Bible Meaning: Fortress of Chemosh
Strong's Concordance #H3751
Carchemish, located on the banks of the upper Euphrates River, was for many years an important city within the Assyrian Empire.
The Babylonians, during the end of King Josiah of Judah's reign, attack the Assyrian stronghold at Carchemish with the hope of finally destroying their enemy. Egypt's Pharaoh Necho, however, upon hearing about the attack, marches his troops north with the goal of aiding the city.
King Josiah, who favored the Babylonians, tries to stop the Egyptians as they pass through Israel. His foolish attempt fails, however, and he is killed in 609 B.C. near Megiddo. Necho, a few years after this event, is soundly defeated by Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 46:1 - 12).
Important Verses
2Chronicles 35:20, 22 - 24
After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him . . .
Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded. His servants therefore took him out of that chariot . . . and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died . . .
Isaiah 10:5 - 6, 8 - 9
O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath . . .
For he saith, are not my princes altogether kings? Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?
Jeremiah 46:1 - 2
The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;
Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.