Bible Dictionary
Jokneam
Jokneam was a Canaanite royal city in the territory of Zebulun, near Mount Carmel. Joshua captured it, and it was later allotted with its suburbs to the Merarite Levites.
Definition
Jokneam was a Canaanite royal city in the territory of Zebulun, described as being in Carmel. Joshua captured it, and it was later allotted with its suburbs to the Merarite Levites.
Biblical Usage
Jokneam marks the boundary of Zebulun and appears among the cities assigned to the Merarite Levites after the conquest.
Historical Background
Jokneam is identified with Tell Kaimon on the eastern slope of Mount Carmel, near the Kishon. The site is a prominent mound with springs at its foot and ruins from later periods.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Gathered by the people, (Josh. 19:11; 21:34), a city “of Carmel” (12:22), i.e., on Carmel, allotted with its suburbs to the Merarite Levites. It is the modern Tell Kaimon, about 12 miles south-west of Nazareth, on the south of the river Kishon.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(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.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>jok'-ne-am (yoqne`am): A royal city of the Canaanites taken by Joshua and described as "in Carmel" (Jos 12:22), in the territory of Zebulun, and allotted to the Merarite Levites (21:34). The border of Zebulun "reached to the brook that is before Jokneam" (19:11). In 1Ki 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 (Lejjun) 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" (Kuamon). 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).</p><p>W. Ewing</p>