A fortified Canaanite town at the southern end of the Jezreel Valley, close to the Wadi Ara pass. The earliest mention of it comes in the account of the conquest of Megiddo in 1468 B.C. by Thutmosis III. It then appears in the El Amarna Letters. The king of Taanach appears in the list of 31 kings vanquished by Joshua (Josh 12:21), though other passages state that Taanach was not conquered by the Israelites (Josh 17:11-12; Judg 1:27). Even when Israel was strong enough to impose tribute on the Canaanites the town was still not taken (Josh 17:13; Judg 1:28); it withstood conquest until the battle of Deborah which took place "in Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo" (Judg 5:19). It was designated a Levitical city (Josh 21:25). During the reign of Solomon, Taanach was in the same district as Megiddo and Beth Shean. It was destroyed by Pharaoh Shishak and is depicted in a relief in his temple at Karnak (Thebes).
Taanach is identified with Tell Tianik, about 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Megiddo. The mound covers an area of 16 acres (6.5 ha) and rises about 160 feet (49m) above the valley. It occupies a strategic point at the intersection of important roads coming from Acco in the north, Jerusalem in the south and the Mediterranean coast in the west. The site has been extensively excavated and remains found from the Early Bronze Age down to the Arab period.
Concordance
Josh 12:21; 17:11; 21:25. Judg 1:27; 5:19. I Kgs 4:12. I Chr 7:29
