Parbar

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Parbar. A term identified with parvârîm (Av [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘ suburbs ,’ Rv [Note: Revised Version.] ‘precincts’) of   2 Kings 23:11 and applied to part of the Temple buildings lying on the W., where two Levites were stationed (  1 Chronicles 26:18 ). The word is supposed to be of Persian origin and to have been taken over into Hebrew to indicate a colonnade or portico open to the light. The pl. form parvârîm (  2 Kings 23:11 ) describes the situation of the ‘chamber of Nathanmelech,’ and might be translated ‘in the colonnades,’ but it is difficult to understand how a Persian word could occur so early. Either the word is a late explanatory addition to the text, or perhaps we have a different word altogether, describing the office of Nathanmelech. If we read bappÄ•râdîm instead of bapparvârîm , we get the meaning ‘who was over the mules.’

W. F. Boyd.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

 1 Chronicles 26:16;  1 Chronicles 26:18. A place or outbuilding with" chambers" for laying up temple goods (Keil), on the W. or hinder side of the temple enclosure, the same side as the causeway and gate of Shallechoth, on the S. side of the latter. The Parvarim in  2 Kings 23:11, "suburbs," were probably on the E. side, where "the horses of the sun" would be kept in full view of the rising sun, not in the deep valley on the W. where Parbar was. A portico or porch (Gesenius). The rabbis translate, it "the outside place." Josephus mentions a "suburb" in the valley separating the W. wall of the temple from the city opposite, i.e. the S. end of the Tyroproeon valley, which lies between the wailing place and the modern Zion.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Par'bar. (open apartment). A word occurring in Hebrew and in the Authorized Version only in  1 Chronicles 26:18. It would seem that Parbar was some place, on the west side of the Temple enclosure, probably, the suburb mentioned by Josephus, as lying in the deep valley, which separated the west wall of the Temple, from the city opposite it.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Some place connected with the temple, at which two doorkeepers were placed: its meaning or situation is not known.  1 Chronicles 26:18; R.V. margin 'the Precinct.' Gesenius identifies it with parvar , 'suburbs,'  2 Kings 23:11 , 'precincts,' R.V.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 1 Chronicles 26:18 2 Kings 23:11 1 Chronicles 26:18

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Chronicles 26:18 parbar   2 Kings 23:11

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. hap-Parbar', הִפִּרְבָּר, with the article; Sept. διαδεχομένους; ‘ Vulg. cellulae), a word occurring in Hebrew and A.V. only in  1 Chronicles 26:18, but there found twice: "At [the] Parbar westward four [Levites] at the causeway, two at [the] Parbar." From this passage, and also from the context, it would seem that Parbar was some place on the west side of the Temple enclosure, the same side with the causeway and the gate Shallecheth. The latter was cause to the causeway — probably on it, being that which in later times gave place to the bridge: and we know from its remains that the bridge was at the extreme south of the western wall. Parbar therefore must have been north of Shallecheth, apparently where the Bab Silsilis now is. As to the meaning of the name, the rabbins generally agree (see the Targum of the passage; also Buxtorf, Lex Talm. s.v. פרב; and the references in Lightfoot, Prospect of Temple , ch. v) in translating it "the outside place;" while modern authorities take it as equivalent to the parvarim in  2 Kings 23:11 (A.V. "suburbs"), a word almost identical with parbar , and used by the early Jewish interpreters as the equivalent of migrashim, tie precincts (A.V. "suburbs") of the Levitical cities. Accepting this interpretation, there is no difficulty in identifying the Parbar with the suburb (τὸ προάστειον ) mentioned by Josephus in describing Herod's Temple (Ant. 15:11, 5), as lying in the deep valley which separated the west wall of the Temple from the city opposite it; in other words, the southern end of the Tyropeeon, which intervenes between the Wailing-place and the (so-called) Zion. The two gates in the original wall were in Herod's Temple increased to four. It does not follow (as some have assumed) that Parbar was identical with the "suburbs" of  2 Kings 23:11, though the words denoting each may have the same signification. For it seems most consonant with probability to suppose that the "horses of the Sun" would be kept on the eastern side of the Temple mount, in full view of the rising rays of the god as they shot over the Mount of Olives, and not in a deep valley on its western side. Parbar is probably an ancient Jebusitish name, which perpetuated itself after the Israelitish conquest of the city. Gesenius (Thesaur. p. 1123 a) and Furst (Handwb. 2:235 b) connect parbar and parvarim with a similar Persian word, farwar, meaning a summer-house or building open on all sides to the sun and air. (See Temple).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

par´bar ( פּרבּר , parbār (  1 Chronicles 26:18 ), and פּרורים , parwārı̄m , translated "precincts" (the King James Version "suburbs" in  2 Kings 23:11 ); Septuagint φαρουρείμ , pharoureı́m ): In  1 Chronicles 26:18 reference is made to the position of the gatekeepers, "for Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar." The word is supposed to be of Persian origin, connected with Parwâr , meaning "possessing light," and hence, the meaning has been suggested of "colonnade" or "portico," some place open to the light. In the plural form ( 2 Kings 23:11 ) the situation of the house of "Nathan-melech" is described, and the translation, "in the colonnades," should, if the above origin is accepted, be more correct than English Versions of the Bible. It is difficult to understand the occurrence of a Persian word at this time, and it has been suggested ( Eb , col 3585) that the word is a description of the office of Nathan-melech, ba - parwārı̄m being a misreading for ba - perādhı̄m , meaning "who was over the mules."