Kedesh in Naphtali
Kedesh in Naphtali is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Phoenicia in modern-day Israel. Known today as Khirbet Qedish. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Kedesh in Naphtali is specified by its tribal location in 1 Chronicles 6:76 to distinguish it from other cities named Kedesh elsewhere in Israel. This designation identifies it among the Levitical cities assigned to the Gershonite clan from the territory of Naphtali. The qualifier "in Naphtali" serves an important clarifying function, since at least three other cities bore the name Kedesh in different tribal territories. As a Gershonite Levitical city, Kedesh in Naphtali housed members of the priestly tribe who were responsible for particular aspects of tabernacle service, including care of the tent coverings and the screen for the entrance of the tabernacle court (Numbers 3:25-26). The city's broader significance is well established through parallel references under the name Kedesh alone: it served as a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7), was home to the judge Barak (Judges 4:6), and eventually fell to Assyrian conquest (2 Kings 15:29). The explicit tribal designation in Chronicles reflects the Chronicler's concern for precise administrative and genealogical records.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Kedesh in Naphtali is identified with Khirbet Qedish and the adjacent Tel Kedesh in the upper Galilee, approximately 25 kilometers north of the Sea of Galilee. The site complex occupies a strategic position overlooking the Huleh Valley near the ancient road connecting Tyre with Damascus. Archaeological work at the site has documented continuous occupation from the Early Bronze Age through late antiquity. The most significant discoveries include the Persian-Hellenistic administrative complex at Tel Kedesh with its remarkable collection of seal impressions. Iron Age remains at the site, though less extensively excavated than later periods, are consistent with the biblical description of a fortified Israelite settlement. The site is preserved within an Israeli national park.
Verse Appearances (1)
Judg
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]