Bible Dictionaries
Orontes
Holman Bible Dictionary
(oh rahn tehss) The principle river of Syria which originates east of the Lebanon ridge and flows 250 miles north before turning southwest into the Mediterranean south of Antioch-on-the-Orontes (Antakya). The river valley is extremely fertile and strategically significant. Cities of the Orontes valley include Antioch (Acts 11:19; Acts 13:1 ), Hamath (2 Samuel 8:9; 2 Kings 17:24; 2 Chronicles 8:4; Isaiah 11:11 ), Qarqar, where King Ahab of Israel joined a coalition of Syrian kings warring against Shalmaneser III, and Riblah (2 Kings 23:33; 2Kings 25:6,2 Kings 25:21 ). Nahr el-'Asi (rebellious river) is the modern name of the Orontes. See Rivers and Waterways.
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Orontes'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hbd/o/orontes.html. 1991.