Madon
Madon is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Phoenicia in modern-day Israel. Known today as Tell el Khirbeh. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Madon appears in the book of Joshua in connection with the northern campaign of the Israelite conquest of Canaan. In Joshua 11:1, Jabin king of Hazor sent word to Jobab king of Madon, along with the kings of Shimron and Achshaph, to form a coalition against Israel. This northern alliance gathered a vast army with horses and chariots at the waters of Merom, intending to crush Joshua's forces. However, the Lord assured Joshua of victory, and Israel struck the coalition decisively, hamstringing their horses and burning their chariots (Joshua 11:6-9). Madon is also listed in Joshua 12:19 among the cities whose kings were defeated by the Israelites. The king of Madon stands as one of thirty-one conquered rulers catalogued in that summary. Though Madon itself receives no further mention in Scripture, its role in the northern coalition highlights the scale of opposition Israel faced and the comprehensiveness of God's faithfulness in fulfilling his promise to give the land to his people. The defeat at Merom broke Canaanite military power in the north.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
The identification of biblical Madon remains uncertain. One prominent suggestion places it at Khirbet Madin (Tell el Khirbeh) in the Upper Galilee region, near the Litani River area. An alternative identification associates it with Qarn Hattin, west of the Sea of Galilee, based on references in Egyptian texts to a place called Mtn. The site of Tell el Khirbeh has seen limited archaeological survey work, revealing pottery from multiple periods including the Late Bronze Age, which corresponds to the era of the Israelite conquest narratives. The broader Upper Galilee region preserves numerous tells from the Canaanite period, reflecting the dense network of city-states described in the Joshua narratives.
Verse Appearances (2)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →