Jokneam

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Jokneam A royal Canaanite city ‘in Carmel’ (  Joshua 13:22 ), on the boundary of Zebulun (  Joshua 19:11 ), ‘the brook’ before it being the Kishon. It was assigned to the Merarite Levites (  Joshua 21:34 ). It is probably identical with Cyamon of Jdt 7:5 . The Onomasticon places ‘Cimona’ 6 Roman miles N. of Legio, on the road to Ptolemais. This points definitely to Tell Kaimûn , a striking mound about 7 miles N.W. of el-Lejjûn , with remains of ancient buildings.

W. Ewing.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

A city of Zebulun, allotted to the Merarite Levites ( Joshua 21:34;  Joshua 19:11).  1 Kings 4:12, read Jokmeam. Its Canaanite king (Jokneam of Carmel) Joshua slew ( 1 Kings 12:22). Now Tel Kaimion, an eminence below eastern Carmel, with the river Kishon at its foot a mile off.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Jok'ne-am. (Possessed By The People). A city of the tribe of Zebulun, allotted with its suburbs to the Merarite Levites.  Joshua 21:34. Its modern site is Tell Kaimon , an eminence which stands, just below the eastern termination of Carmel.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. Levitical city in Zebulun.  Joshua 12:22;  Joshua 19:11;  Joshua 21:34 . Identified with Tell Keimun, 32 40' N, 35 6' E .

2. See Jokmeam

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Joshua 19:11 21:34

Holman Bible Dictionary

Jokmeam

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

jok´nḗ - am ( יקנעם , yoḳne‛ām ): A royal city of the Canaanites taken by Joshua and described as "in Carmel" (  Joshua 12:22 ), in the territory of Zebulun, and allotted to the Merarite Levites ( Joshua 21:34 ). The border of Zebulun "reached to the brook that is before Jokneam" ( Joshua 19:11 ). In  1 Kings 4:12 the name appears in the King James Version where, with the Revised Version (British and American), we should read "Jokmeam." Eusebius, Onomasticon places it 6 Roman miles from Lejio ( Lejjūn ) on the way to Ptolemais (Acre). This points to Tell Kaimun , a striking mound on the eastern slope of Mt. Carmel. To the East of it runs the "torrent bed" of the Kishon. It stands about 300 ft. above the valley to the North of it, and the sides are steep. It is crowned by the ruins of an 18th-century fortress. A little lower down are the remains of a small chapel. There are fine springs at the foot ( PEFM , II, 69 f). In Judith 7:3 it appears as "Cyamon" (Κυαμῶν , Kuamōn ). It is the "Mons Cain" of the Middle Ages. "In the Samaritan Book of Judges it is noticed as the scene of a conflict between the Hebrews and the Giants; and Joshua is said to have been shut up here in magic walls of brass, till on sending a dove to the Hebrew king of Gilead, he was rescued" (Conder, HDB , under the word).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Of Tell Keimun, the modem representative of this place, a brief account may be found in the Memoirs accompanying the Ordnance Survey (2:48), and of the few remaining antiquities (page 69). A freer description is given by Lieut. Conder (Tent Work, 1:131):

"North of Lejjun the great Wady el-Milh runs down from the white plateau of the 'Breezy Land,' which it separates from the southern end of Carmel. Here at the mouth stands a huge tell or mound called Keimun, on which are remains of a little Byzantine chapel, and of a small fort erected by the famous native chief Dhahr el- Amr. The Samaritans have a curious legend connected with this site. According to them Joshua was challenged by the giants, and enclosed here with his army in seven walls of iron. A dove carried his message thence to Nabih, king of the tribes east of Jordan, who came to his assistance. The magic walls fell down, and the king of Persia, Shobek, was transfixed by an arrow which nailed him on his horse to the ground.

"The present name is a slight modification of the ancient Jokneam of Carmel, but the Crusaders seem to have been puzzled by it, and transformed Keimfn into Cain Mons, or Mount Cain, whence arose the curious legend that Cain was here slain with an arrow by Lamech, which they supposed to be the murder referred to in the Song of Lamech ( Genesis 4:23). The chapel no doubt shows the spot once held to be the site of the death of Cain, but the derivation of the name was as fanciful as that of Haifa from Cephas or from Caiaphas the high-priest."