(5.) A Benjamite, the son of Abiel, and father of king Saul (1 Samuel 9:1, 3;
10:11, 21; 14:51; 2 Samuel 21:14). All that is recorded of him is that he
sent his son Saul in search of his asses that had strayed, and that he was
buried in Zelah. Called Cis, Acts 13:21 (R.V., Kish).
- KISHION hardness, a city of Issachar assigned to the Gershonite Levites
(Joshua 19:20), the same as Kishon (21:28). - KISHON winding, a winter torrent of Central Palestine, which rises
about the roots of Tabor and Gilboa, and passing in a northerly direction
through the plains of Esdraelon and Acre, falls into the Mediterranean at
the north-eastern corner of the bay of Acre, at the foot of Carmel. It is the
drain by which the waters of the plain of Esdraelon and of the mountains
that surround it find their way to the sea. It bears the modern name of
Nahr el-Mokattah, i.e., “the river of slaughter” (comp. 1 Kings 18:40). In
the triumphal song of Deborah (Judges 5:21) it is spoken of as “that
ancient river,” either (1) because it had flowed on for ages, or (2), according
to the Targum, because it was “the torrent in which were shown signs and
wonders to Israel of old;” or (3) probably the reference is to the exploits in
that region among the ancient Canaanites, for the adjoining plain of
Esdraelon was the great battle-field of Palestine.
This was the scene of the defeat of Sisera (Judges 4:7, 13), and of the
destruction of the prophets of Baal by Elijah (1 Kings 18:40). “When the
Kishon was at its height, it would be, partly on account of its quicksands,
as impassable as the ocean itself to a retreating army.” (See DEBORAH.)
- KISS of affection (Genesis 27:26, 27; 29:13; Luke 7:38, 45);
reconciliation (Genesis 33:4; 2 Samuel 14:33); leave-taking (Genesis
31:28,55; Ruth 1:14; 2 Samuel 19:39); homage (Psalm 2:12; 1 Samuel
10:1); spoken of as between parents and children (Genesis 27:26; 31:28,
55; 48:10; 50:1; Exodus 18:7; Ruth 1:9, 14); between male relatives
(Genesis 29:13; 33:4; 45:15). It accompanied social worship as a symbol
of brotherly love (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians
13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14). The worship of idols was by
kissing the image or the hand toward the image (1 Kings 19:18; Hos. 13:2). - KITE an unclean and keen-sighted bird of prey (Leviticus 11:14;
Deuteronomy 14:13). The Hebrew word used, ’ayet, is rendered “vulture”
in Job 28:7 in Authorized Version, “falcon” in Revised Version. It is