Samgar-Nebo
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [1]
Samgar-Nebo One of the Babylonian princes who, at the taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, in the 11th year of Zedekiah, came and sat in the middle gate ( Jeremiah 39:3 ). There has been much discussion concerning this name, due to the varying forms of the Greek version. The most probable explanation is that of Schrader, namely, Shumgir-Nabû , a name meaning ‘Be gracious, O Nebo.’ As, however, Rab-saris and Rab-mag are titles, the question arises whether Samgar-nebo may not be one also. If so, it may be a corruption of sangu Nebo , ‘the priest of Nebo,’ an office possibly held by Nergal-sharezer , who, if identical with king Neriglissar, was closely connected with E-zida, the temple of Nebo at Borsippa. His daughter married a priest of E-zida in the first year of his reign.
T. G. Pinches.
Holman Bible Dictionary [2]
Jeremiah 39:3
Easton's Bible Dictionary [3]
Jeremiah 39:3
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [4]
sam - gar - nē´bo ( נבו סמגר , ṣamgar nebhō , a Babylonian name): An officer of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who, according to the Massoretic Text of Jeremiah 39:3 , took his seat with other nobles in the middle gate of Jerusalem after the Chaldean army had taken the city. Schrader ( COT , ii, 109) holds that the name is a Hebraized form of the Assyrian Sumgirnabu ("be gracious, Nebo"), but Giesebrecht ( Comm. , 211) conjectures for Samgar a corruption of Sar-mag ( Sar - magh ), equivalent to Rab-mag ( rab - magh ), which implies virtual dittography. The number of variant readings exhibited by the Septuagint seems to confirm the belief that the text is corrupt. Nebo ( nabu ) is there joined with the following Sarsechim to agree with Nebushazban of Jeremiah 39:13 . If the name Samgar-nebo is correct, the first Nergal-sharezer "should perhaps be dropped; we would then read: "Samgar-nebo the Sarsechim, Nebushazban the Rab-saris (compare Jeremiah 39:13 ) and Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag" (Sayce). See Rab-Mag; Rab-Saris .
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [5]
(Heb. Samgar' Nebu', סִמְגִּראּנְבוּ , Sword Of Nebo, or perhaps Conqueror Of Nebo; Sept. Σαμαγάδ , v.r. Σαμαγαώθ , Σαμαγάρ ), one of the princes or commanders of Nebuchadnezzar's army against Jerusalem at its downfall ( Jeremiah 39:3). B.C. 589. The Nebo (q.v.) is the Chaldean Mercury; about the Samgar, opinions are divided. Von Bohlen suggested that from the Sanskrit Sangara, "war," might be formed Sangara, "warrior," and that this was the original of Samgar. F Ü rst suggests that Nebo should perhaps be joined to the following word Sarsechim (q.v.), as in the Sept., since it is contrary to analogy for this to stand at the end of a name. (See Nebuchadnezzar), etc. As in Jeremiah 39:13 the chief of the eunuchs is called NEBU-SHASBAN, it has been supposed that Nebu- Sarsechim is only another name of the same person, and that Samgar is but a name of his office. It may be compounded of the Persic cham, a "cup," and kar, a derivative particle, and so be equivalent to cup bearer, or Rabsbakeh (q.v.).
