Kedesh

sanctuary.

(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)

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 Macc 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 Macc 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.