Rab-Mag
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [1]
Rab-Mag . The title of Nergal-sharezer , a Babylonian official present at the taking of Jerusalem ( Jeremiah 39:3; Jeremiah 39:13 ). For various conjectures as to the origin of the title, see Hastings’ DB [Note: Dictionary of the Bible.] , s.v. Tentatively adopting the oldest and most obvious account, that it means ‘chief magus,’ we note here that the name magus may very well have been applied to a sacred caste employed in Babylon long before it became associated with Zoroastrianism, to which the silence of the Avesta shows it was originally foreign. See Magi.
James Hope Moulton.
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary [2]
A general officer of Nebuchadnezzar's army, at the taking of Jerusalem, Jeremiah 39:3 . He was, as his name signifies, a chief of the magi; a dignitary who had accompanied the king of Babylon in his campaign. See MAGI.
Holman Bible Dictionary [3]
Jeremiah 39:3 39:13 rab mugi rab Ezekiel 21:21
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [4]
( רִבאּמִג , Ratb-Nm R , Chief Magician; Sept. ῾Ραβ - Μάγ or ῾Ραβαμάχ ), a word found only in Jeremiah 39:3; Jeremiah 39:13, as a title borne bi, a certain Nergal-sharezer who is mentioned amongt the "princes" that accompanied Nebuchadnezzar to the last siege of Jerusalem. Nergal-sharezer is probably identical with the king, called by the Greeks Neriglissar, who ascended the throne of Babylon two years after the death of Nebuchadnezzar. (See Neergal-Sharezer).
This king, as well as certain other important personages, is found to bear the title in the Babylonian inscriptions. It is written, indeed, with a somewhat different vocalization, being read as Rabu-Emga by Sir H. Rawlinson. The signification is somewhat doubtful. Rabu is most certainly "great," or "chief," an exact equivalent of the Hebrew רִב whence Rabbi, "a great one, a doctor;" but Mag or Emga , is an obscure term. It has been commonly identified with the word "Magus" (Gesenius, Cad Voc. מָג ; Calmet, Comnmetaire Litteral , 6:203, etc.); but this identification is somewhat uncertain, since an entirely different word — one which is read as Magusu — is used in that sense throughout the Behistun inscription (Oppert, Expedition Scientifique en Mesoppotaimie, ii, 209). Sir H. Rawlinson inclines to translate emgat by "priest," but does not connect it with the Magi, who in the time of Neriglissar had no footing in Babylon. He regards this rendering, however, as purely conljectural, and thinks we call only say at present that the office was one of great power and dignity at the Babylonlian court, and probably gave its possessor special facilities for obtaining the throne. (See Magi).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [5]
rab´mag ( רב־מג , rabh - māgh ;. Septuagint has it as a proper noun, Ῥαβαμάθ , Rhabamáth ): The name of one of the Babylonian princes who were present at the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, during the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah ( Jeremiah 39:3 , Jeremiah 39:13 ). The word is a compound, the two parts seemingly being in apposition and signifying tautologically the same thing. The last syllable or section of the word, māgh , was the designation among the Medes, Persians and Babylonians for priests and wise men. Its original significance was "great" or "powerful"; Greek μέγας , mégas , Latin magis , magnus . The first syllable, rabh , expresses practically the same idea, that of greatness, or abundance in size, quantity, or power. Thus it might be interpreted the "allwise" or "all-powerful" prince, the chief magician or physician. It is, therefore, a title and not a name, and is accordingly put in appositive relations to the proper name just preceding, as "Nergal-sharezer, the Rab-mag," translated fully, "Nergal-sharezer the chief prince or magician." See Nergal-Sharezer .
In harmony with the commonly accepted view, the proper rendering of the text should be, "All the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, to wit, Nergal-sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, (the) Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, (the) Rab-mag" ( Jeremiah 39:3 ); and "so Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushazban, (the) Rab-saris, and Nergal-sharezer, (the) Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon" ( Jeremiah 39:13 ).
