Etymology and Meaning:
The name "Kedesh" is derived from the Hebrew root "qadash," meaning "holy" or "sacred." This etymology reflects the city's historical and religious significance in ancient Israel.

Biblical References:
Kedesh is mentioned several times in the Old Testament, primarily in the context of its role as a city of refuge and its association with the tribe of Naphtali. It is first introduced in the Book of Joshua as one of the cities designated for the Levites and as a city of refuge. Joshua 20:7 states, "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."

Geographical Location:
Kedesh is located in the region of Galilee, within the tribal allotment of Naphtali. It is situated in the northern part of ancient Israel, near the modern-day border of Lebanon. The city's strategic location made it an important site throughout biblical history.

Historical Significance:
1. City of Refuge: Kedesh served as one of the six cities of refuge, as outlined in the Mosaic Law. These cities provided asylum for individuals who had committed unintentional manslaughter, allowing them to escape the avenger of blood until a fair trial could be conducted (Joshua 20:1-9).

2. Levitical City: As a Levitical city, Kedesh was allocated to the descendants of Levi, the priestly tribe of Israel. This designation underscores its religious importance and its role in supporting the spiritual and legal functions of the Israelite community (Joshua 21:32).

3. Military Campaigns: Kedesh is noted in the biblical narrative for its involvement in various military campaigns. In Judges 4, it is the home of Barak, who, under the leadership of the prophetess Deborah, led the Israelites to victory against the Canaanite commander Sisera. Judges 4:6 records, "She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, 'Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you: Go, deploy the troops at Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun?'"

4. Conquest by Tiglath-Pileser III: In the 8th century BC, Kedesh was captured by the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III during his campaign against the northern kingdom of Israel. This event is recorded in 2 Kings 15:29 : "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—all the land of Naphtali—and he took the people to Assyria."

Archaeological Findings:
Excavations at the site identified as Tel Kedesh have uncovered significant artifacts, including pottery, inscriptions, and architectural remains, which provide insight into the city's historical and cultural context. These findings corroborate the biblical narrative and highlight Kedesh's role as a prominent urban center in ancient Israel.

Theological Implications:
Kedesh's designation as a city of refuge reflects the biblical theme of justice tempered with mercy. It illustrates God's provision for protection and due process within the legal system of ancient Israel. The city's Levitical status emphasizes the importance of holiness and the centrality of worship in the life of the Israelite community. Through its association with key biblical figures and events, Kedesh serves as a testament to God's faithfulness and deliverance in the history of His people.Kedesh

(a sanctuary).

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.

Kedesh

1. A city of refuge, in Naphtali; now Kedis, three miles northwest of lake Merom, Joshua 19:37; 20:7. Barak the judge of Israel was born there, Jud 4:6

2. A city in the south of Judah, Joshua 15:23.

3. A city in Issachar, 1 Chronicles 6:72.

Sanctuary.

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

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

(3.) A "fenced city" of Naphtali, one of the cities of refuge (Joshua 19:37; Judges 4:6). It was assigned to the Gershonite Levites (Joshua 21:32). It was originally a Canaanite royal city (Joshua 12:22), and was the residence of Barak (Judges 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.

KEDESH (1)

ke'-desh (qedhesh; Kades):

(1) One of the "uttermost cities" of Judah "toward the border of Edom in the South" (Joshua 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 Kadus, to the South of Hebron, mentioned by Muqaddasi.

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

(3) Kedesh-naphtali, the famous city of refuge in the uplands of Naphtali. It is called "Kedesh," simply, in Joshua 12:22, etc.; Kedesh-naphtali in Judges 4:6; Tobit 1:2; Kedesh in Galilee in Joshua 20:7, etc. It was assigned to the Gershonite Levites (1 Chronicles 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 (2 Kings 15:29). Near Kedesh was fought the great battle between Jonathan the Maccabee and Demetrius (1 Maccabees 11:63;). Josephus says that in his time it belonged to the Tyrians, lying between their land and that of Galilee (Ant., XIII, v, 6; B J, 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 Kedes, which lies on the plateau to the West of el-Chuleh. 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.

W. Ewing

KEDESH (2)

(1 Maccabees 11:63, 73, Codex Alexandrinus, Kedes; the King James Version Cades): Scene of a battle between Judas Maccabeus and the forces of Demetrius.

See KEDESH-NAPHTALI, under KEDESH, 3.

6943. Qedesh -- "sanctuary," the name of several places in Isr.
... Transliteration: Qedesh Phonetic Spelling: (keh'-desh) Short Definition: Kedesh. ...
NASB Word Usage Kedesh (11), Kedesh-naphtali* (1). Kedesh. ...
/hebrew/6943.htm - 6k

5321. Naphtali -- a son of Jacob, also his desc. and the district ...
... Word Origin from pathal Definition a son of Jacob, also his desc. and the district
settled by them NASB Word Usage Kedesh-naphtali* (1), Naphtali (50). ...
/hebrew/5321.htm - 6k

Of the Cities of Refuge.
... as two ranks of vines are in a vineyard: Hebron in Judea against Bezer in the
wilderness: Shechem in mount Ephraim against Ramoth in Gilead: Kedesh in mount ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 50 of the cities.htm

The Great Confession - the Great Commission - the Great ...
... to Israel. [3626] We turn north of the Lake, and west to Kedes, the Kedesh
Naphtali of the Bible, the home of Barak. We have now ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxvii the great confession.htm

Six Cities
... believer's ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his
fear.". [Illustration: Kedesh]. First City"Kedesh. If you ...
/.../macduff/the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/ii six cities.htm

The Marvels of Holy Scripture, --Moral and Physical. --Jael's Deed ...
... captain of whose host was Sisera." Now, while Heber the Kenite is gone with the
rest to the battle,"(for he had pitched his tent, remember, by Kedesh; and it ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/sermon vii the marvels of.htm

The Cities of Refuge
... then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house,
unto the city from whence he fled.7. And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the cities of refuge.htm

The Six Cities.
... "And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim,
and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. ...
/.../macduff/the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/ii the six cities.htm

The Gospel Refuge.
... I shall repeat their names once more, that you may remember them. KEDESH, Holiness.
SHECHEM, Shoulder. HEBRON, Fellowship. BEZER, Stronghold. ...
/.../macduff/the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/iii the gospel refuge.htm

The Cities of Refuge.
... These cities were six in number: Kedesh, Shechem, and Kirjath-arba, on the west
of Jordan; and Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan, on the east of that river. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/the cities of refuge.htm

Gilgal, in Deuteronomy 11:30 what the Place Was.
... For when, in Joshua, some kings of certain particular cities in Galilee"Kedesh,
Jokneam, Dor, &c."are reckoned up, the king of the nations of Gilgal, or ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 88 gilgal in deuteronomy.htm

Covenanting Provided for in the Everlasting Covenant.
... The cities of refuge[412]"Kedesh, a holy place: Hebron, society, friendship, the
end of a covenant: Shechem, a part or portion, as the lot of a covenant ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter vi covenanting provided for.htm

Kedesh (12 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/k/kedesh.htm - 14k

Kedesh-naphtali
Kedesh-naphtali. Kedeshnaphtali, Kedesh-naphtali. Kedmah . Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia KEDESH-NAPHTALI. ke'-desh-naf'-ta-li. See KEDESH, 3. ...
/k/kedesh-naphtali.htm - 6k

Barak (14 Occurrences)
... and Gibil-Birqu (Del. Assyrian, HWB, 187). Barak was the son of Abinoam
of Kedesh, a refuge city in Mt. Naphtali. He was summoned ...
/b/barak.htm - 14k

Naph'tali (47 Occurrences)
... Joshua 20:7 And they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill-country of Naphtali,
and Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba--the same is ...
/n/naph'tali.htm - 18k

Hazor (19 Occurrences)
... It has been identified with Khurbet Harrah, 2 1/2 miles south-east of Kedesh. ... Joshua
15:23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/h/hazor.htm - 17k

Deborah (10 Occurrences)
... Deborah summoned Barak of Kedesh-naphtali and delivered to him the Divine
message to meet Sisera in battle by the brook Kishon. ...
/d/deborah.htm - 14k

En-hazor (1 Occurrence)
... EN-HAZOR. en-ha'-zor (`en chatsor; pege Asor): A city in the territory of Naphtali
mentioned along with Kedesh, Edrei and Iron (Joshua 19:37). ...
/e/en-hazor.htm - 7k

Enhazor (1 Occurrence)
... EN-HAZOR. en-ha'-zor (`en chatsor; pege Asor): A city in the territory of Naphtali
mentioned along with Kedesh, Edrei and Iron (Joshua 19:37). ...
/e/enhazor.htm - 7k

Naphtali (51 Occurrences)
... The region around Kedesh, one of its towns, was originally called Galil, a name
afterwards given to the whole northern division of Canaan. ...
/n/naphtali.htm - 35k

Who was Naphtali in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Kenites? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of Galilee in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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