Kedesh (Kedesh-naphtali), a Canaanite city conquered by Joshua, became a Levitical city and a city of refuge in the territory of Naphtali (Joshua 12:22; 19:37; 20:7; 21:32).
Also known as Kedesh-naphtali · Kedesh in Naphtali
Kedesh, also known as Kedesh-naphtali, was a significant city in the northern part of Canaan. It was originally a Canaanite city, ruled by a king who was defeated by Joshua during the conquest of the land (Joshua 12:22). After the conquest, Kedesh was allotted to the tribe of Naphtali (Joshua 19:37) and designated as a Levitical city (Joshua 21:32) and a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7). Cities of refuge were established to provide sanctuary for those who accidentally killed someone, protecting them from revenge until a proper trial could be held. Kedesh was also the hometown of Barak, who, along with Deborah, led the Israelites to victory against Sisera and the Canaanites (Judges 4:6, 9-11). The city was later captured by Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, during his invasion of Israel (2Ki.15.29). The exact location of Kedesh is disputed, but it is generally identified with the modern-day site of Tel Kedesh, located in the Upper Galilee region of Israel, near the border with Lebanon.
Approximate location: 33.113, 35.534 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
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.
KE'DESH (sanctuary). A town on the southern boundary of Judah, Josh 15:23; perhaps identical with Kadesh or Kadesh-barnea. A city of Issachar; assigned to the Gershonite Levites. 1 Chr 6:72. In the parallel list, Josh 21:28, its name is Kishon. A fortified city belonging to the tribe of Naphtali; allotted to the Gershonite Levites, Josh 20:7; Josh 21:32; 1 Chr 6:76, and made a city of refuge. It was the residence of Barak, Jud 4:6, and here Deborah assembled the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. Jud 4:11. It was taken by Tiglath-pileser in the reign of Pekah, 2 Kgs 15:29, and here the battle took place between Jonathan Maccabaeus and Demetrius. 1 Mace. 11:63. Now it is a small village, Kades, 10 miles north of Safed and 4 miles north-west 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 (sanctuary). A town on the southern boundary of Judah, Josh 15:23; perhaps identical with Kadesh or Kadesh-barnea. A city of Issachar; assigned to the Gershonite Levites. 1 Chr 6:72. In the parallel list, Josh 21:28, its name is Kishon. A fortified city belonging to the tribe of Naphtali; allotted to the Gershonite Levites, Josh 20:7; Josh 21:32; 1 Chr 6:76, and made a city of refuge. It was the residence of Barak, Jud 4:6, and here Deborah assembled the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. Jud 4:11. It was taken by Tiglath-pileser in the reign of Pekah, 2 Kgs 15:29, and here the battle took place between Jonathan Maccabaeus and Demetrius. 1 Mace. 11:63. Now it is a small village, Kades, 10 miles north of Safed and 4 miles north-west 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.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
10 verses in 4 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H6943
the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;
Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,
So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for the manslayer), Hammoth-dor, and Kartan—three cities, together with their pasturelands.
She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Surely the LORD, the God of Israel, is commanding you: ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, taking with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun.
“I will certainly go with you,” Deborah replied, “but the road you are taking will bring you no honor, because the LORD will be selling Sisera into the hand of a woman.” So Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh,
where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.
Now Heber the Kenite had moved away from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent by the great tree of Zaanannim, which was near Kedesh.
In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria.
And from the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.