Difference between revisions of "Rab-Mag"

<p> <strong> [[Rab-Mag]] </strong> . The title of <strong> Nergal-sharezer </strong> , a [[Babylonian]] official present at the taking of [[Jerusalem]] (&nbsp; Jeremiah 39:3; &nbsp; Jeremiah 39:13 ). For various conjectures as to the origin of the title, see Hastings’ <em> DB </em> <em> [Note: Dictionary of the Bible.] </em> <em> , s.v. </em> Tentatively adopting the oldest and most obvious account, that it means ‘chief magus,’ we note here that the name <strong> magus </strong> 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. </p> <p> James Hope Moulton. </p>

<p> A general officer of Nebuchadnezzar's army, at the taking of Jerusalem, &nbsp;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. </p>

<p> (רִבאּמִג, ''Ratb-Nm R'' , ''Chief Magician;'' Sept. ῾Ραβ - μάγ or ῾Ραβαμάχ ), a word found only in &nbsp;Jeremiah 39:3; &nbsp;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). </p> <p> 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]]). </p>