carchemish Summary and Overview

fortress of Chemosh, a city on the west bank of the Euphrates (Jer. 46:2; 2 Chr. 35:20), not, as was once supposed, the Circesium at the confluence of the Chebar and the Euphrates, but a city considerably higher up the river, and commanding the ordinary passage of the Euphrates; probably identical with Hierapolis. It was the capital of the kingdom of the northern Hittites. The Babylonian army, under Nebuchadnezzar, the son of Nabopolassar, here met and conquered the army of Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt (B.C. 607). It is mentioned in monuments in B.C. 1600 and down to B.C. 717.

(fortress of Chemosh) occupied nearly the site of the later Mabug or Hierapolis. It seems to have commanded the ordinary passage of the Euphrates at Bir or Birekjik. Carchemish appears to have been taken by Pharoah Necho shortly after the battle of Megiddo (cir. B.C. 608), and retaken by Nebuchadnezzar after a battle three years later, B.C. 605. #Jer 46:2|

CARCHEMISH or CHAR'CHEMIISH {citadel of Chemosh), a chief city of northern Syria, on the Euphrates, where a great and decisive battle was fought, in which Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh-necho, 2 Chr 35:20; 2 Kgs 23:29; Jer 46:2, in b. c. 605. It was formerly identified with Circesium. Rawlinson placed it at Bir, near Hierapolis, on the Euphrates; a later writer at Kalaat, below Beredjit.

("the fort of Chemosh"), the Moabite idol. The Assyrian monuments show it to be a city of the Hittites who held all Syria (between 1100 and 850 B.C.) from Damascus to the Euphrates at Bir; 200 miles higher up on the Euphrates than the classical Circesium. It stood where Hierapolis (Mabog) was subsequently. Important in position as commanding a passage of the Euphrates, from whence its possession was a matter of contest between Babylon and Egypt (2 Chronicles 35:20). Taken by Pharaoh Necho after the battle of Megiddo in which king Josiah, Babylon's ally, fell 610 B.C. Retaken by Nebuchadnezzar three years later, 607 B.C. (Jeremiah 46:2.) Assyria had originally taken it from the Hittites (Isaiah 10:9).