Lexical Definition

‎קֶדֶשׁ‎ Qedesh (keh'-desh) Kedesh ^N:N--L
from ‎קָדַשׁ‎; a sanctum

Kedesh.

• § Kedesh = "holy place"
• Kedesh, the name of four places in Palestine

1) a city in the extreme south of Judah
1a) same as 'Kadesh' and 'Kadesh-barnea'
2) a city of Issachar allotted to the Gershonite Levites
3) a fortified Canaanite city allotted to Naphtali
4) a city of refuge in Naphtali

Extended Information

• a fortified Canaanite city allotted to Naphtali

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎קֶ֫דֶשׁ‎ proper name, of a location (sanctuary) Καδης:

1. in Galilee Josh 20:7; Josh 21:32 (P), 1Chr 6:61* Naphtali Josh 19:37 (P), ‎נַפְתָּלִי‎ ‎׳‎‎ק‎ Judg 4:6 = ‎קֶדֶשׁ‎ alone Josh 12:22 (D; with king); Judg 4:9; Judg 4:10 + vJudg 4:11 (where possibly different place on sea of Galilee, see GFM^{Judg 117, 119}), also 2Kgs 15:29 Tel Amarna †idši; Egyptian †dšë WMM^{As.u.Eur.173,217}; modern Kades, northwest of Lake Huleh; see Rob^{BR iii. 366 ff.} Survey^{WP i. 226 ff.} Buhl^{Geogr. 235 f.}

2. Κεδες: city of refuge in Issachar 1Chr 6:57* = ‎קִשְׁיוֺן‎ Josh 21:28 possibly Tel Abu Kudeis [Survey^{WP i. 69}], approximately 2 miles southeast from Lejjun (Megiddo): compare Buhl^{Geogr. 209.}

3. Καδης: in southern Judah; Josh 15:23 (P) (= II. ‎קָדֵשׁ‎ 1 ? if so, then Masoretic distinction from ‎קֶדֶשׁ‎ in the north was here neglected).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Kedesh_1 • A Canaanite city, later a Levitical city of refuge in Naphtali

Kedesh (Kedesh-naphtali), a Canaanite city conquered by Joshua, became a Levitical city and a city of refuge in the territory of Naphtali (Joshua 12:22; 19:37; 20:7; 21:32).

• A location first mentioned at Jos.12.22;
• referred to as Kedesh קֶדֶשׁ, or Kedesh/-naphtali (NIV= Kedesh in Naphtali) קֶדֶשׁ נַפְתָּלִי.
  

Kedesh, also known as Kedesh-naphtali, was a significant city in the northern part of Canaan. It was originally a Canaanite city, ruled by a king who was defeated by Joshua during the conquest of the land (Joshua 12:22). After the conquest, Kedesh was allotted to the tribe of Naphtali (Joshua 19:37) and designated as a Levitical city (Joshua 21:32) and a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7). Cities of refuge were established to provide sanctuary for those who accidentally killed someone, protecting them from revenge until a proper trial could be held. Kedesh was also the hometown of Barak, who, along with Deborah, led the Israelites to victory against Sisera and the Canaanites (Judges 4:6, 9-11). The city was later captured by Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, during his invasion of Israel (2 Kings 15:29). The exact location of Kedesh is disputed, but it is generally identified with the modern-day site of Tel Kedesh, located in the Upper Galilee region of Israel, near the border with Lebanon.

All entries for Kedesh or Kedesh-naphtali: קֶדֶשׁ ☩ קֶדֶשׁ