The town of Megiddo in northern Canaan fell to Israel at the time of Joshua’s conquest, though the local inhabitants were not totally destroyed. In the division of Canaan among Israel’s tribes, Megiddo came within the tribal allotment of Issachar. The neighbouring tribe of Manasseh was more powerful and took over the town, claiming it could drive out the remaining Canaanites, but it was not able to (Joshua 12:7; Joshua 12:21; Joshua 17:11; Judges 1:27).
In the days of Solomon, Megiddo was an important administrative centre in the north. It was also a strategic defence city (1 Kings 4:12; 1 Kings 9:15-19). Being situated at the western end of the Plain of Esdraelon, at the point where the main north-south and east-west highways crossed, it was involved in a number of important battles (Judges 5:19; 2 Kings 9:27; 2 Kings 23:29). (For map and other details of the region see PALESTINE.) In the symbolism of the book of Revelation, Megiddo is the scene of the last great battle, when God destroys all enemies (Revelation 16:16. ‘Armageddon’ means ‘hill of Megiddo’ ).