Riblah

Riblah was an important city in the land of Hamath (Syria) in the upper Orontes valley, serving repeatedly as a military headquarters for invading powers. Pharaoh Neco imprisoned Jehoahaz there after deposing him and bound him to carry him to Egypt (2 Kings 23:33). Later, after Jerusalem fell to Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar made Riblah his field headquarters: it was there that Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, was brought before Nebuchadnezzar, had his sons killed before his eyes, was blinded, and was carried in chains to Babylon (2 Kings 25:6–7). The chief priests and officers taken at the fall of Jerusalem were also brought to Riblah and executed there (2 Kings 25:20–21). Riblah is identified with modern Ribleh on the eastern bank of the Orontes River.