Lexical Definition

‎כַּרְכְּמִישׁ‎ Karkᵉmîysh (kar-kem-eesh') Carchemish ^N:N--L
of foreign derivation

Carchemish.

• § Carchemish = "fortress of Chemosh"
• Karkemish, a place in Syria

1) a Hittite capital northeast of Israel on the Euphrates river captured by Pharaoh Necho and then from him by Nebuchadnezzar

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎כַּרְכְּמִישׁ‎ ‎כַּרְכְּמִשׁ‎ proper name, of a location, city on Euphrates (Assyrian kargamis, Gargamis, compare Dl^{Par 265 ff.}; Egyptian †a-rï-‡a-maï(?)-ša WMM^{Asien U. Europa 263}; etymology dubious; according to Hoffm^{Auszuge act. Pers. Mart. 163} RS^{Proh. i. n. 5} = 'Castle of Mish,' compare Dl^l.c.); — ‎כַּרְכְּמִישׁ‎ Isa 10:9; 2Chr 35:20 (ᵐ5^L Ξαρχαμεις), ‎כַּרְכְּמִשׁ‎ Jer 46:2 (ᵐ5 Ξαρμεις Καρχαμεις). Hittite capital, East bank of Euphrates, Modern Jerabîs, or Jerbâs; Schr^{KGF 221 ff.}; COT, on Isa 10:9 Dl^l.c.., Jen^{ZA vii. (1892), 365} thinks he reads G(K)ar-g(k)a-mi-si(e)-ras = 'king of Karkemish' on ('Hittite') inscription from Karkemish.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Carchemish • Ancient city; site of Babylonian victory over Egypt

Carchemish was an ancient city on the Euphrates River where the Babylonians decisively defeated the Egyptians.

• A location first mentioned at 2Ch.35.20;
• only referred to as Carchemish כַּרְכְּמִישׁ.
  

Carchemish was an important ancient city located on the Euphrates River, near the modern border between Syria and Turkey. It is mentioned three times in the Bible, all in the context of significant historical events. In 2 Chronicles 35:20, King Josiah of Judah confronted Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Carchemish, resulting in Josiah's death.

Isaiah 10:9 mentions Carchemish as one of the cities conquered by the Assyrians, along with Calno, Arpad, Hamath, and Samaria, illustrating the extent of Assyrian power. In Jeremiah 46:2, the prophet describes the decisive battle at Carchemish between the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar and the Egyptians in 605 BC. The Babylonian victory marked the end of Egyptian influence in the region and the beginning of Babylonian supremacy.

Archaeologically, Carchemish has been identified with the modern site of Karkamış in southeastern Turkey. Excavations have revealed a rich history dating back to the Hittite Empire, with the city serving as an important center of trade and military power in the region.

All entries for Carchemish: כַּרְכְּמִישׁ