Where was Kedesh located in the Bible?

Kedesh was an ancient city in the region of Galilee, within the territory allotted to the tribe of Naphtali (Joshua 20:7). It is located in modern-day northern Israel, identified with the archaeological site Tell Abu Qedeis.

What is Kedesh known for in the Bible?

Kedesh is primarily known as one of the six Cities of Refuge designated by God (Joshua 20:7). These were safe havens where someone who accidentally killed another person could flee to receive a fair trial and be protected from revenge.

Why was Kedesh significant as a City of Refuge?

Kedesh's designation as a City of Refuge highlights God's provision for justice and mercy within Israel's legal system. It served as a sanctuary, preventing cycles of bloodshed and ensuring that unintentional acts were judged fairly according to God's law.

Kedesh

cityOld TestamentGalilee1 verse

Today Tell Abu QedeisCountry IsraelCoordinates 32.661, 35.393

Kedesh is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Galilee in modern-day Israel. Known today as Tell Abu Qedeis. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.

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Biblical History

This Kedesh in the Galilee region, identified with Tell Abu Qedeis in the territory of Issachar, is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 6:72 as a Levitical city assigned to the Gershomite clan of the Levites. The parallel passage in Joshua 21:28 lists the corresponding city as Kishion, leading many scholars to conclude that Kedesh and Kishion may refer to the same settlement or that a scribal variation accounts for the difference. As a Levitical city, Kedesh served the vital function of providing the priestly tribe with a residential base within the tribal territory of Issachar. The Levitical city system ensured that every region of Israel had access to those trained in the Law and qualified to lead worship. Located in the fertile Jezreel Valley region, this Kedesh was positioned in one of the most agriculturally productive areas of ancient Israel, surrounded by the strategic crossroads where major international trade routes intersected. The name Kedesh, meaning "holy," again suggests pre-Israelite cultic significance.

Archaeological & Historical Notes

Tell Abu Qedeis is situated in the eastern Jezreel Valley, within the traditional boundaries of the tribe of Issachar. The site has received limited archaeological investigation, and its identification with the biblical Kedesh of 1 Chronicles 6:72 is based primarily on the preservation of the name element "Qedeis" and its geographical suitability within Issachar's territory. Surface surveys have documented pottery from the Late Bronze and Iron Ages, indicating occupation during the relevant biblical periods. The Jezreel Valley location places the site in a well-watered agricultural zone that has been continuously cultivated for millennia. No monumental architecture or inscriptions specifically confirming the Levitical city identification have been recovered to date.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 6:72

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
OpenBible.info (n.d.) Bible Geocoding. Available at: https://www.openbible.info/geo/. [CC BY 4.0]
Bagnall, R. et al. (eds.) (n.d.) Pleiades: A Gazetteer of Past Places. Available at: https://pleiades.stoa.org. [CC BY 3.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Lawrence, D. et al. (2025) Villages to Empires: a settlement dataset for the Southern Levant. doi:10.5281/zenodo.15111732. [CC BY 4.0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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