Atomic Bible

A strategic city in the Jezreel Valley

Megiddo

Named in 13 verses across 8 books, first in Joshua 12:21.

מְגִדּוֹMegiddo

ἈρμαγεδδώνArmageddon

Also called Armageddon.

The name means “his precious fruit; declaring a message.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

About Megiddo Written by AI

Megiddo was a city of great strategic importance located in the Jezreel Valley, guarding the main trade route between Egypt and Mesopotamia. It was one of the cities conquered by Joshua during the Israelite conquest of Canaan (Joshua 12:21). Megiddo was allotted to the tribe of Manasseh but was not fully taken from the Canaanites (Joshua 17:11; Judges 1:27). The city is mentioned in the song of Deborah as the site of a great battle against the Canaanites (Judges 5:19). King Solomon fortified Megiddo as one of his key cities (1Ki.9.15). The city continued to play a significant role in later history, with King Josiah of Judah being killed by Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Megiddo (2Ki.23.29-30; 2Ch.35.22). The name Armageddon, derived from the Hebrew "Har Megiddo" (hill of Megiddo), appears in the book of Revelation as the site of the final battle between the forces of good and evil (Revelation 16:16).

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

Place of troops, originally one of the royal cities of the Canaanites (Josh. 12:21), belonged to the tribe of Manasseh (Judg. 1:27), but does not seem to have been fully occupied by the Israelites till the time of Solomon (1 Kings 4:12; 9:15).

The valley or plain of Megiddo was part of the plain of Esdraelon, the great battle-field of Palestine. It was here Barak gained a notable victory over Jabin, the king of Hazor, whose general, Sisera, led on the hostile army. Barak rallied the warriors of the northern tribes, and under the encouragement of Deborah (q.v.), the prophetess, attacked the Canaanites in the great plain. The army of Sisera was thrown into complete confusion, and was engulfed in the waters of the Kishon, which had risen and overflowed its banks (Judg. 4:5).

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Many years after this (B.C. 610), Pharaohnecho II., on his march against the king of Assyria, passed through the plains of Philistia and Sharon; and King Josiah, attempting to bar his progress in the plain of Megiddo, was defeated by the Egyptians. He was wounded in battle, and died as they bore him away in his chariot towards Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:29; 2 Chr. 35:22-24), and all Israel mourned for him. So general and bitter was this mourning that it became a proverb, to which Zechariah (12:11, 12) alludes. Megiddo has been identified with the modern el-Lejjun, at the head of the Kishon, under the north-eastern brow of Carmel, on the south-western edge of the plain of Esdraelon, and 9 miles west of Jezreel. Others identify it with Mujedd’a, 4 miles south-west of Bethshean, but the question of its site is still undetermined.

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

32.584, 35.182 See it on a map

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names it

  1. Joshua 12:21

    the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;

  2. Joshua 17:11

    Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh was assigned Beth-shean, Ibleam, Dor (that is, Naphath), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, each with their surrounding settlements.

  3. Judges 1:27

    At that time Manasseh failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and their villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.

  4. Judges 5:19

    Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no plunder of silver.

  5. 1 Kings 4:12

    Baana son of Ahilud in Taanach, in Megiddo, and in all of Beth-shean next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah and on past Jokmeam;

  6. 1 Kings 9:15

    This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon imposed to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces, and the wall of Jerusalem, as well as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.

  7. 2 Kings 9:27

    When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled up the road toward Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him, shouting, “Shoot him too!” So they shot Ahaziah in his chariot on the Ascent of Gur, near Ibleam, and he fled to Megiddo and died there.

  8. 2 Kings 23:29

    During Josiah’s reign, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt marched up to help the king of Assyria at the Euphrates River. King Josiah went out to confront him, but Neco faced him and killed him at Megiddo.

  9. 2 Kings 23:30

    From Megiddo his servants carried his body in a chariot, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in place of his father.

  10. 1 Chronicles 7:29

    And along the borders of Manasseh were Beth-shean, Taanach, Megiddo, and Dor, together with their villages. The descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived in these towns.

  11. 2 Chronicles 35:22

    Josiah, however, did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo.

  12. Zechariah 12:11

    On that day the wailing in Jerusalem will be as great as the wailing of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.

  13. Revelation 16:16

    And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.