כַּרְכְּמִישׁ

From the study of Isaiah 10:9

Range of meaning

A proper name. Carchemish was a major city on the west bank of the upper Euphrates, at the main river crossing between Mesopotamia and Syria. It is modern Jerablus/Karkamış on the Turkey–Syria border.

Against the English

English versions agree on the spelling. Nothing is lost in translation, but modern readers usually do not know the city was famous.

Used elsewhere in the period

Assyrian texts call it Karkamiš. It was the last great Neo-Hittite kingdom (a successor state of the old Hittite empire). It paid tribute to Assyria for decades and was annexed by Sargon II in 717 BC after its king Pisiri plotted revolt. Later it was the site of the famous battle of 605 BC (Jeremiah 46:2; 2 Chronicles 35:20).

From the study of Jeremiah 46:2

Range of meaning

Carchemish (Akkadian Karkamiš; modern Jerablus/Karkamış) was a large walled city at a main crossing of the upper Euphrates. It had been a Hittite viceroyal seat, then a Neo-Hittite capital, and became an Assyrian province under Sargon II in 717 BC. Perat (Akkadian Purattu) is the Euphrates, often simply 'the River' in the Bible.

Against the English

English versions handle it clearly: 'at Carchemish on the Euphrates River' (BSB) or 'by the river Euphrates in Carchemish' (KJV). The Hebrew order, river first and then city, matches the Babylonian chronicle's description almost exactly.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Babylonian Chronicle covering Nebuchadnezzar's early years (Grayson, ABC 5; BM 21946) records that in Nabopolassar's 21st year (605 BC) the crown prince Nebuchadnezzar 'marched to Carchemish which is on the bank of the Euphrates' and crossed the river against the Egyptian army stationed there. He defeated them, 'beat them to non-existence,' and pursued survivors to the district of Hamath. British Museum excavations in 1911–1914 (Hogarth, Woolley and T. E. Lawrence) found a burned quarter of the city containing Egyptian objects, which the excavators linked to this destruction. Isaiah 10:9 names Carchemish among cities the Assyrians had taken.