Biblical Appearances

Kishon is referenced six times in the Bible—all in the Old Testament (Judg 4:7, 13; 5:21 [2x]; 1 Kgs 18:40; Psa 83:9). Each reference is related in some way to two significant events:

1. Deborah and Barak’s battle with the Canaanite general Sisera (Judg 4–5)

2. Elijah’s defeat of the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kgs 18)

However, the Kishon likely held significance beyond these two events. For example, while the tribal lists in Joshua make no mention of the Kishon, it most likely served as a partial border demarcation for the tribes of Asher, Manasseh, Zebulun, and Issachar. All of these tribes’ borders meet at some point in and around the Kishon River (compare Kallai, Historical Geography, 181–83, 205–9).