Dictionary Home / M

Madon

biblical_place_name theological_term standard

Madon was a Canaanite city whose king joined the northern coalition against Israel in Joshua’s conquest.

At a Glance

A Canaanite royal city named in Joshua’s account of the northern coalition.

Key Points

Description

Madon is a biblical place-name mentioned in Joshua’s conquest accounts. The city is listed as part of the coalition of northern Canaanite rulers gathered against Israel, with its king named among the enemies defeated under Joshua’s leadership. In Scripture, Madon functions as a historical and geographical reference point within the narrative of Israel’s conquest of Canaan. It is not developed as a theological concept, and the biblical material gives no doctrinal teaching specific to Madon itself. Its value lies in situating the conquest account within real places, rulers, and alliances.

Biblical Context

In Joshua, Madon appears among the kings of the north who gathered to fight Israel after hearing of Joshua’s victories. The name is tied to the larger conquest narrative and the Lord’s granting victory to Israel over Canaanite opposition.

Historical Context

Madon was a Canaanite royal city in the northern region of the land. Like other city-states of the period, it was governed by a king and could participate in military coalitions against rival powers.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Ancient Jewish readers would have understood Madon as one of the concrete locations in Joshua’s conquest history. The text preserves the name as part of Israel’s remembrance of the defeated Canaanite kings.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew place-name transliterated as Madon; the biblical text preserves it as a geographic proper name.

Theological Significance

Madon itself does not teach a doctrine, but it contributes to the historical reliability and narrative coherence of Joshua’s conquest account.

Philosophical Explanation

As a proper noun, Madon belongs to the category of historical reference rather than abstract theological idea. Its significance is located in what the text reports about real places and events.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not turn Madon into a doctrinal term or build symbolism on the name itself. Its role in Scripture is primarily geographical and historical.

Major Views

There is little interpretive debate about the biblical function of Madon; the main issue is identification and location, not theology.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Madon supports the historical setting of Joshua but does not establish a separate doctrine. Any broader theological conclusion should come from the surrounding biblical context, not the place-name alone.

Practical Significance

Madon reminds readers that Scripture is rooted in real geography and historical events, not myth or abstraction.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Madon

↑ Top