Makkedah

Herdsman’s place, one of the royal cities of the Canaanites (Josh. 12:16), near which was a cave where the five kings who had confederated against Israel sought refuge (10:10-29). They were put to death by Joshua, who afterwards suspended their bodies upon five trees. It has been identified with the modern village called Sumeil, standing on a low hill about 7 miles to the north-west of Eleutheropolis (Beit Jibrin), where are ancient remains and a great cave. The Palestine Exploration surveyors have, however, identified it with el-Mughar, or “the caves,” 3 miles from Jabneh and 2 1/2 southwest of Ekron, because, they say, “at this site only of all possible sites for Makkedah in the Palestine plain do caves still exist.” (See ADONI-ZEDEC.)

(place of shepherds), a place memorable in the annals of the conquest of Canaan as the scene of the execution by Joshua of the five confederate kings, (Joshua 10:10-50) who had hidden themselves in a cave at this place. (It was a royal city of the Canaanites, in the plains of Judah. Conder identifies it with the modern el-Moghar, 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem, where are two caves large enough to contain five men each. Schaff says that “one cave has, curiously enough, five loculi rudely scooped in its side, and an enthusiast might contend that this was the very place of sepulchre of the five kings.”-ED.)

worshiping; burning; raised; crookedness

MAK'KEDAH (place of shepherds), a royal city of the Canaanites in the plains of Judah, where Joshua executed the five confederate kings. Josh 10:10; Neh 12:16; Josh 15:41. Warren would identify it with el-Moghar, 25 miles north-west from Jerusalem, and Conder describes it as on the north side of the valley Sorek, 25 miles from Gibeon, close to the main road from Gaza to Lydda. There is a promontory divided into three tops, the last of which falls abruptly and supports a large mud village upon the steep eastern side and huddled around the caves. There are still two caves wherein five men might crowd, and the entrance could be easily blocked with the great stones which lie scattered near. One cave has, curiously enough, five loculi rudely scooped in its side, and an enthusiast might contend that this was the very place of sepulchre of the five kings who were hidden at Makkedah.

MAK'KEDAH (place of shepherds), a royal city of the Canaanites in the plains of Judah, where Joshua executed the five confederate kings. Josh 10:10; Neh 12:16; Josh 15:41. Warren would identify it with el-Moghar, 25 miles north-west from Jerusalem, and Conder describes it as on the north side of the valley Sorek, 25 miles from Gibeon, close to the main road from Gaza to Lydda. There is a promontory divided

into three tops, the last of which falls abruptly and supports a large mud village upon the steep eastern side and huddled around the caves. There are still two caves wherein five men might crowd, and the entrance could be easily blocked with the great stones which lie scattered near. One cave has, curiously enough, five loculi rudely scooped in its side, and an enthusiast might contend that this was the very place of sepulchre of the five kings who were hidden at Makkedah.