Nebo
Fausset's Bible Dictionary [1]
The idol of Babylon and Assyria. Νabiu (Hamitic Babylonian), Νabu (Semitic Babylonian). Related to Hebrew nabi , "inspired," "prophet." Described as "the far hearing," "he of intelligence, who teaches." The cuneiform arrow head is his emblem; hence named Τir , "arrow." Answering the Egyptian "Thoth," the Greek "Hermes," "Mercury," the "inspired" interpreter or nabiy of the gods, designated in one place "inventor of the writing of the royal tablets." Presided over learning and letters. Pul, from some special connection with Babylon (Ivalush Iii) gave Nebo a prominence in Assyrian worship which he had not before.
A statue of Nebo with the god's epithets written across the body, set up at Calah by Pul, is in the British Museum. Babylon from early ages held Nebo among the chief gods. At Birs Nimrud (Borsippa) was his ancient temple, which Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt. He also called his seaport on the Persian gulf Teredon, i.e. given to Tir equalling Nebo. The names Nabo-nassar, Nabo-polassar, Nebu-chadnezzar, Nabo-nadius, show Nebo was their guardian god. The tower of Nebo had the form of the seven spheres. Nebo's sphere has the blue sacred to him. But "Nebo stoopeth," i.e. is prostrate, "a burden to the weary beast" of the conqueror who carried the idol away; so far was Nebo from saving Babylon ( Isaiah 46:1; 1 Samuel 5:3-4; Psalms 20:8).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [2]
( נבו , nebhō ; Ναβαῦ , Nabaú ):
(1) This town is named in Numbers 32:3 between Sebam and Beon (which latter evidently represents Baal-meon of Numbers 32:38 ), after Heshbon and Elealeh, as among the cities assigned by Moses to Reuben. It was occupied by the Reubenite clan Bela ( 1 Chronicles 5:8 ). Here it is named between Aroer and Baalmeon. In their denunciations of wrath against Moab, Isaiah names it along with Medeba ( Isaiah 15:2 ) and Jeremiah with Kiriathaim ( Jeremiah 48:1 ), and again ( Jeremiah 48:22 ) between Dibon and Beth-diblathaim. Mesha (M S) says that by command of Chemosh he went by night against the city, captured it after an assault that lasted from dawn till noon, and put all the inhabitants to death. He dedicated the place to Ashtar-chemosh. Jerome ( Commentary on Isaiah 15:2 ) tells us that at Nebo was the idol of Chemosh. The site which seems best to meet the requirements of the passages indicated is on the ridge of Jebel Nebā to the Southwest of Ḥesbān , where ruins of an ancient town bearing the name of en - Nebā are found (Buhl, Gap , 266).
(2) ( נבו , nebhō ; B, Ναβοῦ , Naboú A, Ναβώ , Nabṓ , and other forms): Fifty-two descendants of the inhabitants of Nebo returned from exile with Zerubbabel ( Ezra 2:29; Nehemiah 7:33 ). The place was in Judah and is named after Bethel and Ai. There is nothing, however, to guide us as to its exact position. It may be represented by either Belt Nuba, 12 miles Northwest of Jerusalem, or Nuba, which lies about 4 miles South-Southeast of ‛Id el - Mā' (Adullam).
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [3]
( Ezra 2:29; Nehemiah 7:33). For this site Lieut. Conder proposes (Tent Work, 2:339) Nuba, seven miles north-west of Hebron, described in the Memoirs to the Ordnance Survey (3:309) as "a small village perched on a low hill, with a well about a mile to the east."
