Tiphsah
(ford) is mentioned in (1 Kings 4:24) as the limit of Solomon’s empire toward the Euphrates and in (2 Kings 15:16) it is said to have been attacked by Menahemi. It was known to the Greeks and Romans under the name of Thapsacus, and was the point where it was usual to cross the Euphrates.
Thapsacus has been generally placed at the modern Deir ; but the Euphrates expedition proved that there is no ford at Deir, and that the only ford in this part of the course of the Euphrates is at Suriyeh, 45 miles below Balis, and 165 above Deir . This, then, must have been the position of Thapsacus.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Tiphsah
Tiphsah tif'-sa (tiphcach, "ford"; Thapsa): ⇒See a list of verses on TIPHSAH in the Bible. (1) This marks the northern extremity of the dominions ruled by Solomon, Gaza being the limit on the South (1Ki 4:24). It can hardly be other than Thapsacus, on the right bank of the Euphrates, before its waters join those of the Balik. The great caravan route between East and West crossed the river by the ford at this point. Here Cyrus the younger effected a somewhat perilous crossing (Xenophon, Anabasis i.4, 2). The ford was also used by Darius; but Alexander the Great, in his pursuit constructed two bridges for the transport of his army (Arrian iii.7). Under the Seleucids it was called Amphipolis. The site is probably occupied by the modern Qal`at Dibse, where there is a ford still used by the caravans. It is about 8 miles below Meskene, where the river makes a bend to the East. (2) (Codex Vaticanus Thersa, Codex Alexandrinus Thaira): The inhabitants of this town, which was apparently not far from Tirzah, did not favor the regicide Menahem, refusing to open to him. In his wrath he massacred…
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Tiphsah
The name of tvn» places. 1. (Qa^d ; Thaphsa) The northern limit of Solo- mon's dominions west of the Euphrates — the southern limit being Gaza (1 K 4-^). It is identi- fied by nearly all commentators with Thap.sacus, on the right bank of the Euphrates, above the confluence of the Belik. Tiphsali was the lowest ford across the Euphrates, and the point at which Cyrus the younger forded tlie river, tlie water being lirea.st-high (Xen. Anab. I. iv. 11). At the same place Darius crossed before and after Issus, and Ale.xander crossed in pursuit, on two bridges (Arrian, iii. 7). Tiphsah was the most important crossing-place in tlie middle course of the Euphrates, and on one of the great commercial routes between the East and the West. In the time of Xenophon it was great and prosperous, and it is mentioned later as the point at which river-borne goods from the lower Euphrates were landed and shipped. Under the Seleucids it waa called Amphipotis. The to%vn was at or near Kaldt Diose, about eight miles below Meskine (Peters, Nippur). 2. (B Qepaa, A Qaipi [i.e. nyin Tirzah] ; Thapsa) A town, a…
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Tiphsah
A town on the western bank of the Euphrates, the limit of Solomon's empire in that direction (1Ki 4:24). Hebrew Tiphsach. Menahem king of Israel smote it and all its coasts (2Ki 15:16). Thapsacus, in northern Syria, where the Euphrates was usually crossed (Strabo xvi. 1, section 21). From pacach, "to pass over," i.e. the ford. Solomon's aim (1Ki 4:24) was to have a line of trade with central Asia across the continent. Tadmor was the halting place on the way to Tiphsah. It was "great and prosperous" (Xenophon, Ahab. 1:4, section 11) as the emporium between E. and W., owing to its ford and its bridge of boats (Strabo xvi. 1, section 23; 3, section 4). Here goods were embarked for transport down the river, and disembarked for land transport from boats which came up it (Q. Curt. x. 1). Suriyeh now marks the ford, four stadia or 800 yards across, as Xenophon accurately states, and at times having but. 20 inches of water. The ten thousand here first learned Cyrus the younger's real intentions (Xenophon, Ahab. i. 4, section 11). A paved causeway on either side of the river and a parallelogr…
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia