Ribla (Heb. Riblâh, perhaps “fertility”; Assir. Rablê). 1. A place on the northern border of Palestine, east of Ain (Num 34:11); not identified except Riblah 2. 2. A town in the land of Hamath, in Syria (2Ki 23:33; 25:21). Pharaoh Necho used it as his headquarters during his northern military campaign, during which he summoned King Jehoahaz of Judah, deposed him after he had reigned only 3 months, and sent him captive to Egypt. He put a brother of the deposed one on the throne (23:33, 34). Riblah was also the seat of Nebuchadnezzar during his 3rd Palestinian campaign, and King Zedekiah was taken there after being taken captive; Nebuchadnezzar executed all the princes of Judah and removed the king from him, before binding him to Babylon (2Ki 25:6, 7, 21, 22; Jer 39:5-7; 52:9-11, 27). Ribla has been identified with the ruins of Ribleh, about 58 km northeast of Baalbek, on the Orontes, in a wide plain, suitable for a large military camp. Map XI, C-4.
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
Syrian city on the banks of the Orontes River; northeast of Israel, on the road between Palestine and Babylon. There was the headquarters of Pharaoh Nekó during the Egyptian campaign against the Assyrians; in ca. 609 BC, Joahaz, king of Jerusalem, was imprisoned there, 2 R 23, 33. The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar in the battle undertaken against Jerusalem, had King Sedecias imprisoned in R., 2 R 25, 6 and 20; Junior 39, 5-7; 52, 9-11.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
The city at the head of the waters of the Orontes River was a stronghold for both the Egyptians and the Assyrians. Copious waters flowed from its fountains; fertile lands, to the east and west, and the timberlands in the vicinity of Lebanon made it a coveted prize of war. When Pharaoh Neco captured Jerusalem around 600 B.C. JC, he chained King Jehoahaz at Riblah and took him to Egypt, where he died (2Ki 23: 31-34). A few years later, Nebuchadnezzar, then at war with Egypt, captured Jeremiah and took King Zedekiah captive to Riblah. There Zedekiah’s sons were slain before him, his eyes gouged out, and he was taken to Babylon in chains (Jer 25:6-7). Nebuchadnezzar then destroyed Jerusalem, and the chief priests and temple guards were taken to Riblah where they were executed (Jer 25:21), before the Jews were taken into captivity. Ribla was on the eastern side of Ayin, probably near Mount Hermon (Num 34:11).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
City of Syria, on the banks of the Orontes, S. of Lake Homs. It was located at a strategic point on the route that linked Mesopotamia with Egypt. King † ¢ Jehoahaz, when he was deposed by Pharaoh † ¢ Neco, had R. as his prison (2Ki 23:33). Invading † ¢ Nebuchadnezzar to combat † ¢ Zedekiah’s rebellion, he made his headquarters in R. There they brought the Jewish king when Jerusalem was taken. The Chaldeans “slain the sons of Zedekiah in his presence, and put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with chains and brought him to Babylon” (2Ki 25:1-7).
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
type, CITY
sit, a4, 209, 119
vet, = “fertility”. City in the region of Hamath (2 Kings 23:33; 25:21). The Egyptians occupied Riblah when Jehoahaz, king of Judah, was taken prisoner to this city (2 Kings 23:33). Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, fell into the hands of the Chaldeans while trying to flee from Jerusalem, and was handed over to Nebuchadnezzar, who was in Riblah. The king of Babylon put to death the sons of Zedekiah in the presence of his own father, the princes of Judah, and then had Zedekiah’s own eyes gouged out and ordered him to be taken to Babylon in chains (2 Kings 25: 6, 7, 21; Jer 39:5-7; 52:9-11, 27). In 1816 Buckingham discovered ruins at a place he named Rubla, but which is now generally known as Ribleh. This place is located on the Orontes River, 58 km north-northwest of Baalbeck, in the middle of the great Celesiria plain, which lends itself very well to the installation of a large military camp, easily evacuated to the north or south in case of attack. The ruins are made up of a few low hills that cover some vestiges of old constructions. It is not very probable that this place can be identified with another Riblah, which was located on the northern border of Palestine, to the east of Ain (Num. 34:11), and whose identification remains uncertain.
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
1. Unidentified locality located on the eastern border of †œthe land of Canaan†. (Nu 34:2, 10, 11.)
2. Population of N. Israel located †œin the land of Hamath† . (Jer 52:9) It is usually located in the ruins near modern Ribleh, on the eastern bank of the Orontes River, about 60 km to the NE. of Baalbek, in the valley formed by the mountains of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon. It appears that Pharaoh Nekoh camped at Riblah after defeating King Josiah around 629 BC. CE At this time he was heading N. to fight the Babylonians, who by then controlled Assyria. Jehoahaz succeeded Josiah, but after three months Nekoh replaced Jehoahaz with Eliakim (Jehoiakim). Nekoh had King Jehoahaz led to Riblah before being taken captive to Egypt. (2Ki 23:29-34) Riblah was a strategic location for a military camp. It commanded a N. to S. route between Egypt and the Euphrates that was used for both commercial and military purposes. The city had an abundant water supply, and food and fuel could be obtained from the valley and surrounding forests.
Those same military advantages came in handy to the Babylonians some time later. After beginning the siege of Jerusalem at the end of the year 609 a. CE, it appears that Nebuchadnezzar set up camp at Riblah to direct military operations from there, allowing him to attack Damascus and quickly return to Babylon if necessary. When Zedekiah was captured in 607 B.C. CE, he was brought to Riblah before Nebuchadnezzar, as other prominent men of the city were soon after. (2Ki 25:1, 5-7, 18-21; Jer 39:5; 52:9-11, 26, 27)
Many scholars understand that the term “Diblah”, which appears in Ezekiel 6:14, refers to this locality that was along the Orontes River, so it should be read “Riblah”. (See DIBLí.)
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
1. A place in the Hamat region, on the bank of the Orontes in Syria, on the right bank of which are ruins near an existing village, Ribleh, 56 km NE of Baalbek and S of Hama. This site is easily defended and commands the main route from Egypt to the Euphrates, as well as the neighboring forests and valleys, from which considerable supplies of food or fuel are obtained. For these reasons Ribla was chosen by Necao II as the egp headquarters. after defeating Josiah at Megiddo and sacking Kadesh in 609 BC There he deposed Jehoahaz, imposed tribute on Judah, and appointed Jehoiakim king (2 Kings 23:31–35). When Nebuchadnezzar II defeated the Egyptians at Carchemish and Hamath in 605 BC he likewise chose Riblah as a military base to subjugate Palestine. From there he directed operations against Jerusalem in 589-587 BC, there he took the rebel Zedekiah to be blinded after witnessing the death of his sons (2 Kings 25.6, 20-21; Jer. 39.5-7; 52.9-27) . The Diblat (or “Dibla” vp mg) of Ez. 6.14 could be this same place (see vp), since an otherwise unknown location is unlikely given the context.
2. Ribla in the NE corner of the ideal border of Israel (Num. 34.11) could be the same place as 1, although the border is generally considered to be more to the S (cf. Ez. 47.15–18). The suggestion generally adopted, that it is to be read “towards Arbel” (LXX; So °bj; see also °vrv2 mg, eds. Caribe), modern Harmel in the Beqa, is of little help in assessing the border, since this place is only 13 km SW of Ribla 1 itself.
DJW
Douglas, J. (2000). New Biblical Dictionary: First Edition. Miami: United Bible Societies.
Source: New Bible Dictionary