What is the significance of Megiddo in the Bible?

Armageddon, which occurs once only in the Bible (Rev. 16:16), is thought to represent the Hebrew words ‘Har Megiddo', meaning ‘Hill of Megiddo' [2] . The valley of Megiddo in the north of Israel has been known as a battlefield in history (see 2 Chr. 35:22). Armageddon is the scene of the great final battle between the united armies of the earth and Christ (Rev. 16:12-16). When the sixth vial [3] of judgment is poured out on the river Euphrates the river dries up, which paves the way for the approach of the eastern armies, which are huge – 200 million strong – according to Rev. 9:16. Together with ‘the kings of the whole habitable world' (16:12), inspired by demonic power (16:13), they will go to ‘the war of that great day of God the Almighty' (16:14). The detail of what will happen when the world's armies are gathered together in Armageddon is given in Rev. 19:19, 20.

City and valley on the borders of Issachar and Manasseh. It was conquered by Joshua. Joshua 12:21. Later it is mentioned among the cities from which Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants; "the Canaanites would dwell in that land." Joshua 17:11; Judges 1:27. The rout of Sisera's army was in this district; and at Megiddo Josiah fell when he rashly attacked Pharaoh-nechoh. Judges 5:19; 1 Kings 4:12; 1 Kings 9:15; 2 Kings 9:27; 2 Kings 23:29-30; 1 Chr. 7:29; 2 Chr. 35:22; Zech. 12:11. See ARMAGEDDON. The city is identified by some with el Lejjun, 32 35' N, 35 10' E, but others prefer the ruins at el Mujedda, 32 28' N, 35 27' E. The valley is otherwise known as 'the valley of Jezreel.' The WATERS of MEGIDDO probably refer to the copious springs found in that district.

Whatever doubt there may be as to the exact meaning of this word, there is none as to the fact that it refers in some way or other to the valley of Megiddo. Here it was that the most formidable Gentile oppressors were overthrown, when God arose for the deliverance of His people. Here it was that "the kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money. They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera." (Judges 5:19-20.) It is obvious how admirable a type this furnishes of the great battle yet to come, when Christ shall descend from heaven for the deliverance of His people, the destruction of His enemies, and the establishment of His glorious rule. We learn elsewhere, that the Gentile will be gathered in the Holy Land, but the name Armageddon probably refers less to the place than to the character of their overthrow, as typified in the great battle "by the waters of Megiddo."

The place of gathering that is mentioned here, called in Hebrew Armageddon, is, I think, an allusion to Judges 5:19. "The kings came and fought: then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo." It was not that Megiddo was a place of any great size or note. God looks to the principle at issue. Israel was in a low state. There was a prophetess that the Lord used to inspire them with courage; and when encouraged by her, they won a great victory over their enemies. The same place is referred to in 2 Chron. 35:22, when Josiah received his death-wound in battle with the king of Egypt. But I doubt that this is the incident referred to by the Spirit of God here. For Megiddo in the day of the Judges was a memento of joy and triumph to Israel. In the time of Josiah it was a place of gloom; all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. It was "the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley* of Megiddon" (Zech. 12:11), which led historically to the writing of the book of Lamentations. For this reason I think that Armageddon (i.e. the mountain of Megiddo) here refers not to the sorrow for Josiah in 2 Chronicles, but to the gathering and defeat of the Gentile kings in Judges. For here it is the Lord beating down the nations. He had been acknowledged as king of the nations in Rev. 15; and therefore, to make this an allusion to a time when the godly Jewish monarch was slain by a Gentile would be little appropriate. But to derive it from the day when Israel had been led on to victory even by a woman well fits into the scene that is here described, when the kings of the whole world will be gathered only for a more terrible destruction.

Rev. 16:16. — “And He gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew Armageddon.” The pronoun he no doubt refers to God. He is behind the scenes and the actors in this judicial judgment and course of dealing. It is God Almighty, therefore, Who effects, in righteous retribution, this vast gathering of the nations, employing the dragon, His declared enemy, and the great apostate chiefs of earth to carry out His purpose. Why is the gathering place Armageddon? There the Canaanitish kings gave battle to Israel, but Jehovah fought with and for His people, and the signal victory granted to Israel is celebrated in glowing and triumphant strains by Deborah, the prophetess (Judges 5:19-20). Now one great object which the assembled nations have before them is to crush and overthrow Israel (Ps. 83:3-5), but God intervenes, and effectually destroys them and delivers His own, as He did in the early days of the Judges. The early victory is here alluded to as a pledge and earnest of the latter. It is not that the actual hill of Megiddo or its valley is to be the gathering centre of the nations; its circumscribed area must forbid any such notion. But the simple meaning is that God will have gathered by satanic agency many of the nations of the earth to Palestine, their object being to overthrow and crush Israel, and fling themselves in their combined might against Jehovah. But, alas for them, they do so only to their own destruction. God pours upon the assembled nations His fury (see the prophets Joel and Zephaniah). It has been remarked that the valley of Jehoshaphat is the place of slaughter, and Armageddon the place of gathering by the nations. Both places, however, are intended to present in principle certain closing scenes in the last days. Both the mountain and valley point to a future assembling of kings and peoples in the land of Palestine, and probably in the vicinity of Jerusalem. There the great governmental question of the sovereignty of the earth is to be decided in the complete overthrow of the nations, and in the establishment of the world kingdom of our God and of His Christ; in the settlement, too, of Israel in perpetual possession of her land, and in headship and supremacy of the nations in the millennial earth.

The Hebrew name of the place where the kings of the earth and of the whole world will be gathered together to make war against the Lord Jesus in the great day of Almighty God. Rev. 16:16. There seems to be an allusion to the great battle field of Palestine in the Esdraelon, and to the Megiddo mentioned in Judges 5:19; 1 Kings 4:12; 2 Kings 23:29-30. The word itself is translated 'the mountain of slaughter,' and may be used symbolically for the destruction that will surely fall upon the enemies of the Lord Jesus.

One more particular is now added — the name of the place to which the kings and their armies will be gathered. It is called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.* This name has a symbolical import, and means, in fact, the hill of Megiddo. Megiddo was the great battle-field of Barak (Judges 5:19), and had, therefore, combined with other events in connection with the same place,† a peculiar significance in Jewish history. This will account for its application to that awful place where "the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies" will gather "together to make war against Him that sat on the horse" (the Lord in His glory) "and against His army." (Rev. 19:19.)

One more particular is now added — the name of the place to which the kings and their armies will be gathered. It is called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.* This name has a symbolical import, and means, in fact, the hill of Megiddo. Megiddo was the great battle-field of Barak (Judges 5:19), and had, therefore, combined with other events in connection with the same place,† a peculiar significance in Jewish history. This will account for its application to that awful place where "the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies" will gather "together to make war against Him that sat on the horse" (the Lord in His glory) "and against His army." (Rev. 19: 19.)

The extensive valley or plain in which the last-named city was situated, in southern Galilee. It has been called the battle-field of Palestine. It was where Barak triumphed, and where Josiah was defeated, Judges 5:19; 2 Chr. 35:22 — Megiddo being in the same locality. It is also perhaps the place where the great battle of Armageddon will be fought. Rev. 16:16. It is a very fertile plain, and is now well cultivated (cf. Hosea 2:22); Joshua 17:16; Judges 6:33; Hosea 1:5. The name ESDRAELON is given to this valley in the Apocryphal Book of Judith 3:9, etc. Now called Merj Ibn Amir.

Armageddon means the hill Megiddo. If you will look at your map of Palestine you will find a town, marked Megiddo, between Mount Carmel and the sea on the west, and the windings of the River Jordan on the east. Between these two points there is the great fruitful valley or plain of Jezreel. This plain of Jezreel (its modern name is Esdraelon) has been the battlefield again and again in the history of the children of Israel. It is clear no fighting has occurred so far in the place called Armageddon.