Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

KEDESH

(Heb. qeḏeš) (also KADESH-BARNEA, KISHION)

1. A city in Upper Galilee, 10 km. (6 mi.) NW of Hazor, in the hills near Lake Huleh. Tel Kedesh/Tell Qades (199279) is the largest tell in Upper Galilee, and preliminary excavations have identified extensive occupation in the Early Bronze Age and continuing through the Muslim period. Kedesh is mentioned in the list of Canaanite kings defeated by Joshua (Josh. 12:22). It is one of the fortified cities allotted to Naphtali (Josh. 19:37), the northernmost city of refuge (20:7), and a levitical city assigned to the Gershonites (21:32 = 1 Chr. 6:76[MT 61]). Tiglath-pileser conquered the city during the time of King Pekah of Israel, and deported its citizens to Assyria (2 Kgs. 15:29).

2. A town on the southern border of Judah, usually referred to as Kadesh-barnea (Josh. 15:23).

3. A levitical city of Issachar assigned to the Gershonites (1 Chr. 6:72[57]). In the parallel passage in Joshua the city is called Kishion (Josh. 21:28), which is probably the correct name. Kedesh may be a textual corruption influenced by the Kedesh of Naphtali a few verses later.

4. A town in southern Naphtali in which Barak lived (Judg. 4:6), and near where Heber the Kenite dwelt (4:11). Kedesh is located near Zaanannim between Mt. Tabor and the Jordan River (Josh. 19:33). Barak’s birthplace is usually identified with Kedesh in Upper Galilee, but this identification is impossible because Kedesh was a major Canaanite city and Judg. 4 assumes that Barak’s home is the same Kedesh near Heber’s dwelling in Zaanannim. This Kedesh may be identified with µorvat Qedesh/Khirbet Qedîsh (202237), a large site with Iron Age remains located on the southwestern slopes that lead down into the Sea of Galilee. Some suggest identifying Kedesh with Tel Kedesh/Tell Abu Qudeis (1706.2183), located midway between Megiddo and Taanach, because Judg. 5:19 claims that battle was “at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo.” However, Judg. 5 does not mention Kedesh, nor does Judg. 4 locate the battle near Taanach. These two texts might represent different understandings of the location of the battle.

Ronald A. Simkins

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

KEDESH

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)