Place name meaning, “He establishes the people” or “the Kinsman establishes or delivers.” Border city of fifth district of Solomon’s kingdom (1 Kings 4:12; KJV reads Jokneam). Its location was probably tell Qaimun about eighteen miles south of Haifa on the northwestern corner of the Jezreel Valley. A fortress city, it protected the pass into the Plain of Sharon. It lay on the border, perhaps outside of the tribal territory of Zebulun (Josh. 19:11, spelled Jokneam) and was assigned the Levites (Josh. 21:34, spelled Jokneam). Joshua defeated its king whose kingdom was near Mount Carmel (Josh. 12:22, spelled Jokneam). Egyptian records of Thutmose III, Egyptian Pharaoh about 1504-1450 B.C., mentioned Jokmeam. 2. City of the Levites from tribe of Ephraim (1 Chron. 6:68), either omitted in list in Joshua 21:22 or to be equated with Kibzaim there. See Kibzaim. It may be located at tell es-Simadi or Qusen west of Shechem. |