ARMAGEDON ('Αρμαγεδών; in the manuscripts of the Κ recension Μαγεδών [a few: Μαγεδδών]; the principal manuscripts of the Vulgate Hermagedon or Magedon). - Hebrew name ("mount of Megiddo") of the place where, after the Angel has poured out the sixth bowl, the "kings of all the earth," allies of the "Beast," will gather on the great day of God to fight the Almighty (Rev. 16:16), driven on by three unclean spirits like frogs (ibid. 16:14).

The locality, allegorical, takes its name from Megiddo (v.), a city situated at the south-western edge of the plain of Esdrelon, almost at the foot of the hills sloping down from Carmel.

Because of the strategic importance of the pass of Megiddo, the western side of the plain of Esdrelon was the most famous battlefield of Palestine, the scene of various decisive encounters (Thutmose III, launching his army there, defeated the Canaanite princes of Syria and Palestine, 15 May 1479 B.C.). At the "waters of Megiddo" the Canaanites were defeated by the Galilean tribes and Sisera was killed (Judg. 5:19); the kings Joram and Ahaziah were killed there (2 Kings 9:23-27); above all memorable is the rout of King Josiah (609 B.C.), killed in the "plain of Megiddo" by the troops of Pharaoh Necho II (2 Kings 23:29-30; 2 Chron. 35:22-25), and that mourning remained proverbial (Zech. 12:11; v. ADADREMMON).

The name therefore evokes defeat and slaughter; A. is par excellence the place where kings perish. The narrative of the battle and of God's victory over the coalition of the kings, foreshadowed by the name A. in Rev. 16:16, is deferred to Rev. 19:17-21.

Bibliography5 works

BIBL.: E. B. Allo, L'Apocalypse, Paris 1921, pp. 239-40, 282; J. de Heer, Die Eudhristi der Völker: Der hammende Richter in Harmageddon, 3rd ed., Giessen 1931; J. Jeremias, Hur Magedon (Apk. 16, 16), in Zeitschr. für neutest. Wissenschaft, 31 (1932), pp. 73-77; J.-H. Michael, Hur Magedon (Rez. 16, 12-16), in Journal of Theol. Studies, 38 (1937), pp. 168-72; C. C. Torrey, Armageddon (Apoc. 16, 16), in Harvard Theol. Review, 31 (1938), pp. 237-48.

Antonino Romeo

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