Topical Encyclopedia
The Kishon River, also known as the Kishon Brook, is a significant watercourse in the biblical narrative, primarily located in the region of northern Israel. It is mentioned in several key biblical events, serving as a geographical and historical landmark.
Geographical Context:The Kishon River flows through the Jezreel Valley and empties into the Mediterranean Sea near the modern city of Haifa. Its course runs approximately 43 miles (70 kilometers), making it one of the major rivers in the region. The river's seasonal flow is subject to the Mediterranean climate, with significant variations between the dry and rainy seasons.
Biblical Significance:1.
The Defeat of Sisera: The Kishon River is most famously associated with the victory of the Israelites over the Canaanite army led by Sisera. In
Judges 4-5, Deborah, a prophetess and judge of Israel, alongside Barak, led the Israelites to battle against Sisera's forces. The Lord intervened, causing the Kishon River to sweep away the enemy.
Judges 5:21 poetically recounts this event: "The River Kishon swept them away, the ancient river, the River Kishon. March on, O my soul, in strength!"
2.
Elijah and the Prophets of Baal: Another significant event involving the Kishon River is the confrontation between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. After God answered Elijah's prayer by sending fire from heaven, proving His sovereignty, Elijah ordered the execution of the prophets of Baal.
1 Kings 18:40 states, "Then Elijah said to them, 'Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let a single one escape!' So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered them there."
Historical and Theological Insights:The Kishon River serves as a symbol of divine intervention and judgment in the biblical narrative. Its role in the defeat of Sisera highlights God's deliverance of His people through natural means, emphasizing His control over creation. The river's involvement in the events on Mount Carmel underscores the theme of God's supremacy over false gods and the futility of idolatry.
Modern Relevance:Today, the Kishon River remains a vital part of Israel's landscape, though it has faced environmental challenges due to industrial pollution. Efforts have been made to restore and preserve its ecological health, reflecting a broader commitment to stewardship of the land.
In summary, the Kishon River is a testament to God's power and faithfulness in the history of Israel, serving as a backdrop for pivotal moments of divine intervention and judgment. Its presence in the biblical narrative continues to inspire faith and reflection on God's sovereignty and justice.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Kishonhard; sore
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Kishon(winding), The river, a torrent or winter stream of central Palestine, the scene of two of the grandest achievements of Israelitish history --the defeat of Sisera, Judges 4, and the destruction of the prophets of Baal by Elijah. (1 Kings 18:40) TheNahr Mukutta , the modern representative of the Kishon, is the drain by which the waters of the plain of Esdraelon and of the mountains which enclose that plain find their way through the plain of Acre to the Mediterranean. The part of the Kishon at which the prophets of Baal were slaughtered by Elijah was doubtless close below the spot on Carmel where the sacrifice had taken place.
ATS Bible Dictionary
KishonNow the Mukutta, a brook that rises in the plain of Esdraelon, near the foot of mount Tabor. After passing through the great plain and receiving the waters of various smaller streams, it flows along the foot of mount Carmel, and discharges itself into the Carmel ridge, seeCARMEL 2, make it a perennial stream for about seven miles from its mouth. But all the eastern part of its channel, now that the great plain of its channel, now that the great plain through which it flows is unwooded, it dry throughout the summer season; and yet, in the winter, and after heavy rains, it swells to a full and rapid torrent. The drowning of Sisera's host, Jud 4:13 5:21, is paralleled by a similar destruction of Arabs fleeing from the French after the battle of mount Tabor, April 8, 1799.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Winding, a winter torrent of Central Palestine, which rises about the roots of Tabor and Gilboa, and passing in a northerly direction through the plains of Esdraelon and Acre, falls into the Mediterranean at the north-eastern corner of the bay of Acre, at the foot of Carmel. It is the drain by which the waters of the plain of Esdraelon and of the mountains that surround it find their way to the sea. It bears the modern name of Nahr el-Mokattah, i.e., "the river of slaughter" (Comp.
1 Kings 18:40). In the triumphal song of Deborah (
Judges 5:21) it is spoken of as "that ancient river," either (1) because it had flowed on for ages, or (2), according to the Targum, because it was "the torrent in which were shown signs and wonders to Israel of old;" or (3) probably the reference is to the exploits in that region among the ancient Canaanites, for the adjoining plain of Esdraelon was the great battle-field of Palestine.
This was the scene of the defeat of Sisera (Judges 4:7, 13), and of the destruction of the prophets of Baal by Elijah (1 Kings 18:40). "When the Kishon was at its height, it would be, partly on account of its quicksands, as impassable as the ocean itself to a retreating army." (seeDEBORAH.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
KISHONki'-shon, kish'on (qishon; Keison): The "watercourse" or "torrent stream" along the banks of which the great battle was fought between Israel, led by Deborah and Barak, and the army of Sisera, in the waters of which so many perished (Judges 4:7, etc.). It is probably mentioned earlier as "the brook that is before Jokneam" (Joshua 19:11; see JOKNEAM). It appears again as the scene of Elijah's slaughter of the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:40). "The torrent" paragraph excellence in the district is the modern el-MuqaTTa`, a stream which drains all the plain of Esdraelon to the West of the watershed-a line drawn from Iksal to Nain, and thence to el-Fuleh and Zer`in. All the water East of this line, from the Nazareth hills, Tabor and Little Hermon, flows down Wady esh-Sherrar and Nahr Jalud into the Jordan. The Kishon collects the streams from the western slopes of Gilboa in the rainy season; and the water from the strong spring at Jenin. Contributions also come from the copious fountains in the neighborhood of Megiddo. At Sa`adiyeh, again, some 3 miles East of Chaifa, its volume is largely increased by springs rising at the base of Carmel, on the edge of the plain of Acre. From Jenin in the Southeast, the deep torrent bed follows a westerly direction, with numerous. windings cutting the plain in two, until it reaches the pass at the northeastern base of Carmel. Through the gorge between the mountain and the hills of Galilee it reaches the plain of Acre. From Sa`adiyeh it flows in a deep sluggish stream through the marsh-land to the sea near Chaifa. In this part the crocodile is said to have been seen at times.
In the summer season the water from the springs is largely absorbed by irrigation, and the upper reaches of the river are soon dry. The bed runs along the bottom of a trench some 20 ft. deep through the plain. It is easily crossed at the fords by those who know how to avoid the localities of the springs. In time of heavy rains the trench is swiftly filled, and the soft soil of the plain goes to mud. Remembering this, it is easy to understand the disaster that overwhelmed the heavily armed cavalry and chariots of Sisera. The chief ford for long was to the West of the gorge where the stream issues into the plain of Acre, on the highway from Chaifd to Nazareth. Here it is now spanned by a substantial bridge, while the railway crosses a little higher up. At the mouth of the river it is generally easily forded on the sand bank thrown up by the waves beating against the current of the stream. The main traffic here is now carried by a wooden bridge.
The phrase nachal qedhumim inJudges 5:21 is not easy of interpretation. English Versions of the Bible translates, "that ancient river"; G.A. Smith, "torrent of spates"; while others think it may refer to a stream other than the Kishon. Guthe suggests that both names may be derived from those of places adjoining the river. Kishon may possibly mean the "tortuous" stream, referring to the windings of its course.
W. Ewing
Strong's Hebrew
7028. Qishon -- a wadi in the plain of Megiddo... 7027, 7028. Qishon. 7029 . a wadi in the plain of Megiddo. Transliteration:
Qishon Phonetic Spelling: (kee-shone') Short Definition:
Kishon.
...Kishon, Kison.
...Library
Women who Saved a Nation
... Then I will draw out to you at the brookKishon Sisera with his chariots and his
troops, and I will deliver him into your hands.'" Barak said to her, "If you...
Deborah's Song
... They fought from heaven, The stars in their courses fought against Sisera. The river
Kishon swept them away," That ancient river, the riverKishon! Strophe....
The West Coast of Galilee-Carmel.
...Kishon, say the maps: for some describe it not far from Carmel, pouring out itself
into the sea: and that not without a reason, fetched from 1 Kings 18:40....
A Nation's Struggle for a Home and Freedom.
... Prom heaven fought the stars, From their courses fought against Sisera, The river
Kishon swept them away, That ancient river, the riverKishon....
The Growth of the Old Testament Prophetic Histories
... From heaven fought the stars, From their courses fought against Sisera. The river
Kishon swept them away, The ancient river, the riverKishon....
Psalm LXXXIII.
... "Do thou to them," he saith, "as unto Madian and Sisera, as unto Jabin at the brook
ofKishon" (ver.9). "They perished at Endor, they became as the dung of the...
The Story of God's Mighty Acts
... against Sisera? The river ofKishon swept them away, "that ancient river,
the riverKishon," and there was none of them left? Hath...
Selfishness and Prayer. A Contrast.
... prayer, disdained to notice the victims on the altar of the idol, while the blood
of the false priests dyed the waters of the brookKishon, a sacrifice to...
Philip and the Desposyni
... Thence, with Tabor in sight, and snowy Hermon, be crossed one of the streams of
that ancient river, the riverKishon, and approached the hills of Galilee....
The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Sisera,**** who commanded the Canaanite force, attacked the Israelite army between
Taanach and Megiddo in that plain ofKishon which had often served as a...
Thesaurus
Kishon (6 Occurrences)... "When the
Kishon was at its height, it would be, partly on account of its quicksands,
as impassable as the ocean itself to a retreating army." (see DEBORAH.).
...Megiddo (13 Occurrences)
... The army of Sisera was thrown into complete confusion, and was engulfed in the waters
of theKishon, which had risen and overflowed its banks (Judges 4:5)....
Sis'era (19 Occurrences)
... Judges 4:7 And I will draw out Sis'era, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you
by the riverKishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into...
Deborah (10 Occurrences)
... Deborah summoned Barak of Kedesh-naphtali and delivered to him the Divine
message to meet Sisera in battle by the brookKishon....
Torrent (49 Occurrences)
... Judges 5:21 The torrentKishon swept them away, the onrushing torrent, the
torrentKishon. March on, my soul, with might! (DBY NAS RSV)....
Sisera (18 Occurrences)
... Sisera resided in Harosheth of the Gentiles, a place identified with el-Charithiyeh,
on the right bank of theKishon and commanding the way from the Central...
Esdraelon
... from east to west. It is drained by "that ancient river" theKishon, which
flows westward to the Mediterranean. From the foot of...
Kishion (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Hardness, a city of Issachar assigned to the Gershonite
Levites (Joshua 19:20), the same asKishon (21:28). Int....
Onrushing (1 Occurrence)
... Onrushing (1 Occurrence). Judges 5:21 The torrentKishon swept them away, the onrushing
torrent, the torrentKishon. March on, my soul, with might! (DBY RSV)....
Jokneam (5 Occurrences)
... It is the modern Tell Kaimon, about 12 miles south-west of Nazareth, on the south
of the riverKishon.... To the East of it runs the "torrent bed" of theKishon....
Resources
Who was Sisera in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Jael in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat did it mean to be devoted to destruction? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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