Nebo(abarim)
Summary
Nebo is the name of a Babylonian god, a mountain from which Moses viewed the Promised Land and died, and several biblical places.
☩The Babylonian God
Nebo was a major deity of the Babylonians and Assyrians who presided over learning, letters, and prophecy. The name is connected with the Hebrew word for prophet (nabi). Nebo was the son and interpreter of Bel-Merodach, the chief god of Babylon. His special shrine was at Borsippa, and the planet Mercury was dedicated to him. Nebo's name appears as an element in several Babylonian royal names, including Nebuchadnezzar ('Nebo, protect my boundary') and Nabopolassar. Isaiah prophesied against Babylon using Nebo along with Bel as representative of Babylonian religion: 'Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth.'
☩Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo was the summit from which Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death. It was situated in the land of Moab, facing Jericho, and formed part of the Abarim mountain range. Pisgah appears to have been a ridge of which Nebo was the highest peak. From this vantage point, Moses could see 'all the land of Gilead unto Dan, and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah unto the utmost sea, and the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho.' Moses died on Mount Nebo and was buried in a valley nearby 'over against Beth-peor,' though no man knows his sepulchre to this day.
☩Town in Reuben's Territory
Nebo was also a town in the territory allotted to Reuben, east of the Jordan. It was rebuilt by the Reubenites after the conquest of Canaan. In later times it fell into Moabite hands and is mentioned in the prophetic denunciations against Moab.
Related Verses19 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Nebo," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VI (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Nebo," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).