Bible Dictionaries
Kedesh

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

1. A town in Judah's extreme S. (Joshua 15:23). ("sanctuary".)

2. Of Issachar, assigned to the Gershonite Levites (1 Chronicles 6:72); Kishon in Joshua 21:28 probably the better reading.

3. Kedesh Naphtali, or Kedesh in Galilee (Joshua 19:37), a Levitical city of refuge assigned to the Gershonite Levites (Joshua 20:7). Barak's birthplace (Judges 4:6; Judges 4:9-10), where he and Deborah assembled Zebulun and Naphtali as being a "holy" place, which Kedesh means. Kedesh Naphtali is now Kades at the western edge of Huleh, the marshy basin through which Jordan passes into the sea of Merom, from which Kedesh lies N.W. four miles distant. Its site is on a high ridge jutting out from the western hills, well watered, and environed by plains well cultivated and peopled. Conder (Palestine Exploration Quarterly Statement, January, 1877, p. 25) conjectures that the Kedesh to which Barak called Israel together is distinct from Kadesh (or Kedesh) Naphtali, Barak's native place.

For Kadesh Naphtali is 30 miles from Tabor, the scene of the battle, and separated by some of the most difficult country in Palestine. Probably Bezanaim was E. of Tabor, and answers to the modern Bessum. Harosheth of the Gentiles will thus be Harothiyeh. In this direction probably stood Kedesh, at the place now called Kadis, on the shore of the sea of Galilee. Taken by Tiglath Pileser (2 Kings 15:29). Tell Hara, standing out prominently to the S.E., is connected by Lieut. Kitchener with Harosheth the head quarters of Sisera (Palestine Exploration Quarterly Statement, October, 1877, p. 197).

Bibliography Information
Fausset, Andrew R. Entry for 'Kedesh'. Fausset's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​fbd/​k/kedesh.html. 1949.