Jokneam

Jokneam (meaning: possessing, or building up, of the people) was a Canaanite royal city in the territory of Zebulun whose king was defeated by Joshua. It was subsequently assigned as a Levitical city to the Merarite clan from Zebulun's territory. The city commanded an important pass through the Carmel ridge where the Kishon River enters the Jezreel Valley, giving it strategic significance in controlling traffic between the coast and the interior of Canaan.