Megiddo in the Torah
מגידו
A strategic fortress city controlling the Jezreel Valley trade route. Megiddo was the site of multiple decisive battles throughout biblical history. Solomon rebuilt it as one of his chariot cities, and King Josiah was tragically killed here fighting Pharaoh Necho. The name Megiddo gave rise to 'Armageddon' (Har Megiddo — the Mount of Megiddo), the prophetic site of the final battle.
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Key Verses
5 selected passages mentioning Megiddo
Solomon rebuilds Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer
וְזֶ֨ה דְבַר־הַמַּ֜ס אֲשֶֽׁר־הֶעֱלָ֣ה ׀ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה לִבְנוֹת֩ אֶת־בֵּ֨ית יְהֹוָ֤ה וְאֶת־בֵּיתוֹ֙ וְאֶת־הַמִּלּ֔וֹא וְאֵ֖ת חוֹמַ֣ת יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְאֶת־חָצֹ֥ר וְאֶת־מְגִדּ֖וֹ וְאֶת־גָּֽזֶר׃
This was the purpose of the forced labor that Solomon imposed: It was to build the House of GOD, his own palace, the Millo,iMillo A citadel. and the wall of Jerusalem, and [to fortify] Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
Josiah fights in the valley of Megiddo against Necho
וְלֹא־הֵסֵב֩ יֹאשִׁיָּ֨הוּ פָנָ֜יו מִמֶּ֗נּוּ כִּ֤י לְהִלָּחֵֽם־בּוֹ֙ הִתְחַפֵּ֔שׂ וְלֹ֥א שָׁמַ֛ע אֶל־דִּבְרֵ֥י נְכ֖וֹ מִפִּ֣י אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיָּבֹ֕א לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בְּבִקְעַ֥ת מְגִדּֽוֹ׃
But Josiah would not let him alone; instead, he donned [his armor]bhe donned [his armor] With Targum. to fight him, heedless of Necho’s words from the mouth of God; and he came to fight in the plain of Megiddo.
King Josiah goes to meet Pharaoh Necho and is killed at Megiddo
בְּיָמָ֡יו עָלָה֩ פַרְעֹ֨ה נְכֹ֧ה מֶלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֛יִם עַל־מֶ֥לֶךְ אַשּׁ֖וּר עַל־נְהַר־פְּרָ֑ת וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ לִקְרָאת֔וֹ וַיְמִיתֵ֙הוּ֙ בִּמְגִדּ֔וֹ כִּרְאֹת֖וֹ אֹתֽוֹ׃
In his days, Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, marched against the king of AssyriavAssyria I.e., the Chaldean Empire; cf. Isa. 52.4 and note. to the River Euphrates; King Josiah marched toward him, but when he confronted him at Megiddo, [Pharaoh Neco] slew him.
The king of Megiddo among the defeated Canaanite kings
מֶ֤לֶךְ תַּעְנַךְ֙ אֶחָ֔ד מֶ֥לֶךְ מְגִדּ֖וֹ אֶחָֽד׃
the king of Taanach 1the king of Megiddo 1
The kings came and fought at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo
בָּ֤אוּ מְלָכִים֙ נִלְחָ֔מוּ אָ֤ז נִלְחֲמוּ֙ מַלְכֵ֣י כְנַ֔עַן בְּתַעְנַ֖ךְ עַל־מֵ֣י מְגִדּ֑וֹ בֶּ֥צַע כֶּ֖סֶף לֹ֥א לָקָֽחוּ׃
Then the kings came, they fought:The kings of Canaan foughtAt Taanach, by Megiddo’s waters—They got no spoil of silver.
7 more verses mention Megiddo across the Tanakh
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