Part 3
tom among the early Christians. It 12. Among was clearly a Nazirite's vow which Paul Early took, "having shorn his head in Christians Cenohreae" (Acts 18 18), and which he completed at Jerus with other Christians similarly placed (Acts 21 23). As the expenses of release were heavj' for poor men, such were at times aided in this matter by their richer brethren. Thus Agrippa,on his return from Rome, assisted many Nazirites (Jos, Ant, XIX, vi, 1), and Paul was also at charges with others (Acts 21 23). We come across something of the same kind in many countries, and we find special abstinence always emphasized. Thus we meet with a class of "votaries" as early as the days of Hammurabi, and his code devotes quite a number of sections to them. Among other restrictions they were prohibited from even entering a wineshop {Sect, 110).
(Lev 10 9), and, further, long hair was an ancient priestly custom (Ezk 44 20).
The only "Nazirites for life" that we know by name are Samson, Samuel and John the Baptist, but to these Jewish tradition adds
7. Nazirites Absalom in virtue of his long hair. for Life We know of no one voluntarily taking the vow for life, all the cases recorded being those of parents dedicating their children. In rabbinical times, the father but not the mother might vow for the child, and an interesting case of this kind is mentioned in the dedication of Rabbi
Neah Nebuchadnezzar THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPAEDIA 2126
they to Him (Jas 4 8). The antithesis is God's "farness" from the wicked.
Then we are familiar with the Hierodouloi of the Greeks, and the Vestal Virgins of the Romans. The word n'zir also appears in Syr 13. Parand was applied to the maidens deallels voted to the service of Belthis. In among the East, too, there have always been Other individuals and societies of ascetics Peoples who were practically Nazirites, and the
NEARLAH, ne-a-ri'a (H;*"!?: , rf'arydh)
(1) A descendant of David (1 Ch 3 22 f).
(2) A descendant of Simeon (1 Ch 4 42). In both instances LXX reads "Noadiah."
modern dervish in nearly every way resembles him, while it is worthy of record in this connection that the Moslem (an abstainer by creed) while under the vow of pilgrimage neither cuts his hair nor pares his nails till the completion of his vow in Mecca. W. M. Christie
NEBAI, neTDi, ng-ba'i, neb'S-i C5"':, nebhay).
See NoBAi.
NEBAIOTH, ng-ba'yoth, ne-bi'oth (n'-'i? , r\V2i
, n'bhdyolh; LXX NapaiuO, Nabaiolh): Firstborn
of Ishmael (Gen 25 13; 28 9; 36 3; 1 Ch 1 29). Isa 60 7 mentions the tribe Nebaioth with Kedar, with an allusion to its pastoral nature: "the rams of Nebaioth" are to serve the ideal Zion as sacrificial victims. Again associated with Kedar, the name occurs frequently in Assyr inscriptions. The tribe must have had a conspicuous place among the northern Arabs. Jos, followed by Jerome, regarded Nebaioth as identical with the Nabataeans, the great trading community and ally of Rome, whose capital and stronghold was Petra. This view is widely accepted, but the name "Nabataean" is spelled with a t, and the interchange of t and t, although not unparalleled, is unusual. If the name
NEAH, ne'a (HySH, ha-ne'ah, "the neah"; 'Avvovd, Amioud) : A town in the lot of Zebulun (Josh 19 13), mentioned along with Gath-hepher and Rimmon. It is possibly identical with "Neiel" (ver 27). No name resembling either of these has yet been recovered, although the district in which the place must be sought is pretty definitely indicated. It may probably have lain to the N. of Rimmon (Rummaneh), about 4 miles N.E. of Seffuriyeh.
NEAPOLIS, n5-ap'6-lis (NeairoXis, Nedpolis; WH, Nea Polis) : A town on the northern shore of the Aegean, originally belonging to Thrace but later falling within the Rom province of Macedonia. It was the seaport of Philippi, and was the first point in Europe at which Paul and his companions landed; from Troas they had sailed direct to Samothrace, and on the next day reached Neapolis
is Arab., it is probably a fem. pL, and in that case could have no connection with the Nabataeans.
A. S. Fulton NEBALLAT, ne-bal'at (t33nD, n'bhalldt; NapaWdr, Naballdt) : A town occupied by the Benjamites after the exile, named along with Lod and Ono (Neh 11 34). It is represented by the modern Beit Nebdla, 4 miles N.E. of Lydda.
(Acts 16 11). Paul probably passed through the town again on his second visit to Macedonia (Acts 20 1), and he certainly must have embarked there on his last journey from Philippi to Troas, which occupied 5 days (Acts 20 6). The position of Neapolis is a matter of dispute. Some writers have maintained that it lay on the site known as Eski
NEBAT, neTsat (123? , n'hhat) : Father of Jeroboam I (1 K 11 26, and frequently elsewhere). The name occurs only in the phrase "Jeroboam the son of Nebat," and is evidently intended to distinguish Jeroboam I from the later son of Joash. See Jeroboam.
(i.e. "Old") Kavalla (Cousin&y, Macedoine, II, 109 ff), and that upon its destruction in the 6th or 7th cent. AD the inhabitants migrated to the place, about 10 miles to the E., called Christopolis in mediaeval and Kavalla in modern times. But the general view, and that which is most consonant with the evidence, both literary and archaeological, places Neapolis at Kavalla, which lies on a rocky headland with a spacious harbor on its western
NEBO, ne'bo (133, n'bko; Assyr Nabu): The Bab god of literature and science. In the Bab mythology he is represented as the son and interpreter of Bel-merodach (cf Isa 46 1; Bel and Nebo there represent Babylon). His own special shrine was at Borsippo. His planet was Mercury. His name enters into Bib. names, as "Nebuchadnezzar," and perhaps "Abed-nego" (Dnl 1 7, for "Abed-nebo, servant of Nebo"). See Babylonia AND Assyria, Religion of.
side, in which the fleet of Brutus and Cassius was moored at the time of the battle of Philippi (42 BC; Appian Bell. Civ. iv.l06). The town lay some 10 Rom miles from Philippi, with which it was connected by a road leading over the mountain ridge named Symbolum, which separates the plain of Philippi from the sea.
NEBO (ins , n'bho; NaPav, Nabaii)
(1) This town is named in Nu 32 3 between Sebam and Beon (which latter evidently represents Baal-meon of ver 38), after Heshbon and Elealeh, as among the cities assigned by Moses to Reuben. It was occupied by the Reubenite clan Bela (1 Ch 5 8). Here it is named between Aroer and Baalmeon. In their denunciations of wrath against Moab, Isaiah names it along with Medeba (Isa 15 2) and Jeremiah with Kiriathaim (Jer 48 1), and again (ver 22) between Dibon and Beth-diblathaim. Mesha (M S) says that by command of Chemosh he went by night against the city, captured it after an assault that lasted from dawn till noon, and put all the inhabitants to death. He dedicated the place to Ashtarchemosh. Jerome (Com??!, on Isa 15 2) tells us that at Nebo was the idol of Chemosh. The site which seems best to meet the requirements of the pa.ssages indicated is on the ridge of Jebel Nebd to the S.W. of Hesban, where ruins of an ancient town bearing the name of en-Nebdixre found (Buhl, GAP 266).
The date of it.s foundation is uncertain, but it seems to have been a colony from the island of Thasos, which lay opposite to it (Dio Cassius xlvii.3.'3). It appears (under the name Neopolis, which is also borne on its coins) as a member both of the first and of the second Athenian confederacy, and was highly commended by the Athenians in an e.xtant decree for its loyalty during the Thasian revolt of 411-408 BO (Inscr. Graec, I, Suppl. 51). The chief cult of the city was that of "The Virgin," usually identified with the Gr Artemis. (See Leake, Travels in Northern Greece. Ill, 180; Cousinery, Voyage dans la MacSdoine, II, 69 11,109 ff; Heuzey and Daumet, Mission arch^ol. de MacSdoine, 11 ff.)
M. N. Tod NEAR, ner, NIGH, ni (chiefly Sin]?, karobh,
"to draw near," 3"1]5 , karabh; iyyvi, eggiis): Used
of proximity in place (Gen 19 20; 45 10; Ex 13
17; Ps 22 11; Jn 3 23, etc), time (Jcr 48 16; Ezk 7 7; 30 3; Mk 13 28), or kinship (Lev 21 2; Ruth 3 12), but also employed of moral nearness. Jeh is "nigh" to them that are of a broken heart
(Ps 34 18). God draws nigh to His people, and
2127 THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPAEDIA Neah Nebuchadnezzar
known, but the discovery of Zophim [cf Nu 23 14] confirms the view now generally held, that it is but another title of the Nebo range."
(2) (ins , wbho; B, NajSoC, Naboii, A, NajSci, Nabo, and other forms) : Fifty-two descendants of the inhabitants of Ncbo returned from exile with Zerubbabel (Ezr 2 29; Neh 7 33). The place was in Judah and is named after Bethel and Ai. There is nothing, however, to guide us as to its exact position. It may be represented by either Beit Nuba, 12 miles N.W. of Jerus, or Nuba, which lies about 4 miles S.S.E of 'Id el-Ma' (AduUam).
Neither Mt. Hermon nor Dan {Tell el-Kaiy) is visible from this point; nor can Zoar be seen; and
if the Mediterranean is the hinder sea, it also is
invisible. But, as Driver says ("Dt," ICC, 419), the terms in Dt 34 1.3 are hyperbolical, and must be taken as including points filled in by the imagination as well as those actually visible to the eye. Mr. Birch argues in favor of TaVat el-Benat, whence he believes Dan and Zoar to be visible, while he identifies "the hinder sea" with the Dead Sea (PEFS, 1898, 110 ff). W. EwiNG
W. EwiNG NEBO, MOUNT (Inj IH, har n'bho; Na^ai, Nabau) : A mountain in the land of Moab which Moses ascended at the command of God in order that he might see the Land of Promise which he was never to enter. There also he was to die. From the following passages (viz. Nu 33 47; Dt 32 49; 34 1), we gather that it was not far from the plain of Moab in which Israel was encamped; that
NEBUCHADNEZZAR, neb-Q-kad-nez'ar, NEBUCHADREZZAR, -rez'ar: Nebuchadnezzar, the second king of Babylon of that name, is best known as the king who conquered Judah, destroyed Jerus, and carried the people of the Jews captive to Babylon. Of all the heathen monarchs mentioned by name in the Scriptures, N. is the most prominent and the most important. The prophecies of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, and the last chs of K and Ch centered about his life, and he stands preeminent, along with the Pharaohs of the oppression and the exodus, among the foes of the kingdom of God. The documents which have been discovered in Babylon and elsewhere within the last 75 years have added much to our knowledge of this monarch, and have in general confirmed the Bib. accounts concerning him.
it was a height standing out to the W. of the mountains of Abarim; that it lay to the E. of Jericho ; and that it was a spot from which a wide and comprehensive view of Pal could be obtained. None of these conditions are met by Jebel 'Alldrus, which is too far to the E., and is fully 15 miles S. of a line drawn eastward from Jericho. Jebel 'Osha, again, in Mt. Gilead, commands, indeed, an extensive view; but it lies too far to the N., being at least 15 miles N. of a line drawn eastward from Jericho. Both of these sites have had their advocates as claimants for the honor of representing the Bib. Nebo.
The "head" or "top" of Pisgah is evidently identical with Mt. Nebo (Dt 34 1). After Moses' death he was buried "in the valley in the land of Moab," over against Beth-peor.
His name is found in two forms in the Bible, Nebuchadnezzar and Nebuchadrezzar. In the LXX he is called Na^ovxoSovoffdp, Nabouchodonosdr, 1 His *°*^ ^^ *^® Vulg NahuchodonosoT . This
T.J latter form is found also in the AV Apoc iName throughout and in KV 1 Esd, Ad Est and Bar, but not Jthor Tob. This change from r to n which is found in the two writings of the name in the Heb and the Aram, of the Scriptures is a not uncommon one in the Sem languages, as in Burnaburiyash and Burraburiyash, Ben-hadad and Bar-hadad (see Brockelmann's Comparative Grammar, 1.36, 173, 220). It is possible, however, that the form Nebuchadnezzar is the Aram, tr of the Bab Nebuchadrezzar. If we take the name to be compounded of Nabu-kudurri-usur in the sense " O Nebo. protect thy servant," then Nabu-kedinausur would be the best tr possible in Aramaic. Such tr" of proper names are common in the old VSS of the Scriptures and elsewhere. For example, in WAI, V, 44, we find 4 columns of proper names of persons giving the Sumerian originals and the Sem tr* of the same; ct Bar-hadad in Aram, for Heb Ben-hadad. In early Aram, the s had not yet become t (see Cooke, Text-Book of North-Sem Inscriptions, 188 f) ; so that for anyone who thought that kudurru meant "servant," N. would be a perfect tr into Aram, of Nebuchadrezzar.
The name Nebd is found on a ridge which, some 5 miles S.W. of Hesban and opposite the northern end of the Dead Sea, runs out to the W. from the
The father of N. was Nabopolassar, probably a Chaldaean prince. His mother is not known by name. The classical historians men-
Mt. Nobo from the Spring 'Airi Neba.
2. Family tion two wives: Amytis, the daughter of Astyages, and Nitocris, the mother of Nabunaid. The monuments mention three sons Evil-merodach who succeeded him, Marduk-shumusur, and Marduk-nadin-ahi. A younger brother of N., called Nabu-shum-lishir, is mentioned on a building-inscription tablet from the time of Nabopolassar.
plateau of Moab, "sinking gradually: at first a broad brown field of arable land, then a flat top crowned by a ruined cairn, then a narrower ridge ending in the summit called Siaghoh, whence the slopes fall steeply on all sides. The name Nebo or Neba [the "knob" or "tumulus"] applies to the
The sources of our information as to the life of N. arc about 500 contract tablets dated according
flat top with the cairn, and the name TaVat e^-Sufa to the ascent leading up to the ridge from the N. Thus we have three names which seem to connect the ridge with that whence Moses is related to have viewed the Promised Land, namely, first, Ncbo, which is identically the same word as the modern Neba; secondly, SiSghah, which is radically identi-
to the days, months and years of his
3. Sources reign of 43 years; about 30 building
of Informaand honorific inscriptions ; one historical tion inscription; and in the books of Jer, Ezk, Dnl, and K. Later sources are Ch, Ezr, and the fragments of Berosus, Menander, Megasthenes, Abydenus, and Alexander Polyhistor, largely as cited by Jos and Eusebius.
cal with the Aram. Se'ath, the word standing instead
of Nebo in the Tg of Onkelos [Nu 32 3), where it
is called the burial place of Moses; thirdly, TaVut
From these sources we learn that N. succeeded
e^-Sufa, which is radically identical with the Hcb Zuph (euph), whence Mizpah (mi^paJi) and Zophim
his father on the throne of Babylon in 604 BC, and reigned till 561 BC. He probably commanded
(S&phvm) The name Pisgah is not now
Nebuchadnezzar Needlework THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPAEDIA 2128
N.'s 37th year. In the numerous building and
the armies of Babylon from 609 BC. At any rate, he was at the head of the army which defeated
honorific inscriptions of N. he makes no mention by name of his foes or of his battles; but he frequently
Pharaoh-necoh at Carchemish on the
speaks of foes that he had conquered and of many
4. PoUtical Euphrates in 605 BC (see 2 K 23 31; History 2 Ch 35 20 if). After having driven Necoh out of Asia and settled the affairs of Syria and Pal, he was suddenly
peoples whom he ruled. Of these peoples he men-
tions by name the Hittites and others (see Lang-
don, 148-51). In the Wady-Brissa inscription, he
speaks of a special conquest of Lebanon from some
foreign foe who had seized it; but the name of the enemy is not given.
The monuments justify the boast of N.: "Is not
this great Babylon that I have built?" (Dnl 4 30). Among these buildings special emphasis
6. Buildis placed by N. upon his temples and
ings, etc shrines to the gods, particularly to Marduk, Nebo and Zarpinat, but also
to Shamash, Sin, Gula, Ramman, Mah, and others. He constructed, also, a great new palace and rebuilt an old one of his father's. Besides, he laid out and paved with bricks a great street for the procession
of Marduk, and built a number of great walls with moats and moat-walls and gates. He dug several
broad, deep canals, and made dams for flooding
the country to the N. and S. of Babylon, so as to
protect it against the attack of its enemies. He made, also, great bronze bulls and serpents, and adorned his temples and palaces with cedars and
gold. Not merely in Babylon itself, but in many
of the cities of Babylonia as well, his building opera-
tions were carried on, esp. in the line of temples to the gods.
The inscriptions of N. show that he was a very
religious man, probably excelling all who had preceded him in the building of temples,
6. Religion, in the institution of offerings, and the
etc observance of all the ceremonies connected with the worship of the gods. His larger inscriptions usually contain two hymns and always close with a prayer. Mention is frequently made of the offerings of precious metals, stones and woods, of game, fish, wine, fruit, grain, and other objects acceptable to the gods. It is worthy of note that these offerings differ in character and apparently in purpose from those in use among the Jews. For example, no mention is made in any one of N.'s inscriptions of the pouring out or sprinkling of blood, nor is any reference made to atonement, or to sin.
No reference is made in any of these inscriptions to N.'s insanity. But aside from the fact that we could scarcely expect a man to publish his own 7 Mndr»pQ<5 calamity, esp. madness, it should be noted '• "J-'i'inebi j[jj^(_ according to Langdon we have but three inscriptions of his wTitten in the period from 580 to 561 BC. If his madness lasted for 7 years, it may have occurred between 580 and 567 BC, or it may have occurred between the li^gyp campaign of 567 BC and his death in 561 BC. But, as it is more likely that the "7 times" mentioned in Dnl may have been months, the illness may have been in any year after 580 BC, or even before that for all we know. No mention is made on the monuments (1) of the dream of N. recorded in Dnl 2, or (2) of the image of gold
Boimdary Stone of Nebuchadnezzar I.
recalled to Babylon by the death of his father. There he seems quietly to have ascended the throne. In the 4th year of Jehoiakim (or 3d according to the Bab manner of reckoning [Dnl 1 IJ), he came up first against Jcrus and carried away part of the vessels of the temple and a few captives
of noljle lineage. Again, in Jehoiakim's 11th year, he captured Jerus, put Jehoiakim, its king, into
that he set up, or (3) of the fiery furnace 8. Miracles, from which the three children were deetc livered (Dnl 3). As to (1), it may be said, however, that a belief in dreams was so universal among all the ancient peoples, that a single instance of this kind may not have been considered as worthy of special mention. The annals of Ashur-banlpal and Nubu-naid and Xerxes give a number of instances of the iniportance attached to dreams and their interpretation. It is almost certain that N. also believed in them. That the dream recorded In Dnl Is not mentioned on the monuments seems less remarkable than that no dream of his is recorded. As to (2) we know that N. made an image of his royal person {i^alam sharrutiya, Langdon, XIX, B. col. X, 6: cf the image bf the royal person of Nabopolassar, id, p, 51). and it is certain that the images of the gods were made of wood (id. p. 155), that the images of Nebo and IMardtik were conveyed in a bark in the New Year's procession (id, pp. 157, 159, 163, 165) and that there were Images of the gods in all the temples (id, passim); and that N. worshipped before these images. That N. should have made
chains, and probably killed him. Hia successor,
Jehoiachin, after a three months' reign, was be-
sieged in Jerus, captured, deposed, and carried cap-
tive to Babylon, where he remained in captivity 37 years until he was set free by Evil-merodach. In the 9th year of Zcdckiah, N. made a 4th expe-
dition against Jerus which he besieged, captured, and destroyed (see Jor 52). In addition to these wars with Judah, N. carried on a long siege of Tyre,
lasting 13 years, from his 7th to his 20th year. He had at least three wars with Egypt. The first culminated in the defeat of Necoh at Carchemish;
the second in the withdrawal of Hophra (Apries) from Pal in the 1st year of the siege of Jerus under
Zedekiah; and the third saw the armies of N. enter-
ing Egypt in triumph and defeating Amasis in
2129 THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPAEDIA Nebuchadnezzar Needlework
an image of gold and put it up in the Plain of Dura is entirely in harmony with what we know of his other "pious deeds." (3) As to "the fiery furnace." it is known that Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria, says that his own brother, Shamash-shumukin, was burned in a similar furnace.
To "fall on the neck" of a person is a very usual mode of salutation in the East (Gen 33 4; 45 14; 46 29; Tob 11 9.13; Lk 15 20; Acts 20 37). In moments of great emotion such salutation is apt to end in weeping on each other's neck.
The failure of N. to mention any of the particular persons or events recorded in Dnl does not disprove their historicity, any more than his failure to mention the battle of Carchemish, or the siege of Tyre and Jerus, disproves them. The fact is, we have no real historical Inscription of N., except one fragment of a few broken lines found in Egypt.
Readiness for work is expressed by "putting one's neck to the work" (Neh 3 5). Severe punishment and calamity are said to "reach to the neck" (Isa 8 8; 30 28). The Lord Jesus speaks of certain persons for whom it were better to have had a millstone put around the neck and to have been drowned in the sea. The meaning is that even the most disgrace-
LiTERATUHB.—T. G. Pinches, The NT in the Light of the Historical Records and Legends of Assyria and Babylonia; Stephen Langdon, Building Inscriptions of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. See also, Rogers, liislory of Babylonia and Assyria; and McCurdy, History, Prophecy and the Monuments, III.
ful death is still preferable to a life of evil influence upon even the little ones of God's household (Mt 18 6; Mk 9 42; Lk 17 2). To "make the neck stiff," to "harden the neck" indicates obstinacy often mingled with rebellion (Ex 32 9; 33 3.5; 34 9; 2 Ch 30 8; 36 13; Neh 9 16.17.29; Ps 75 5 [RVm "insolently with a haughty neck"]; Prov 29 1; Jer 7 26). Cf (TK'KijpoTpdxv^os, sklerotrdchelos, "stiffnecked" (Acts 7 51). Similarly Isaiah (48 4) speaks of the neck of the obstinate sinner as resembling an iron sinew.
R. Dick Wilson NEBUSHAZBAN, neb-li-shaz'ban CIlTlp^ap, n'bhushaz'bhdn — Assyr Nabusezib-anni, "Nebo delivers me"; AV Nebushasban) : An important officer (the Rab-saris, "chief captain" or "chief eunuch") of the Bab army, who with Nergalsharezer and others was appointed to see to the safety of Jeremiah after the taking of Jerus (Jer 39 13).
NEBUZARADAN, neb-li-zar-a'dan, -zar'a-dan CIlXIII^p , n'bhuzar'Mhan = Assyr Nabv^zara-
H. L. E. Ldering NECKLACE, nek'lfts (T^n";, rabhidh, "chain"): A neck-chain ornament, worn either separately (Ezk 16 11), or with pendants (Isa 3 19), such as crescents (Isa 3 18) or rings (Gen 38 25); sometimes made of gold (Gen 41 42; Dnl 6 29), or of strings of jewels (Cant 1 10). Even beasts of burden were sometimes so adorned by royalty (Jgs 8 26). It was considered suggestive of pride (Ps 73 6) or of fihal loyalty (Prov 1 9). The word does not occur in AV, but such adornments have always been popular in all the Bible lands.
iddina, "Nebo has given seed" ; NepouJapSdv, Nebouzarddn): Nebuchadnezzar's general at the siege of Jerus (2 K 25 8.11.20 |j Jer 52 12.15.26; 39 9. 10.11.13). Under the title of "captain of the guard," he commanded the army, and, after the
fall of the city, carried out his master's policy with regard to the safety of Jeremiah, the transport of the exiles, and the government of those who were
left in the land.
NECHO, NECHOH, ne'ko. NECOH.
See Pharaoh-
NECO, ne'ko (^23, n'kho [2 Ch 35 22; 36 4]). See Pharaoh-necoh.
neck, nek ("1^? , (awwar, HSJ? , gawwa'r, Tl)!? , gawwdron, nnX^S, (awwd'rah, Aram. 1^32, gawwar
NECODAN, ns-ko'dan. See Nekoda.
[Dnl 5 7.16.29], a";;?, 'oreph, Tip^-}'^)?, miphreketh
NECROMANCY, nek'r5-man-si. See Astrology, 1; Divination; Witchcraft.
[1 S 4 18]; vuTos, notos, "back" [Bar 2 33]; occasion-
ally the words fia, garon [Isa 3 16; Ezk 16 11], and nnU'lS, garg'roth, pi. of gargarah, lit. "throat" [Prov 1 9; 3 3.22; 6 21], are tr"" "neck"): The neck is compared with a tower for beauty (Cant 4
NEDABIAH, ned-a-bl'a (H^n-? , n'dhabhydh) : A descendant of David (1 Ch s' iS)'.
NEEDLE, ne'd'l (paij)is, rhaphis): The word "needle" occurs only 3 t, viz. in the reference to Christ's use of the proverb: "It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (Mt 19 24; Mk 10 25; Lk 18 25). This saying ought to be accepted in the same sense as Mt 23 24, "Ye blind guides, that strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel!" Christ used them to illustrate absurdities. A rabbinical || is cited, "an elephant through a needle's eye." Some writers have attempted to show that rhaphis referred to a small gate of a walled oriental city. No evidence of such a use of the word exists in the terms applied today in Bib. lands to this opening. "Rich man" here has the connotation of a man bound up in his riches.
4; 7 4) and is decorated with necklaces and chains (Prov 1 9; 3 3.22; 6 21, Heb garg'roth; Ezk 16
11, Heb garmi, "throat"; Dnl 6 7.16.29, Heb gawwar). It is also the part of the body where the yoke, emblem of labor and hardship, dependence and subjection, is borne (Dt 28 48; Jer 27 8.11.
12; 28 14; Acts 15 10). "To shake off the yoke," "to break the yoke," or "to take it off" is expressive of the regaining of independence and liberty, either by one's own endeavors or through help from out-
side (Gen 27 40; Isa 10 27; Jer 28 11; 30 8). Certain animals which were not allowed as food
(like the firstborn which were not redeemed) were
to be killed by having their necks ('oreph) broken (Ex 13 13; 34 20); the turtle-doves and young
pigeons, which were sacrificed as sin offerings or as burnt offerings, had their heads wrung or pinched
If a man continues to trust in his earthly possessions to save him, it would be absurd for him to expect to share in the spiritual kingdom where dependence upon the King is a first requisite.
off from their necks (Lev 5 8). In 1 S 4 18 the Heb word miphreketh signifies a fracture of the upper part of the spinal column caused by a fall.
The fact that needles are not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible should not be taken to indicate that this instrument was not used. Specimens of bone and metal needles of ancient origin show that they were common household objects. See Camel. James A. Patch NEEDLEWORK, ne'd'1-wlkk. See Embroidery.
It was a military custom of antiquity for the conqueror to place his foot upon the vanquished. This custom, frequently represented in sculpture on many an Egyp temple wall, is referred to in Josh 10 24; Bar 4 25 and probably in Rom 16 20 and Ps 110 1. St. Paul praises the devotion of Aquila and Priscilla, "who for my life laid down
their own necks" (Rom 16 4). See Footstool.
Needy Nehemiah THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPAEDIA 2130
NEEDY, ned'i (i^aS, 'ebhyan). See Poor.
this district that Hagar met with the angel (Gen 16 7.14); Isaac (Gen 24 62) and Jacob (Gen 37 1; 46 5) both dwelt there. Moses
NEESING, ne'zing (Job 41 18, AV, ERV "by his neesings a light doth shine," ARV "sneezings"): "Neese" in EUzabethan Eng. (through two distinct derivations) could mean either "sneeze" or "snort," and it is impossible to say which force was intended by the AV editors. The Heb is mlj^tiy
3. OT sent the spies through this district References to the hill country (Nu 13 17.22); the Amalekites then dwelt there (ver 29) and apparently, too, in some parts of it, the Awim
(Josh 13 3.4). The inheritance of the children of Simeon, as given in Josh 19 1-9, was in the Negeb, but in Josh 15 21-32 these cities are credited to Judah (see Simeon). Achish allotted to David, in response to his request, the city of Ziklag (q.v) in the Negeb (1 S 27 5f); the exploits of David were against various parts of this district described as the Negeb of Judah, the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites, and the Negeb of the Kenites, while in 1 S 30 14 we have mention of the Negeb of the Cherethites and the Negeb of Caleb. To this we may add the Negeb of Arad (Jgs 1 16). It is impossible to define the districts of these various clans (see separate arts, under these names). The Negeb, together with the "hill-country" and the "Shephelah," was according to Jeremiah (17 26; 32 44; 33 13) to have renewed prosperity after the captivity of Judah was ended.
, 'Atishah, a word found only here, but connected with a Sem V meaning "sneeze," or, perhaps, "snort." Job 41 18 is part of the description of the "leviathan" or crocodile. This animal has a habit of inflating himself, and after this he discharges through his nostrils the moist, heated vapor, which sparkles in the sunlight. The act is neither a "sneeze" nor a "snort," but the latter word is sufficiently descriptive. There is no allusion to legendary "firespouting" monsters. Cf Job 39 20; Jer 8 16. In the older edd of AV "neesed" is found in 2 K 4 35: "and the child neesed seven times" (later edd and RV "sneezed"). Burton Scott Easton
NEGEB, neg'eb (D5,3n, ha-neghebh, "thenegeb," or simply, 2?5 , neghebh, from a V meaning "to be dry," and therefore in the first instance
When Nebuchadnezzar took Jerus the Edomites sided with the Babylonians (cf Lam 4 21 f; Ezk 35 3-15; Ob vs 10-16), and during 4. Later the absence of the Jews they advanced History north and occupied all the Negeb and Southern Judaea as far as Hebron (see Judaea). Here they annoyed the Jews in Maccabean times until Judas expelled them from Southern Judaea (164 BC) and John Hyrcanus conquered their country and compelled them to become Jews (109 BC). It was to one of the cities here—Malatha—that Herod Agrippa withdrew himself (Jos, Ant, XVIII, vi, 2). The palmy days of this district appear to have been during the Byzantine period: the existing ruins, so far as they can be dated at all, belong to this tune. Beersheba was an important city with a bishop, and Elusa (mentioned by Ptolemy in the 2d cent.) was the seat of a bishop in the 4th, 5th and Gth cents. After the rise of Mohammedanism the land appears to have lapsed into primitive conditions. Although lawlessness and want of any central control may account for much of the retrogression, yet it is probable that Professor Ellsworth Huntington (loc. cit.) is right in his contention that a change of climate has had much to do with the rise and fall of clvihzation and settled habitation in this district. The district has long been given over to the nomads and it is only quite recently that the Turkish policy of planting an official with a small garrison at Beersheba and at
1. Meaning implying the "dry" or "parched regions," hence in LXX it is usually tr''
€pT||ios, eremos, "desert," also vd-yep, ndgeb) : As the Negeb lay to the S. of Judah, the word came to be used in the sense of "the South," and is so used in a few passages (e.g. Gen 13 14) and in such is tr'' X(i/',
lips (see Geography).
The Eng. tr is unsuitable in several passages, and likely to lead to confusion. For example, in Gen 13 1 Abram is represented as going "into the South" when journeying northward from Egypt toward Bethel; in Nu 13 22 the spies coming from the " wilderness of Zin " toward Hebron are described as coming "by the South,
' although they were going north. The difficulty in these and many other passages is at once obviated if it is recognized that the Negeb was a geographical terra for a definite geographical region, just as Shephelah, lit. "lowland," was the name of another district of Pal. In RV " Negeb "
is given in m, but it would make for clearness if it were restored to the text.
This "parched" land is generally considered as beginning S. of ed Dahartyeb—the probable site of
Debir (q.v.)—and as stretching S.
2. Descripin a series of rolling hills running in a tion general direction of E. to W. until the actual wilderness begins, a distance of perhaps 70 miles (see Natural Features). To the E. it is bounded by the Dead Sea and the southern Ghor, and to the W. there is no defined boundary before the Mediterranean. It is a land of sparse and scanty springs and small rainfall; in the character of its soil it is a transition from the fertility
' Aujeh has produced some slight change in the direction of a settled population and agricultural pursuits.
It is clear that in at least two historic periods the Negeb enjoyed a very considerable prosperity. What it may have been in the days of the 5. Its Patriarchs it is difficult to judge; all we Ancient read of them suggests a purely nomadic Prosperity life similar to the Bedouin of today but with better pasturage. In the division of the land among the tribes mention is made of many cities—the Heb mentions 29 (Josh 15 2132; 19 1-9; 1 Ch 4 28-33)—and the wealth of cattle evidently was great (cf 1 S 15 9; 27 930 16; 2 Ch 14 14 f). The condition of things must have been far different from that of recent times.
of Canaan to the wilderness of the desert; it is essentially a pastoral land, where grazing is plenti-
ful in the early months and where camels and goats can sustain life, even through the long summer drought. Today, as through most periods of his-
tory, it is a land for the nomad rather than the settled inhabitant, although abundant ruins in many spots testify to better physical conditions at some periods (see I, 5, below). The direction of the valleys E. or W., the general dryness, and the character of the inhabitants have always made it a more or less isolated region without thoroughfare. The great routes pass along the coast to the W. or up the Arabah to the E. It formed an additional
The extensive ruins at Btr es Seha' (Beersheba) Khalasa (Elusa), Ruheibeh (Rehoboth, q.v ) 'Aujeh and other cities, together with the signs of orchards, vineyards and gardens scattered widely around these and other sites, show how comparatively well populated this area was in Byzantine times in particular. Professor Huntington (loc cit ) concludes from these ruins that the population of the large towns of the Negeb alone at this period must have amounted to between 45,000 and 60 000
barrier to the wilderness beyond it; against all who would lead an army from the S., this southern
frontier of Judah was always secure. Israel could not reach the promised land by this route, through the land of the Amalekites (Nu 13 29; 14 43-45). The Negeb was the scene of much of Abram's wanderings (Gen 12 9; 13 1.3; 20 1); it was in
2131 THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPAEDIA Needy Nehemiah
The mention of the sons of Sanballat, governor of Samaria, in a letter written to the priests of Jerus
The whole district does not support 1,000 souls today.
Literature.—Robinson, BR (18.38); Wilton, The Negeb, or "South Country" of Scripture (1863); E. H. Palmer, The Desert of the Exodus, II (1871); Trumbull, Kadesh-Barnea (1884); G. A. Smith, HGHL, ch xiii (1894); E. Himtington, Pal and Its Transformation, ctl vi, etc.
in 407 I5C, among whom Johanan is esp. named, proves that Sanballat must have ruled in the time of Artaxerxes I rather than in that of Artaxerxes
II.
The office of cupbearer was "one of no trifling honor" (Herod, iii.34). It was one of his chief duties to taste the wine for the king to see that it was not poisoned, and he was even admitted to the king while the queen was present (Neh 2 6). It was on account of this position of close intimacy with the king that Nehemiah was able to obtain his commission as governor of Judaea and the letters and edicts which enabled him to restore the walls of Jerus.
E. W. G. Mastbbman NEGINAH, ne-ge'na (Ps 61 AV, title), NEGINOTH, ne-ge'noth, neg'i-noth (Ps 4 AV, title). See Music; Psalms.
NEHELAMITE, nc-hel'a-mit, THE Ca^nsn, ha-nehUami) : The designation of Shemaiah, a false prophet who opposed Jeremiah (Jer 29 24.31.32). The word means "dweller of Nehelam," but no such place-name is found in the OT. Its etymology, however, suggests a connection with the Heb halam, "to dream," and this has given rise to the rendering of AVm "dreamer."
The occasion of this commission was as follows: Hanani, the brother of Nehemiah, and other men
of Judah came to visit Nehemiah
4. Governor while he was in Susa in the 9th month of Judaea of the 20th year of Artaxerxes. They reported that the Jews in Jerus were in great affliction and that the wall thereof was broken down and its gates burned with fire. Thereupon he grieved and fasted and prayed to God that he might be granted favor by the king. Having appeared before the latter in the 1st month of the 21st year of Artaxerxes, 444 BC, he was granted permission to go to Jerus to build the city of his fathers' sepulchers, and was given letters to the governors of Syria and Pal and esp. to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, ordering him to supply timber for the wall, the fortress, and the temple. He was also appointed governor of the province of which Jerus was the capital.
NEHEMIAH, ne-he-ml'a, ne-hem-I'a (n'^Tgn?
n'hemyah, "comforted of Jeh"):
1. Family 2. Youth 3. King's Cupbearer 4. Governor ol Judaea 5. Death Literature
Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah, is the Jewish patriot whose life is recorded in the Bib. work named
after him. All that we know about him from contemporary sources is found in this book; and so the readers of this article are referred to the Book
of Neh for the best and fullest account of his words and deeds. See Ezra-Nehemiah. All that is known of his family is that he was the son of Hacaliah (1 1) and that one of his brothers was called Hanani (1 2; 7 2);
Armed with these credentials and powers he repaired to Jerus and immediately set about the restoration of the walls, a work in which he was hindered and harassed by Sanballat, the governor of Samaria, and others, some of them Jews dwelling in Jerus. Notwithstanding, he succeeded in his attempt and eventually also in providing gates for the various entrances to the city.
1. Family the latter a man of sufficient character • and importance to have been made a
ruler of Jerus.
From Neh 10 1-8 some have inferred that he was a priest, since Nehemiah comes first in the list of names ending with the phrase, "these were the priests." This view is supported by the Syr and Arab. VSS of 10 1, which read; "Nehemiah the elder, the son of Hananiah the chief of the priests "
Having accomplished these external renovations, he instituted a number of social reforms. He appointed the officers necessary for better government, caused the people to be instructed in the Law by public readings, and expositions; celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles; and observed a national
; and by the Lat Vulg of 2 Mace
1 21, where he is called "Nehemiah the priest," and possibly by 2 Mace 1 18, where it is said that Nehemiah "offered sacrifices, after that he had builded the temple and the altar."
The argument based upon Neh 10 1-8 will fall to the ground, if we change the pointing of the "Seraiah" of the 3d verse and read "its princes," referring back to the princes of ver 1. In this case, Nehemiah and ZedeIdah would be the princes ; then would come the priests and then the Levites.
fast, at which the sins of the people were confessed and a new covenant with Jeh was solemnly confirmed. The people agreed to avoid marriages with the heathen, to keep the Sabbath, and to contribute to the support of the temple. To provide for the safety and prosperity of the city, one out of every ten of the people living outside Jerus was compelled to settle in the city. In all of these reforms he was assisted by Ezra, who had gone up to Jerus
Some have thought that he was of the royal line of Judah, inasmuch as he refers to his "fathers' sepulchres" at Jerus (2 3). This would be a good argument only
if it could be shown that none but kings had sepulchers
It has been argued again that he was of noble lineage because of his position as cupbearer to the king of Persia. To substantiate this argument, it would need to be shown that none but persons of noble birth could serve in this position; but this has not been shown, and cannot be shown.
in the 7th year of Artaxerxes.
Once, or perhaps oftener, during his governorship Nehemiah returned to the king. Nothing is known as to when or where he died. It is
5. Death certain, however, that he was no longer governor in 407 BC ; for at that time according to the Aram, letter written from Elephantine to the priests of Jerus, Bagohi was occupying the position of governor over Judaea. One of the last acts of Nehemiah's government was the chasing away of one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib, because he had become the sonin-law to Sanballat, the governor of Samaria. As
From the fact that Nehemiah was so grieved at
the desolation of the city and sepulchers of his fathers and that he was so jealous for
2. Youth the laws of the God of Judah, we can
justly infer that he was brought up by pious parents, who instructed him in the history and law of the Jewish people.
Doubtless because of his probity and ability, he was apparently at an early age appointed by Ar-
this Joiada was the father of Johanan (Neh 12 22) who, according to the Aram. papjTus, was high
taxerxes, king of Persia, to the respon-
3. Cupsible position of cupbearer to the king. bearer of There is now no possible doubt that
priest in 407 BC, and according to Jos (Ant, XI,
viii.l) was high priest while Bagohi (Bogoas) was general of Artaxerxes' army, it is certain that Nehemiah was at this time no longer in power. From
the King this king was Artaxerxes, the first of that name, commonly called Longimanus, who ruled over Persia from 464 to 424 BC.
Nehemiah, Book Nephthar THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPAEDIA 2132
the 3d of the Sachau papyri, it seems that Bagohi was already governor in 410 BC; and, that at the same time, Dalayah, the son of Sanballat, was governor in Samaria, More definite information on these points is not to be had at present.
struction. It is emphatically a proper noun, and
is the special name given to this particular brazen
serpent. As such it would be sacred
2. Derivato all worshippers of the brazen ser-
tion: A pent, and familiar to all who freProper quented the Temple. In the second Noun place, it is probable that N. is to be derived from nahdsh, "serpent," rather than from n'hosheth, "brass," (1) because the Gr VSS, representing a form of the Heb text earlier than MT, suggest this in their transliteration of N. (B, Nesthcdei; A, Nesthdn); (2) because the Heb offers a natural derivation of N. from nahash, "serpent"; and (3) because the name of the image would more probably be based on its form than on the material out of which it was made. In the third place, the reading, "and it was called," which appears in RVm, is decidedly preferable to that in the text. It not only represents the best reading of the Heb, but is confirmed by the similar reading, "and they called it," which appears in the Gr VS referred to above. These readings agree in their indication that N. was the name by which the serpent-image was generally known during the years it was worshipped, rather than an expression used for the first time by Hezekiah on the occasion of its destruction.
LiTEKATuRE.—The only early extra-Bib. data witli regard to Nehemiah and the Judaea ol his times are to be found: (1) in the Egyp papyri of Elephantine ("Aramaische Papyri und Ostraka aus einer jiidischen MilitarKolonie zu Elephantine," AUorientalische Sprachdenkmdler des 5. Jahrhunderts vor Chr., Bearbeitet von Eduard Sachau. Leipzig. 1911); (2) in Jos, Ant, XI, vi, 6-8; vii, 1, 2; (3) m Ecclus 49 13, where it is said: "The renown of Nehemiah is glorious; of him who established our waste places and restored our ruins, and set up the gates and bars" ; (4) and lastly in 2 Mace 1 1836 and 2 13; in the latter of these passages it speaks of 'the writings and commentaries of Nehemiah; and how he, founding a library, gathered together the acts of the kings and the prophets and of David and the epistles of the kings concerning the holy gifts.'
R. Dick Wilson NEHEMIAH, BOOK OF. See Ezra-Nehemiah.
NEHEMIAS, ne-hS-mi'as: Gr form of Heb Nehemiah.
(1) 'Neefxlas, Neemias, one of the leaders of the return under Zerubbabel (1 Esd 6 8) = "Nehemiah" of Ezr 2 2; Neh 7 7.
(2) Neein(as, Neemias, B, 'Satij.tas, Naimias, the prophet Nehemiah (1 Esd 5 40 where AVm reads "N. who also is Atharias"). Neither Nehemias nor Attharias is found in the || Ezr 2 63; Neh 7 65, but SrnBnrin, ka-tirshatha'^Tirskatha, "the governor," by whom Zerubbabel must be intended. Thus the Heb word for "governor" has been converted into a proper name and by some blunder the name Nehemiah inserted, perhaps because he also was known by the title of "governor."
Whichever derivation be adopted, however, the word must be construed as a proper name. If it be derived from "brass," then the tr must be, not "a piece of brass," but "The [great] Brass," giving the word a special sense by which it refers unequivocally to the well-known image made of brass. If it be derived from "serpent," then the tr must be, "The [great] Serpent," the word in this case referring in a special sense to the well-known image in serpent form. But the significance of the word probably lies far back of any etymological e.xplanation of it that can now be given. It is not a term that can be adequately explained by reference to verbal roots, but is rather an epitome of the reverence of those who, however mistakenly, looked upon the brazen serpent as a proper object of worship.
S. Angus NEHILOTH, ne-hil'oth, ne'hi-loth (Ps 5, title). See Music.
NEHUM, ne'hum (Dinp , n'hUm) : One of the twelve heads of the people who returned with Zerubbabel (Neh 7 7). In the
|| passage (Ezr 2
2), the name appears as Rehitm (q.v,), and in
1 Esd 6 8 as "Roimus."
In view of the foregoing it may be concluded,
(1) that N. was the (sacred) name by which the brazen serpent was known during the years "the children of Israel did burn incense to it"; (2) that the word is derived from nahash, "serpent"; and (3) that it was used in the sense of "The Serpent," par excellence. See Images, 6, (2); Serpent, Fiery, Lindsay B. Longacre
NEHUSHTA, ne-hush'ta (XnilJn?, n'hushla'): Mother of King Jehoiachin (2 K 24 8). She was the daughter of Elnathan of Jerus. After the fall of the city she was exiled with her son and his court
(2 K 24 12; Jer 29 2).
NEHUSHTAN, ne-hush'tan (TOffin? , n'hushtan;
NEIEL, ns-i'el (bx-'ya, n'H'el; B, 'Iva^X, Inatl, A, 'Avi'rjX, Aniel) : A town on the boundary between Zebulun and Asher mentioned between Jiftah-el and Cabul (Josh 19 27), It may be the same as Neah (ver 13), but the place is not identified.
of npn? , n'hosheth, "brass," and liJnD , ndhdsh, "serpent") : The word occurs but once,
1. Tradiviz. in 2 K 18 4. In the account tional there given of the reforms carried out Interpreby Hezekiah, it is said that "he brake tation in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he
NEIGH, na (bn2, Qahal, "to cry aloud," "neigh") Figuratively used to indicate lustful desire (Jer 5 8; cf 13 29).
called it Nehushtan." According to RVra the word means "a piece of brass," If this be correct, the sense of the passage is that Hezekiah not only breaks the brazen serpent in pieces but, suiting the word to the act, scornfully calls it "a [mere] piece
NEIGHBOR, na'ber (?"!, re", £11)2^, 'amlth, "friend," lilf; , karobh, plB, shakhm; 6 irXiio-(ov, ho plesion, "near," ydruv, geilon, 1. As De- [cf 2 Mace 6 8; 9 25), "inhabitant"; scribed in Lat proximus [2 Esd 15 19], civis [9 45; the OX 10 2, RVm "townman"]): In the OT, the relationship of neighborhood involves moral and social obligations which are frequently emphasized. These are in the main described in negative rather than positive terms; e.g. there are special injunctions not to bear false witness against a neighbor (Ex 20 16; Dt 5 20; Prov 25 18), or in any way to deal falsely with
of brass," Hezekiah thus takes his place as a true reformer, and as a champion of the purification of the religion of Israel. This is the traditional interpretation of the passage, and fairly represents the Heb text as it now stands.
There are at least three considerations, however, which throw doubt upon this interpretation. In the
first place, the word N. is not a common noun, and cannot mean simply "a piece of brass." The point
of the Bib. statement is entirely lost by such a con-
2133 THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPAEDIA Nehemiah, Book Nephthar
but "could not show their families nor their stock"
him, defraud him, frame malicious devices or harbor evil thoughts against him (Ex 20 17; Lev 6 2; 19 13; Dt23 24f; Ps 15 3; 1015; Prov 24 28; Jer 22 13; Zee 8 17), or to lead him into shameful conduct (Hab 2 15), or to wrong him by lying carnally with his wife (Lev 18 20). But the supreme law that underUes these negative injunctions is stated positively, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Lev 19 18). In this verse the term "neighbor" is defined by the expression, "the children of my people." Here, and generally in the OT, the term implies more than mere proximity; it means one related by the bond of nationality, a fellow-countryman, compatriot. Jeh being regarded as a national God, there was no rehgious bond regulating the conduct of the Hebrews with other nations. Conduct which was prohibited between fellow-Jews was permitted toward a foreigner, e.g. the exaction of interest (Dt 23 19.20). In the NT, this limitation of moral obligation to fellow-countrymen is abolished. Christ gives a wider interpretation of the command-
(1 Esd 5 37) = "Nekoda" of Ezr 2 60; Neh 7 62.
(2) See NoBBA.
NEMUEL, nem'tl-el, nS-mu'el (bsilap, n'mu'el):
(1) A Reubenite, brother of Dathan and Abiram (Nu 26 9).
(2) A son of Simeon (Nu 26 12; 1 Ch 4 24). The name occurs also in the form "Jemuel" (Gen 46 10; Ex 6 15). According to Gray (HPN), either form is etymologically obscure; but Nemuel
is probably correct, for it is easier to account for its corruption into Jemuel than vice versa. The patron}Tnio Nemuelites occurs once (Nu 26 12).
NEMUELITES, nem'ci-el-Its, nS-mu'el-its
(,'0iX^)2^'ri , ha-n'mu' ell) . See Nemuel, (2).
NEPHEA, nS-fe'a. See Music.
NEPHEG, ne'feg (552, nephegh, "sprout," "shoot"):
(1) Son of Izhar, and brother of Korah of the famous trio, Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Ex 6 21).
2. As Dement in Lev 19 18, so as to include scribed in it those outside the tie of nation or in the NT kindred. This is definitely done in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10 25-37), where, in answer to the question, "Who is my neighbor ?" Jesus shows that the relationship is a moral, not a physical one, based not on kinship but on the opportunity and capacity for mutual help. The word represents, not so much a rigid fact, but an ideal which one may or may not realize (ver 36, "Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved [lit. became, not was] neighbor," etc). This larger connotation follows naturally as a corollary to the doctrine of the universal Fatherhood of God. The commandment to love one's neighbor as one's
(2) A son of David (2 S 5 15; 1 Ch 3 7; 14 6).
NEPHEW, nef'u, nev'u. See Relationships, Family.
NEPHI, ne'fl. See Nephthai.
NEPHILIM, nef'i-lim ("'b'^S?, n'phlllm): This word, tr"* "giants" in AV, but retained in RV, is found in two passages of the OT—one in Gen 6 4, relating to the antediluvians; the other in Nu 13 33, relating to the sons of Anak in Canaan. In the former place the Nephilim are not necessarily to be identified with the children said to be borne by "the daughters of men" to "the sons of God" (vs
self must not be interpreted as if it implied that we are to hate our enemy (an inference which the Jews were apt to make) ; human love should be like the Divine, impartial, having all men for its object (Mt 5 43 ff). Love to one's fellow-men in this broad sense is to be placed side by side with love to God as the essence and sum of human duty (Mt 22 3.5-40 II Mk 12 28-31). Christ's apostles follow His example in giving a central position to the injunction to love one's neighbor as one's self (Jas 2 8, where it is called the "royal law," i.e. the supreme or governing law; Rom 13 9; Gal 5 14). D. MiALL Edwards NEKEB, neTieb: This name occurs only in combination with "Adami" (2J5|n "^'OnS, 'ddhaml
2.4); indeed, they seem to be distinguished from the latter as upon the earth before this unholy commingling took place (see Sons op God). But
it is not easy to be certain as to the interpretation of this strange passage. In the second case they clearly represent men of gigantic stature, in comparison with whom the Israelites felt as if they were "grasshoppers." This agrees with Gen 6 4, "the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown." LXX, therefore, was warranted in translating by glgantes. James Orb
NEPHIS, ne'fis. See Niphis.
ha-nekebh, "Adami of the pass"); L3CX reads the names of two places: Kai ' Apiik rai 'SdjSuiK, kai Arme kai Ndbok (B); Kai 'Ap/jal Kai Nd/fejS, kai Armai kai Ndkeb (Josh 19 33), so we should possibly read "Adami and Nekeb." Neubauer says {Geog. du Talm, 225) that later the name of Nekeb was Ciyadathah. It may therefore be represented by the modern Seiyadeh, not far from ed-Damieh to the E. of Tabor, about 4 miles S.W. of Tiberias. The name of Nekeb, a town in Galilee, appears in the
NEPHISH, ne'fish, NEPHISIM, ng-tl'sim, NEPHISHESIM, ns-fish'g-sim, NEPHUSIM, n5-fusim (D''P''S3 , n'phislm, D"'P^Dp , n'phu§tm) : The former is the K^thibh (Heb "written") form of the name adopted in RV; the latter the K're (Heb "read") form, adopted in AV and RVm (Ezr 2 50). SeeNAPHisH; Nephushesim.
NEPHTHAI, nef'thi, nef'tha-i. See Nephthar.
list of Thothmes III.
NEPHTHALIM, nef'tha-lim (Mt 4 13): The Gr form of Naphtali (q.v.).
NEKODA, ng-ko'da (XnipS, n'kodha'):
(1) Head of a family of Nethinim (Ezr 2 48; Neh 7 50; cf 1 Esd 5 31).
NEPHTHAR, nef'thar (Ne+eip, Nephthar; A and Swete, Nephthar, AV and Vulg Naphthar), NEPHTHAI (Ne<t>eaC, Nephthai, al. Ne(t>ea([, Nepkihael, Fritzsche, N«<t>ii, Nephd, AV and Vulg, following Old Lat, Nephi; Swete, following A, gives Nephthar twice) : According to 2 Mace 1 19-
(2) Head of a family which failed to prove its Israehtish descent (Ezr 2 60; Neh 7 62; cf 1 Esd
6 31.37). In the || vs of 1 Esd the names are given
thus: NoEBA and Nbkodan (q.v.).
36, at the time of the captivity the godly priests took of the altar fire of the temple and concealed
NEKODAN, ni-ko'dan (NeKioSdv, Nekoddn; RVm "Nekoda"; AV Necodan):
it "privily in the hollow of a well that was without water," unknown to all. "After many years"
(1) Head of a family which returned from exile,
Nephtoah Hero THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPAEDIA 2134
(1 S 14 50 f; 26 5.14, etc); grandfather of Saul
(upon the Return), before offering the sacrifices, Nehemiah sent the descendants of the godly priests to fetch tlie hidden fire. They reported they could find no fire but only "thick water" {liSiop Traxi^, hudor pachu), which he commanded them to draw up and sprinkle upon the wood and the sacrifices. After an interval the sun shone forth from behind a cloud and the liquid ignited and consumed the sac-
(1 Ch 8 33). Other references, though addmg no further information are 2 S 2 8.12; 3 23.25;
28.37; 1 K 2 5.32, etc.
NEREUS, ne'rus, ne'rS-us (Niipfiis, Neretis): The name of a Rom Christian to whom with his
sister St. Paul sent greetings (Rom 16 15). Nereus and the others saluted with him (ver 15) formed a
rifices. Nehemiah then commanded them to pour {Karaxf^", katachein, al. /car^x^"', katechein, and
small community or "house church." The name
of the sister is not given, but the name Nereis is found on an inscription of this date containing names
KaTatrxe?!', kataschein) the rest of the liquid upon great stones. Another flame sprang up which soon spent itself, "whereas the light from the altar shone
of the emperor's servants (Lightfoot, Phil, 176). Among the Acta Sanctorum connected with the
still" (RVm, the exact meaning being doubtful). When the king of Persia investigated it, he inclosed the spot as sacred. Nehemiah and his friends called the thick liquid "Nephthar," "which is by interpretation 'cleansing' " {Kadapia/iis, katharismos), "but most men call it Nephthai."
early church in Rome are the "Acts of Nereus and Achilleus" which call them chamberlains of
Domitilla, the niece of Vespasian, and relate their
influence over her in persuading her to remain a
virgin. S. F. Hunter
No satisfactory explanation is to hand of either name, one of which is probably a corruption of the other. And no word exists in the Heb like either of them with the meaning of "cleansing," "purification." The Vulg applies the name to the spot {hunc locum), not the thing. The story probably originated in Persia, where naphtha was abundant. The ignition of the liquid by the hot rays of the sun and the appearance of the words render it highly probable that it was the inflammable rock-
NERGAL, nar'gal ('55")3, ner'ghal): A Bab
deity, identified with the planet Mars, and worshipped at Cutha (cf 2 K 17 30). See Babylonia and Assyria, Religion op.
NERGAL-SHAREZER, nilr-gal-sha-re'zar
("l¥N"!Tp"b3"l5 , ner'ghal-shar'eQer, Heb form of Assyr Nergal-sar-uhur , "O Nergal, defend the prince"): A Bab officer, the "Rab-mag," associated with Nebushazban in the care of Jeremiah after the
oil naphtha, the combustible properties of which were quite familiar to the ancients (Pliny, NH, ii. 109; Plutarch, Alex. 35; Diosc, i.lOl; Strabo, Geogr.
fall of Jerus (Jer 39 3.13). According to Hommel
(art. "Babylon," HUB) and Sayce {HDB, s.v.), Nergal-sharezer is to be identified with Neriglissar who succeeded Evil-merodach on the throne of Babylon (cf Cheyne and Johns, EB, s.v.).
xvi.l, 15); the words then are probably corruptions
of what the Greeks termed vdipda, naphtha. Ewald
{Hist., V, 163) says: "This is but one of the many stories which sought in later times to enhance the very high sanctity of the Temple, with reference even to its origin." S. Angus
NERI, ne'rl (NripeC, Nerei [Tisch., Treg., WH], TR, Nript, Neri; for Heb ii;"!3, neriyah): The name of an ancestor of Jesus, the grandfather of Zerubbabel (Lk 3 27). See Neriah.
NEPHTOAH, nef-to'a, net'to-a (niPBD , neph-
to'h, occurs only in the expression "i "^73 'l^^P
ma'yan me ?i., "the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah"; LXX iniYt) iiSaxos Na4>ew, pege hiidatos Naphtha) : This spring was on the border line Ijetween Judah and Benjamin (Josh 15 9; 18 15). The place is usually identified with Liftci, a village about 2 miles N.W. of Jerus, on the east bank of the
NERIAH, ne-ri'a ("TJ"!?, neriyah, "whose lamp
is Jeh"): The father of Seraiah and of Baruoh, Jeremiah's friend and secretary (Jer 32 12.16; 36 4.8.32; 43 3). In Bar 1 1 the Gr foriu of the name, Ni)p(e) ias, Ner{e)ias, is given, and this shortened, Neri, occurs in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
Wddy beit Hanlna. It is a village very conspicuous
to the traveler along the high road from Jaffa as he nears Jerus. There are ancient rock-cut tombs and a copious spring which empties itself into a
NERIAS, ng-rl'as (Ntip[£]£as, Ner\e]ias): The Gr form of Heb Neriah found only in Bar 1 1 as the father of Baruch = "Neriah" of Jer 32 12; 36 4fT; 43 3. To Baruch's brother, Seraiah, the same genealogy is ascribed in Jer 51 59.
large masonry reservoir. The situation of Lifld seems to agree well with the most probable line
of boundary between the two tribes; the spring
as it is today does not appear to be so abundant as
NERO, ne'ro (Ne'pwv, Neron)
to warrant such an expression as "spring of the waters," but it was, like many such sources, probably considerably more abundant in OT times.
I. Name, Parent.^ge and Early Training II. Agrippina's Ambition for Nero Her Nine Measures lor Bringing Him to tlie Tlirone III. Nero's Reign
Conder would identify Lifta with the ancient Eleph (q.v.) of Benjamin, and, on the ground that the Talm (see Talm Bab. Yoma' 31a) identifies Nephtoah with Etam (q.v.), he would find the site
1. Quinquennium Neronis 2. Poppaea Sabina 3. Poppaea and Tigellinus 4. Burning of Rome 5. Persecution of Christians 6. Conspiracy of Piso 7. Nero in Greece 8. Death of Nero IV. Downfall and Character 1. Seven Causes of Downfall 2. Character V. "Nero Redivivus" VI. Nero and Christianity 1. Nero and the NT 2. Neronian Policy and Christianity Literature
of Nephtoah at '4in 'Atan, S. of Bethlehem. The Talm is not a sufficiently trustworthy guide when unsupported by other evidence, and the identifi-
cation creates great difliculty with the boundary
line. See PEF, III, 18, 43, Sh XVII. E. W. G. Mastebman NEPHUSHESIM, nS-fush'5-sim, NEPHISHESIM, n?-fish'S-sim (DiCl?51E3 , n'phush'fim, WC^''^}
n'phlsh'fim) : The former is the Kn,hibh (Heb "written") form of the name adopted in RV; the
The fifth Rom emperor, b. at Antium December 15, 37 AD, began to reign October 13, 54, d. June 9, 68.
latter the K-re (Heb "read") form adopted in AV and RVm (Neh 7 52). See Naphish; Nephisim.
/. Name, Parentage and Early Training.—His name was originally Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus-
NER, ner (15, ner, "lamp"): Father of Abner
2135 THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPAEDIA Nephtoah Nero
from power, and murmurs were heard among the senate and people. Delay migtit prove fatal to Agrippina's plans, so (9) Claudius must die. The notorious Locusta administered poison in a dish of mushrooms, and Xenophon, Agrippina's physic
but after his adofition into tlie Claudian gens by the emperor Claudius, he became Nero Claudius Caesar Germanicus. His father was Enaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus ("Brazen-beard"), a man sprung from an illustrious family and of vicious character. His mother was Agrippina the younger, the daughter of Germanicus and the elder Agrippina,
cian, thrust a poisoned feather down Claudius' throat on the pretence of helping him to vomit. Burrus then took N. forth and caused him to be proclaimed imperator by the praetorians.
sister of the emperor Caius
///. Nero's Reign.—Nero's reign falls into three
(Caligula) and niece of the emperor Claudius. On the birth of the child, his father predicted, amid the congratulations of his friends, that any offspring of him-
periods, the first of which is the celebrated quinquennium, or first 5 years, character-
1. Quinized by good government at home and quennium in the provinces and popularity with Neronis both senate and people. Agrippina, having seated her son on the throne, did not purpose to relinquish power herself; she intended to rule along with him. And at first N. was very devoted to her and had given as watchword to the guard, "the best of mothers" (Tac. Ann. xiii.2; Suet. ix). This caused a sharp conflict with Seneca and Burrus, who could not tolerate Agrippina's arrogance and unbounded influence over her son. In order to detach him from his mother they encouraged him in an amour with a Gr freedwoman, Acte (Tac. Ann. xiii.l2). This
self and Agrippina could only prove abominable and disastrous for the public (Suet. Nero vi: detestabile
et malo publico). At the age of three the young Domitius lost his father and was robbed of his estates by the rapacity of Caius. In 39 his mother was banished for supposed complicity in a plot against Caius. N. was thus deprived of his mother and at the same time left almost penniless. His aunt, Domitia Lepida, now undertook the care of the boy and placed him with two tutors, a dancer and a barber (Suet. vi). On the accession of Claudius, Agrippina was recalled, and N. was restored to his mother and his patrimony (41 AD).
Noro (Brit. Mus.;.
first blow to Agrippina's influence was soon followed by the dismissal from court of her chief protector
Pallas. She now threatened to bring forth Britannicus and present him as the rightful heir to the throne. This cost Britannicus his life, for N., feeling insecure while a son of Claudius lived, compassed
his death at a banquet. A hot wine cup was offered Britannicus, and to cool it to taste, cold water was added which had been adulterated with a virulent poison. The victim succumbed immediately. All eyes fastened on N. in suspicion, but he boldly
//. Agrippina's Ambition for Nero.—She cared
little for her son's moral education, but began immediately to train him for high position. She aimed at nothing less than securing the empire for N. With a view to this she must gain influence over her uncle, the emperor Claudius, who was very susceptible to female charms. At first the path was by no means easy, while the licentious empress, Messalina, was in power. But on the fall and death of Messalina (48 AD)—for which Agrippina may have intrigued—the way seemed opened. With the assistance of the emperor's freedman, PaUas, Agrippina proved the successful candidate
asserted that the death was due to a fit of epilepsy —a disease to which Britannicus had been subject from childhood. Such was the fate of Agrippina's
first protegS. She next took up the cause of the despised and ill-treated Octavia, which so incensed her son that he deprived her of her guards and caused her to remove from the palace. Agrippina now disappears for the next few years to come into brief and tragic prominence later. Seneca and Burrus undertook the management of affairs, with results that justified the favorable impression which the
for Claudius' affections. She now felt secure to
first 5 years of N.'s reign made upon the Rom
carry out the plans for the elevation of her son:
people. Many reforms were initiated, financial,
(1) She secured his betrothal to Octavia, the daughter of Claudius, having previously, by the
social and legislative. These ministers treated N.
to counsels of moderation and justice, dictating a policy which left considerable activity to the senate. But perceiving the bent of his evil nature, they allowed him to indulge in low pleasures and
villainy of Vitellius, broken off the engagement between Octavia and Lucius Silanus (ib, xlviii).
Later, N. married this unfortunate lady. (2) Vitellms again obliged by securing a modification of Rom law so as to permit a marriage with a brother's
^ ex-
cesses with the most profligate companions, think-
ing, perhaps, either that the young ruler would in
(not sister's) daughter, and in 49 Agrippina became
this way prove less harmful to the public, or that,
empress. (3) In the meantime she had caused Seneca to be recalled from banishment and had in-
after sowing his wild oats, he would return to the
serious business of government. But in both ways they were sorely disappointed, for N., having surrendered himself to the basest appetites, continued
trusted to him the education of N. for imperial pur-
poses. (4) The adoption of her son by Claudius
(50 AD). (5) She next secured early honors and
to go from excess to excess. He surrounded him-
titles for N. in order to mark him out as Claudius'
self with the most dissolute companions, conspicuous among whom were Salvius Otho and Claudius
successor. (6) She caused Britannicus, Claudius'