Bible Dictionaries
Makkedah

Holman Bible Dictionary

(mak kee' duh) Name meaning, “Place of shepherds,” of a Canaanite city, the site of Joshua's rout of the combined forces of five Canaanite kings (Joshua 10:10 ). The kings sought refuge in nearby caves but were trapped there (Joshua 10:16 ). Joshua captured the city, killing all its population (Joshua 10:28 ). Later, Makkedah was assigned to the Shephelah (lowland) district of Judah (Joshua 15:4-1 ). Suggested locations include: Eusebius' suggestion of a site eight and a half miles from Eleutheropolis (Beit Jibrin); tell es-Safi south of Hulda (Libnah); el-Muqhar (“the Caves”) southwest of Ekron; and a site between Lachish and Hebron.