Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
(fertility), One of the landmarks on the eastern boundary of the land of Israel, as specified by
Moses. (Numbers 34:11) It seems hardly possible, without entirely disarranging the specification
or the boundary, that the Riblah in question can be the same with the following.
•Riblah in the land of Hamath, a place on the great road between Palestine and Babylonia, at which
the kings of Babylonia were accustomed to remain while directing the operations of their armies
in Palestine and Phoenicia. Here Nebuchadnezzer waited while the sieges of Jerusalem and of
Tyre were being conducted by his lieutenants. (Jeremiah 39:5,6; 62:9,10,26,27; 2 Kings 25:6,20,21)
In like manner Pharaoh-necho after his victory over the Babylonians at Carchemish, returned to
Riblah and summoned Jehoahaz from Jerusalem before him. (2 Kings 23:33) This Riblah still
retains its ancient name, on the right (east) bank of the el-Asy (Orontes) upon the great road which
connects Baalbek and Hums, about 36 miles northeast of the former end 20 miles southwest of
the latter place.
Riddle
It is known that all ancient nations, and especially Orientals, were fond of riddles. The riddles
which the queen of Sheba came to ask of Solomon, (1 Kings 10:1; 2 Chronicles 9:1) were rather
“hard questions” referring to profound inquiries. Solomon is said, however, to have been very fond
of riddles. Riddles were generally proposed in verse, like the celebrated riddle of Samson. (Judges
14:14-19)
Rimmon
a deity worshipped by the Syrians of Damascus, where there was a temple or house of Rimmon.
(2 Kings 5:18) Rimmon is perhaps the abbreviated form of Hadad-rimmon, Hadad being the sun-god
of the Syrians. Combining this with the pomegranate which was his symbol, Hadad-rimmon would
then he the sun-god of the late summer, who ripens the pomegranate and other fruits.
(pomegranate) the name of several towns.
•A city of Zebulun (1 Chronicles 6:77; Nehemiah 11:29) a Levitical city, the present Rummaneh,
six miles north of Nazareth.
•A town in the southern portion of Judah, (Joshua 15:3) allotted to Simeon, (Joshua 19:7; 1
Chronicles 4:32) probably 13 miles southwest of Hebron.
•Rimmon-parez (pomegranate of the breach), the name of a march-station in the wilderness.
(Numbers 33:19,20) No place now known has been identified with it.
•Rimmon the Rock, a cliff or inaccessible natural fastness, in which the six hundred Benjamites
who escaped the slaughter of Gibeah took refuge. (Judges 20:45,47; 21:13) In the wild country
which lies on the east of the central highlands of Benjamin the name is still found attached to a
village perched on the summit of a conical chalky hill, visible in all directions, and commanding
the whole country.
•A Benjamite of Beeroth, the father of Rechab and Baanah, the murderers of Ish-bosheth. (2 Samuel
4:2,5,9)
Ring
The ring was regarded as an indispensable article of a Hebrew’s attire, inasmuch as it contained
his signet. It was hence the symbol of authority. (Genesis 41:42; Esther 3:10) Rings were worn not
only by men, but by women. (Isaiah 3:21) We may conclude from (Exodus 28:11) that the rings
contained a stone engraven with a device or with the owner’s name. The custom appears also to
have prevailed among the Jews of the apostolic age. (James 2:2)
Rinnah
622
William Smith