Difference between revisions of "Kishon"

<p> [[Kishon]] ( ''Hî'Shon'' ), ''Bending, Curved,'' or in one place, &nbsp;Psalms 83:9, [[Kison]] ( ''Kî'Son'' ), the present Nahr Mukâtta, a river which drains the plain of Esdraelon, passes through the plain of Acre, and falls into the Mediterranean. Only the lower part of it is perennial, fed by some springs at the foot of Mount Carmel. The upper part, rising on [[Tabor]] and Little Hermon, is dry in the summer, but becomes a torrent in the winter, rushing along with great impetuosity and transforming parts of the plains it traverses into swamps. The total defeat of Sisera, &nbsp;Judges 4:7; &nbsp;Judges 5:21, and the executions of the idol-priests by Elijah, &nbsp;1 Kings 18:40, took place on the shores of this river. </p>

<p> (Heb. Kishon', '''''קַישׁוֹן''''' , ''Winding;'' Septuag. '''''Κισῶν''''' ; but in &nbsp;Psalms 83:9, '''''Κισσών''''' v.r. '''''Κεισών''''' , Auth. Vers. "Kison"), a torrent or winter stream ( '''''נִחִל''''' , A. V. "river") of central Palestine, the scene of two of the grandest achievements of Israelitish history-the defeat of Sisera (&nbsp;Judges 4:7; &nbsp;Judges 4:13; &nbsp;Judges 5:21), and the destruction of the prophets of Baal by Elijah (&nbsp;1 Kings 18:40). It formed the boundary between [[Manasseh]] and Zebulon (&nbsp;Joshua 19:11). (See [[Jokneam]]). Some portion of it is also thought to be designated as the "waters of Megiddo" (&nbsp;Judges 5:19). (See Megiddo). The term coupled with the Kishon in &nbsp;Judges 5:21, as a stream ''Of The Ancients'' ( '''''הִקְּדוּמַים''''' , A. V. "that [[Ancient]] river"), has been very variously rendered by the old interpreters. </p> <p> '''1.''' It is taken as a proper name, and thus apparently that of a distinct stream-in some MSS. of the Sept. '''''Καδημείμ''''' (see Barhdt's ''Hexapla);'' by Jerome, in the Vulgate, ''Torrens Catdumim;'' in the [[Peshito]] and Arabic versions, ''Carmmin.'' This view is also taken by [[Benjamin]] of Tudela, who speaks of the river close to Acre (doubtless meaning thereby the Belus) as the '''''נחל''''' '''''קדומים''''' . It is possible that the term may refer to an ancient tribe of Kedumirm-wanderers from the Eastern deserts-who had in remote antiquity settled on the Kishon or one of its tributary wadys. (See Kadmionites). </p> <p> '''2.''' As an epithet of the Kishon itself: Sept. '''''Χειμάῤῥους''''' '''''Ἀρχαίων''''' '';'' Aquila, '''''Καυσώνων''''' , perhaps intending to imply a scorching wind or simoom as accompanying the rising of the waters; Symmachus, '''''Αἰγίων''''' or '''''Αἰγῶν''''' '','' perhaps alluding to the swift springing of the torrent ( '''''Αϊ''''' v '''''Γες''''' is used for high waves by Artemidoru..). The Targum, adhering to the signification " ancient," expands the sentence-'" the torrent in which were shown signs and wonders to [[Israel]] of old;" and this miraculous torrent a later [[Jewish]] tradition (preserved in the Commentarius in Canticlum Debborce, ascribed to Jerome) would identify with the Red Sea, the scene of the greatest marvels in Israel's history. The rendering of the A.V. is supported by Mendelssohn, Gesenius, Ewall, and other modern scholars. The reference is probably to exploits among the aboriginal Canaanites, as the plain adjoining the stream has always been the great battle-ground of Palestine. (See Esdraelon). For the Kishon of &nbsp;Joshua 21:28, (See [[Kishion]]). </p> <p> By [[Josephus]] the Kishon is never named, neither does the name occur in the early Itineraries of [[Antoninus]] Augustus, or the [[Bordeaux]] Pilgrim. [[Eusebius]] and [[Jerome]] dismiss it in a few words, and note only its origin in Tabor (Onomasf. Cison), or such part of it as can be seen thence (Ep. ad Eustochium, '''''§''''' 13), passing by entirely its connection with Carmel. Benjamin of [[Tudela]] visited Akka and Carmel. He mentions the river by name as -" Nachal Kishon," but only in the most cursory manner. Brocardus (cir. 1500) describes the western portion of the stream with a little more fulness, but enlarges most on its upper or eastern part, which, with the victory of Barak, he places on the east of Tabor and Hermon, as discharging the water of those mountains into the Sea of [[Galilee]] (Descr. Terrce S. cap. 6, 7). This has been shown by Dr. Robinson (Eib. Res. ii, </p>

<p> ''''' kı̄´shon ''''' , ''''' kish´on ''''' ( קישׁון , <i> ''''' ḳı̄shōn ''''' </i> ; Κεισών , <i> ''''' Keisṓn ''''' </i> ): 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 (&nbsp; Judges 4:7 , etc.). It is probably mentioned earlier as "the brook that is before Jokneam" (&nbsp;Joshua 19:11; see Jokneam ). It appears again as the scene of Elijah's slaughter of the prophets of Baal (&nbsp;1 Kings 18:40 ). "The torrent" paragraph excellence in the district is the modern <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Muḳaṭṭa‛ ''''' </i> , a stream which drains all the plain of Esdraelon to the West of the watershed - a line drawn from <i> ''''' Iksāl ''''' </i> to Nain, and thence to <i> ''''' el ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Fūleh ''''' </i> and <i> ''''' Zer‛ı̄n ''''' </i> . All the water East of this line, from the Nazareth hills, Tabor and Little Hermon, flows down <i> ''''' Wādy ''''' </i> <i> ''''' esh ''''' </i> - <i> ''''' Sherrār ''''' </i> and <i> ''''' Nahr ''''' </i> <i> ''''' Jālūd ''''' </i> 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 <i> ''''' Jenı̄n ''''' </i> . Contributions also come from the copious fountains in the neighborhood of Megiddo. At <i> ''''' Sa‛adiyeh ''''' </i> , again, some 3 miles East of <i> ''''' Ḥaifā ''''' </i> , its volume is largely increased by springs rising at the base of Carmel, on the edge of the plain of Acre. From <i> ''''' Jenı̄n ''''' </i> 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 <i> ''''' Sa‛adiyeh ''''' </i> it flows in a deep sluggish stream through the marsh-land to the sea near <i> ''''' Ḥaifā ''''' </i> . In this part the crocodile is said to have been seen at times. </p> <p> 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 <i> ''''' Ḥaifā ''''' </i> 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. </p> <p> The phrase <i> ''''' naḥal ''''' </i> <i> ''''' ḳedhūmı̄m ''''' </i> in &nbsp; Judges 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 <i> ''''' Ḳı̄shōn ''''' </i> . 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. </p>