Nebo

NE'BO (proclaimer), one of the Assyrian deities, who is represented, with Nebo. (From a Statue in the British Museum.) Bel, as being unable to resist the destruction to which Cyrus subjected their idols. Isa 46:1. This god was called "he who possesses intelligence," and statues of him are still preserved. One is in the British Museum which was erected by the Assyrian monarch Pul. The word "Nebo" occurs in the compounds Nabopolassar, Nebuchadnezzar, etc., which points to the esteem in which the god was held. Nebo was regarded as the protector against misfortune.

NE'BO (prophet), a mountain of Moab "over against Jericho," from which Moses beheld the land of Canaan. Deut 32:49. "And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, . . . and the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead unto Dan." Deut 34:1. Nebo was a mountain in the range of mountains called Abarim. Eusebius says it was shown in his day on the other side of Jordan, six miles to the west of Heshbon. If then definitely known, its location was afterward lost. Of the peaks in the Abarim range which have been suggested as Nebo are - Jebel Atturus, but this is not "over against Jericho," and is too far south: Jehel Jilad, 15 miles farther north than Jericho, and therefore not answering to the scriptural narrative. The explorations of De Sauley, Due de Luynes, Tristram, Warren, Paine, and Merrill have led to the conclusion that Nebo was at the northern end of the Abarim range of mountains, i.e. Jebel Nebo. This mountain was 5 or 6 miles south-west of Heshbon, is about 2700 feet high, and commands a fine view of the country. Paine appears to apply Jebel Nebo to the eastern portion of the northern group of peaks, and Jebel Singbak to the western portion; Dr. Merrill claims that the Arabs use Jebel Nebo, Jebel Musa, and Jebel Singbak indiscriminately for this group. While the discussions respecting Pisgah have been sharp, the majority of explorers and scholars agree in identifying Nebo with the northern end of the Abarim range, Jebel Nebo. See Pisgah.