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Kedesh Naphtali - location profile

Location and Setting

• Kedesh means "sanctuary or holy place." Since it often referred to a place where a shrine had stood, the name was not an uncommon one. Two cities were called Kedesh in the region allotted to the tribe of Naphtali, one in Upper Galilee and the other above the southwestern coast of the Sea of Galilee.
• The Kedesh near the Sea of Galilee was located on the ridge about a mile and a half from the shore, just northwest of the outlet of the Jordan River at the southern end of the lake.

Historical and Biblical Significance

• The king of Kedesh (northern) was one of the casualties mentioned in the list of defeats when Israel possessed the Land (Josh 12:22).
• Kedesh (near the Sea of Galilee) was probably the birthplace of Barak (Judg 4:6). Later it was the place where Barak and Deborah rallied the troops of Zebulun and Naphtali to fight against their Canaanite oppressors. The Lord routed these enemies of Israel and forced the commander of their army, Sisera, to flee for his life. He sought refuge near Kedesh in the tent of Heber the Kenite, whom he believed was his ally. Heber’s wife, Jael, first quenched his thirst with leben (like yogurt) and then hid him under a rug in the tent. Weary from the battle and lulled into thinking he was safe, Sisera fell asleep. Jael seized the opportunity and drove a tent peg through his head, killing him. Again, the Lord had avenged His people (Judges 4).
• Tiglath-pilesar and the Assyrian army took Kedesh (northern). "All the land of Naphtali" was among that which was taken captive to Assyria (2 Kgs 15:29).

For further study, see also: Mount Tabor

Bibliography

1. MacRae, A.A. "Kedesh" The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible. Ed. Merrill C. Tenney. 5 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976.
2. Owen, G. Fredrick. The Holy Land. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1977.
3. Turner, George A. Historical Geography of the Holy Land. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1973.
4. Wiseman, D.J. "Kedesh" The New Bible Dictionary. 2^nd ed. Ed. J.D. Douglas. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1982.