LANDS AND PLACES
Megiddo was a military fortress-city located in the northern part of Palestine on the Plain of Esdraelon (or the Valley of Jezreel) at the foot of the Carmel ridge between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee. One of the most important strategic sites in ancient Palestine, it stood along the great international highway from Egypt to Damascus, thus providing a natural route for the invasion of Palestine. Several passes through the hills were especially important for military purposes. Egyptian records describe how Pharaoh Thutmose III defeated one coalition by marching through one pass while the opposition guarded a different one that it expected the Egyptians to use. (Centuries later during World War I the British defeated the Ottoman Turks by using the same ploy.) Thus, because of its position overlooking the Plain of Esdraelon, the fortress became associated with a long series of famous battles both before and during Israelite history.
The Old Testament first mentions Megiddo among the cities that Joshua conquered (Josh. 12:21). Later, Solomon fortified it along with Hazor and Gezer as a fortress for his armies (1 Kings 9:15-19). Archaeological excavations have unearthed significant remains of ancient Megiddo both from the pre-Israelite and Israelite periods.
In the Old Testament, Megiddo witnessed many decisive battles in the history of the region. In its vicinity, Barak and Deborah defeated Sisera and his army (Judg. 5:19-21), Gideon fought against the Midianites and Amalekites (Judg. 6:33-35), the Philistines defeated Saul and killed him together with his sons (1 Sam. 31), Jehu shot Ahaziah (2 Kings 9:27), and Egyptian Pharaoh Neco’s forces killed Josiah (2 Kings 23:29, 30; 2 Chron. 35:22-24; cf. Zech. 12:11). Because of its historical significance, the book of Revelation employs Megiddo imagery to describe the eschatological battle between Christ and satanic forces in the Battle of Armageddon (cf. Rev. 16:16). The term Armageddon means “the mount of Megiddo” in Hebrew which most likely refers to Mount Carmel. It is close to Megiddo and is the site of one of the most significant spiritual battles in Israel’s history. This is where prophet Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18).
DoobSakenfeld, The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible.
Douglas, The Illustrated Bible Dictionary.