Difference between revisions of "Kishon"

<p> <strong> [[Kishon]] </strong> (&nbsp; Judges 4:7; &nbsp; Judges 5:21 , &nbsp; 1 Kings 18:40 , &nbsp; Psalms 83:9 ). The ancient name of the stream now called <em> Nahr el-Mukatta </em> ’, which drains almost the whole area of the great Plain of Esdraelon. The main channel may be considered as rising near the W. foot of Mt. Tahor, and running W. through the centre of the plain until it enters the narrow valley between the S. extension of the Galilæan hills and the E. end of Carmel. After emerging from this it enters the Plain of Akka, running a little N. of the whole length of Carmel, and enters the sea about a mile E. of Haifa. The total length is about 23 miles. In the first part of its course it is in winter a sluggish stream with a bottom of deep mud, and in summer but a chain of small marshes; from just below where the channel is crossed by the [[Nazareth]] road near [[Carmel]] it usually has a certain amount of water all the year round, and in parts the water, which is brackish, &nbsp; Isaiah 10 or 12 feet deep. At its mouth, however, it is almost always fordable. Numerous small watercourses from the Galilæan hills on the N. and more important tributaries from ‘Little Hermon,’ the Mountains of Gilboa, and the whole southern range of [[Samaria]] and Carmel on the E. and S., contribute their waters to the main stream. The greater number of these channels, in places 10 or 15 feet deep with precipitous sides, are perfectly dry two-thirds of the year, but during the winter’s rains are filled with raging torrents. A number of copious springs arise along the edge of the hills to the S. of the plain. At <em> Jenin </em> there are plentiful fountains, but they are, during the summer, entirely used up in irrigation; at <em> Ta‘anak </em> , at <em> Lejjûn </em> , near <em> Tell el-Kasîs </em> , at the E. end of Carmel, and at the <em> ‘Ayûn el-Sa‘di </em> , perennial fountains pour their water into the main stream. Those who have seen the stream only in late spring or summer can hardly picture how treacherous and dangerous it may become when the winter’s rain fills every channel with a tumultuous flood of chocolate-brown water over a bottom of sticky mud often itself several feet deep. Both animals and baggage have not infrequently been lost at such times. Under such conditions, the Kishon, with its steep, uncertain banks, its extremely crooked course, and its treacherous fords, must have been very dangerous to a flying army of horses and chariots (&nbsp; Judges 5:21-22 ). Of all parts the section of the river from [[Megiddo]] (wh. see) to ‘Harosheth of the Gentiles’ (now <em> el-Harithîyeh </em> ), where the fiercest of the battle against [[Sisera]] was fought (cf. &nbsp; Judges 5:10; &nbsp; Judges 4:16 ), must have been the most dangerous. The other OT incident connected with this river is the slaughter there of the prophets of [[Baal]] after Elijah’s vindication of [[Jehovah]] on the heights of Carmel (&nbsp; 1 Kings 18:40 ). </p> <p> E. W. G. Masterman. </p>

<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> '''Ki'shon.''' ''(Winding).'' Kishon. ''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 5, and the destruction of the prophets of Baal by Elijah. &nbsp;1 Kings 18:40. The ''Nahr 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. </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>