Bible Encyclopedias
Megiddo

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

Capital of one of the Canaanitish kings conquered by Joshua; assigned to Manasseh (Joshua 12:21, 17:11; 1 Chronicles 7:29). Its Canaanitish inhabitants were only put to tribute, not driven out (Joshua 17:12-13; Judges 1:27-28). Megiddo is repeatedly referred to in Biblical history. It is mentioned in connection with Baana, one of Solomon's commissariat officers, who had to provision the king's household for one month in the year. Its fortifications, which were of ancient date (being mentioned in the inscription of Thothmes III.), were restored by Solomon (1 Kings 4:12, 9:15). Ahaziah is said (2 Kings 9:27) to have died at Megiddo after he had escaped from Jehu; but in 2 Chronicles 22:9 it is said that Ahaziah was found in Samaria, taken to Jehun, and slain. The most memorable occurrence connected with the city was the battle there or in the valley of Megiddo, between Pharaoh-nechoh and Josiah, in which the latter was slain (2 Kings 23:29-30; 2 Chronicles 35:22); "the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon" may have been on account of this battle (Zechariah 12:11; see HADAD (2)). The same battle is mentioned by Herodotus (2:159), but under the name "Magdolum" instead of "Megiddo." The city is frequently mentioned in connection with Taanach (Joshua 12:21, 17:11; Judges 5:19; 1 Kings 4:12; 1 Chronicles 7:29), near the plain of Esdraelon; the expression in Deborah's song is "in Taanach on the waters of Megiddo."

Megiddo is mentioned on the El-Amarna tablets. Robinson ("Researches," 3:177-300) identified the site of Megiddo with the modern Al-Lajjun, on the western border of the plain of Esdraelon. Other scholars have identified it with Al-Mujaidil, near Nazareth; with Majdal, near Acre; with Jida; and with Mujaddah, three miles south of Beth-shean.

J.
M. Sel.
Bibliography Information
Singer, Isidore, Ph.D, Projector and Managing Editor. Entry for 'Megiddo'. 1901 The Jewish Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tje/​m/megiddo.html. 1901.