Topical Encyclopedia
Geographical Location:Riblah is an ancient city located in the region of Hamath, which is in present-day Syria. It is situated on the eastern bank of the Orontes River, approximately 65 miles northeast of Baalbek and 50 miles south of Homs. Riblah's strategic position on the main north-south trade route made it a significant military and administrative center in ancient times.
Biblical References:Riblah is mentioned several times in the Old Testament, primarily in the context of military and political events involving the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
1.
Numbers 34:11 · Riblah is mentioned as a landmark in the description of the northern boundary of the Promised Land: "The border will go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Chinnereth."
2.
2 Kings 23:33 · Riblah is noted as the place where Pharaoh Neco of Egypt imprisoned King Jehoahaz of Judah: "Pharaoh Neco put him in chains at Riblah in the land of Hamath, so that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and he imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold."
3.
2 Kings 25:6 · The city is also significant in the account of the fall of Jerusalem. King Zedekiah was captured and brought to Riblah, where he faced judgment by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon: "They captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they pronounced judgment on him."
4.
Jeremiah 39:5-6 and
Jeremiah 52:9-10 · These passages recount the same event, emphasizing Riblah as the site of Zedekiah's judgment and the execution of his sons: "But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him."
5.
Jeremiah 52:26-27 · Riblah is further mentioned as the location where Nebuchadnezzar executed the chief officials of Judah: "Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. There at Riblah in the land of Hamath the king had them put to death."
Historical and Theological Significance:Riblah served as a military headquarters for both Egyptian and Babylonian forces during their respective campaigns in the Levant. Its role as a site of judgment and execution underscores the severity of God's judgment upon Judah for their disobedience and idolatry, as prophesied by Jeremiah and other prophets. The events at Riblah highlight the fulfillment of divine prophecy and the sovereignty of God over the nations, using foreign powers to accomplish His purposes.
Archaeological Insights:While Riblah itself has not been extensively excavated, its identification with the modern site of Ribleh in Syria is widely accepted. The location's strategic importance is corroborated by its proximity to major ancient trade routes and its mention in Assyrian and Babylonian records.
Riblah's repeated mention in the context of judgment and exile serves as a somber reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's covenant. The city's role in biblical history is a testament to the unfolding of God's redemptive plan, even amidst the judgment of His people.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Riblahquarrel; greatness to him
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Riblah(fertility), One of the landmarks on the eastern boundary of the land of Israel, as specified by Moses. (Numbers 34:11) It seems hardly possible, without entirely disarranging the specification or the boundary, that the Riblah in question can be the same with the following.
- Riblah in the land of Hamath, a place on the great road between Palestine and Babylonia, at which the kings of Babylonia were accustomed to remain while directing the operations of their armies in Palestine and Phoenicia. Here Nebuchadnezzer waited while the sieges of Jerusalem and of Tyre were being conducted by his lieutenants. (Jeremiah 39:5,6;62:9,10,26,27;2 Kings 25:6,20,21) In like manner Pharaoh-necho after his victory over the Babylonians at Carchemish, returned to Riblah and summoned Jehoahaz from Jerusalem before him. (2 Kings 23:33) This Riblah still retains its ancient name, on the right (east) bank of theel-Asy (Orontes) upon the great road which connectsBaalbek andHums , about 36 miles northeast of the former end 20 miles southwest of the latter place.
ATS Bible Dictionary
RiblahA city of Syria, in the country of Hamath, at the north-east extremity of Canaan,Numbers 34:11. Its site is probably found in the modern village Ribleh, on the river Orontes, at the northern end of the great valley of Lebanon, El-Bukaa.. Through this valley, by way of Hamath and Riblah, was the readiest access to Palestine from the north. At Riblah king Jehoahaz was taken and deposed by Pharaoh- necho; here also Nebuchadnezzar established his headquarters when warring against Judah,2 Kings 23:33; 25:6,20,21;Jeremiah 39:5; 52:10.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Fruitful, an ancient town on the northern frontier of Palestine, 35 miles north-east of Baalbec, and 10 or 12 south of Lake Homs, on the eastern bank of the Orontes, in a wide and fertile plain. Here Nebuchadnezzar had his head-quarters in his campaign against Jerusalem, and here also Necho fixed his camp after he had routed Josiah's army at Megiddo (
2 Kings 23:29-35;
25:6, 20, 21;
Jeremiah 39:5;
52:10). It was on the great caravan road from Palestine to Carchemish, on the Euphrates. It is described (
Numbers 34:11) as "on the eastern side of Ain." A place still called el Ain, i.e., "the fountain", is found in such a position about 10 miles distant. (see
JERUSALEM.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
RIBLAHrib'-la (ribhlah; Rheblatha, with variants):
(1) Riblah in the land of Hamath first appears in history in 608 B.C. Here Pharaoh-necoh, after defeating Josiah at Megiddo and destroying Kadytis or Kadesh on the Orontes, fixed his headquarters, and while in camp he deposed Jehoahaz and cast him into chains, fixed the tribute of Judah, and appointed Jehoiakim king (2 Kings 23:31-35). In 588 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar, at war with Egypt and the Syrian states, also established his headquarters at Riblah, and from it he directed the subjugation of Jerusalem. When it fell, Zedekiah was carried prisoner to Riblah, and there, after his sons and his nobles had been slain in his presence, his eyes were put out, and he was taken as a prisoner to Babylon (2 Kings 25:6, 20Jeremiah 39:5-7;Jeremiah 52:8-11). Riblah then disappears from history, but the site exists today in the village of Ribleh, 35 miles Northeast of Baalbek, and the situation is the finest that could have been chosen by the Egyptian or Babylonian kings for their headquarters in Syria. An army camped there had abundance of water in the control of the copious springs that go to form the Orontes. The Egyptians coming from the South had behind them the command of the rich corn and forage lands of Coele-Syria, while the Babylonian army from the North was equally fortunate in the rich plains extending to Hamath and the Euphrates. Lebanon, close by, with its forests, its hunting grounds and its snows, ministered to the needs and luxuries of the leaders. Riblah commanded the great trade and war route between Egypt and Mesopotamia, and, besides, it was at the dividing-point of many minor routes. It was in a position to attack with facility Phoenicia, Damascus or Palestine, or to defend itself against attack from those places, while a few miles to the South the mountains on each side close in forming a pass where a mighty host might easily be resisted by a few. In every way Riblah was the strategical point between North and South Syria. Riblah should probably be read for Diblah inEzekiel 6:14, while inNumbers 34:11 it does not really appear. See 2.
(2) A place named as on the ideal eastern boundary of Israel inNumbers 34:11, but omitted inEzekiel 47:15-18. The Massoretic Text reads "Hariblah"; but the Septuagint probably preserves the true vocalization, according to which we should translate "to Harbel." It is said to be to the east of `Ain, and that, as the designation of a district, can only mean Merj `Ayun, so that we should seek it in the neighborhood of Hermon, one of whose spurs Furrer found to be named Jebel `Arbel.
W. M. Christie
Strong's Hebrew
7247.Riblah -- a city in Hamath, also one on NE border of Isr.... 7246, 7247.
Riblah. 7248 . a city in Hamath, also one on NE border of Isr.
Transliteration:
Riblah Phonetic Spelling: (rib-law') Short Definition:
Riblah.
...1689. Diblah -- a place in Aram (Syria) or Northern Israel
... NASB Word Usage Diblah (1). Diblath. Probably an orthographical error forRiblah;
Diblah, a place in Syria -- Diblath. see HEBREWRiblah. 1688, 1689....
Library
The Sad Fate of a Guilty Nation
... plains of Jericho. Then they brought him up to Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon,
who was then atRiblah in the land of Hamath. And the...
'As Sodom'
... in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.9. Then they took
the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon toRiblah in the land...
The End
... him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him.6. So they
took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon toRiblah; and they...
How the King of Babylon Took Jerusalem and Burnt the Temple and...
... They were indeed only generals of the king of Babylon, to whom Nebuchadnezzar committed
the care of the siege, for he abode himself in the city ofRiblah....
The Last Agony
... after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and when they had taken
him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon toRiblah in the...
Pamias. Paneas, the Spring of Jordan.
... which issue little Jordan," &c.Riblah (that we may note this by the way)
by the Targumists is rendered Daphne. They, upon Numbers 34...
From Megiddo to Carchemish, 608-605.
... In three months Necoh had the youth in bonds atRiblah, in the land of Hamath, that
he might not reign in Jerusalem, and afterwards took him to Egypt....
What is to be Said of the Sea of Apamia.
... into Ain; note also, in the word Bozor, 2 Peter 2:15, Ain changed into Shin.) Jonathan
reads it Apamia, with Aleph: for "From Shepham toRiblah," he renders...
Zedekiah
... his few attendants deserted him in his flight, he was caught at last down by the
fords of the Jordan, carried prisoner to Nebuchadnezzar atRiblah away up in...
To the End and After
... He was overtaken on the plains of Jericho, his escort scattered and himself carried
to Nebuchadrezzar's head-quarters atRiblah on the Orontes....
Thesaurus
Riblah (12 Occurrences)... position about 10 miles distant. (see JERUSALEM.). Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia.
RIBLAH. rib'-la (ribhlah; Rheblatha, with variants
...Ain (6 Occurrences)
... Thomson and after him Robinson make Ain the same as `Ain el-`Asy, the chief source
of the Orontes, some fifteen miles Southwest ofRiblah, which, in turn, is...
Pharaoh-necoh (3 Occurrences)
... Not having met an enemy there, he seems to have turned back and established
himself for a time atRiblah in Syria. ToRiblah he...
Zephaniah (11 Occurrences)
... He, along with some other captive Jews, was put to death by the king of
Babylon "atRiblah in the land of Hamath" (2 Kings 25:21)....
Sentence (53 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 25:6 Then they took the king, and carried him up to the king of Babylon
toRiblah; and they gave judgment on him. (See NAS RSV NIV)....
Nebuzar-adan (14 Occurrences)
... (DBY WBS). 2 Kings 25:20 And Nebuzar-adan the captain of the body-guard took them
and brought them to the king of Babylon toRiblah; (DBY WBS)....
Nebu'zarad'an (14 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 2 Kings 25:20 And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them,
and brought them to the king of Babylon toRiblah. (See RSV)....
Pharaohnecoh
... Not having met an enemy there, he seems to have turned back and established
himself for a time atRiblah in Syria. ToRiblah he...
Shepham (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A treeless place, Numbers 34:10, 11: "The coast shall
go down from Shepham toRiblah.". Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SHEPHAM....
Slaughtereth (13 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 39:6 And the king of Babylon slaughtereth the sons of Zedekiah, inRiblah,
before his eyes, yea, all the freemen of Judah hath the king of Babylon...
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