Ziddim
Ziddim is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Phoenicia in modern-day Israel. Known today as Hattin. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Ziddim appears in the Old Testament solely in Joshua 19:35, where it is enumerated among the fortified cities of the tribe of Naphtali. The passage lists a series of cities in the territory allotted to Naphtali in northern Canaan, a region defined by the Sea of Galilee and the upper Jordan Valley. Naphtali's inheritance included some of the most fertile and strategically significant land in ancient Israel, later designated as "Galilee of the nations" in Isaiah 9:1 and associated with the ministry of Jesus in the New Testament. Ziddim, as a fortified city, would have served a defensive function in this tribal territory, guarding agricultural lands and trade routes. Its name may be related to the Hebrew root meaning "sides" or "flanks," possibly describing a topographical feature. Though Ziddim is not mentioned in any subsequent narrative or prophetic text, its inclusion in the Joshua allotment list reflects the authentic administrative record of the tribal settlement and the geographic diversity of Naphtali's inheritance in the north of Israel.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Ziddim is tentatively identified with the modern site of Hattin, located in the lower Galilee region near the famous Horns of Hattin, a volcanic prominence southwest of the Sea of Galilee. The site is best known historically as the location of the Battle of Hattin in 1187 AD, where Saladin defeated the Crusader forces. Archaeological surveys in the area have documented ancient settlement remains consistent with Iron Age Israelite occupation, supporting a possible identification with biblical Ziddim. However, no major excavations have been conducted specifically to confirm this identification, and the attribution remains based on phonetic similarity and geographical plausibility rather than firm archaeological evidence.
Verse Appearances (1)
Josh
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →