see); otherwise it is strange that this latter should be omitted from the list. Dillmann would identify it with Kādūs, to the South of Hebron, mentioned by Muqaddasi.

(2) A town in the territory of Issachar, given to the Gershonite Levites (1Ch 6:72). In the list of Joshua (Jos 21:28) its place is taken by KISHION (which see). Conder suggests identification with Tell Abu Ḳadēs, near Megiddo.

(3) Kedesh-naphtali, the famous city of refuge in the uplands of Naphtali. It is called “Kedesh,” simply, in Jos 12:22, etc.; Kedesh-naphtali in Jdg 4:6; Tobit 1:2; Kedesh in Galilee in Jos 20:7, etc. It was assigned to the Gershonite Levites (1Ch 6:76). From the name “holy,” we gather that it was a sanctuary from old time. It was therefore a place of asylum, and only preserved its ancient character in this respect when chosen as one of the cities of refuge. It was the home of Barak, and here his host assembled. When the Assyrians invaded the land under Tiglath-pileser, it was among the first cities to be captured, and its inhabitants were deported (2Ki 15:29). Near Kedesh was fought the great battle between Jonathan the Maccabee and Demetrius (1 Macc 11:63 ff). Josephus says that in his time it belonged to the Tyrians, lying between their land and that of Galilee (Ant., XIII, v, 6; BJ, II, xviii, 1; IV, ii, 3, etc.). Eusebius, Onomasticon places it 20 miles from Tyre, near to Paneas. It is represented by the modern village of Ḳedes, which lies on the plateau to the West of el-Ḥūleh. It crowns a tell which runs out in a low ridge into the little plain to the West. Near the fountain, which rises under the ridge to the North, are the most interesting of the ancient remains. There are many fine sarcophagi, some of them being used as watering-troughs. From its lofty situation, Kedesh commanded a spacious view over a richly varied landscape, with smiling cornfields, and hills clothed with oak and terebinth.