Reference: Nebo (2)
Fausets
The idol of Babylon and Assyria. Nabiu (Hamitic Babylonian), Nabu (Semitic Babylonian). Related to Hebrew nabi, "inspired," "prophet." Described as "the far hearing," "he of intelligence, who teaches." The cuneiform arrow head is his emblem; hence named Tir, "arrow." Answering the Egyptian "Thoth," the Greek "Hermes," "Mercury," the "inspired" interpreter or nabiy of the gods, designated in one place "inventor of the writing of the royal tablets." Presided over learning and letters. Pul, from some special connection with Babylon (Ivalush III) gave Nebo a prominence in Assyrian worship which he had not before.
A statue of Nebo with the god's epithets written across the body, set up at Calah by Pul, is in the British Museum. Babylon from early ages held Nebo among the chief gods. At Birs Nimrud (Borsippa) was his ancient temple, which Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt. He also called his seaport on the Persian gulf Teredon, i.e. given to Tir equalling Nebo. The names Nabo-nassar, Nabo-polassar, Nebu-chadnezzar, Nabo-nadius, show Nebo was their guardian god. The tower of Nebo had the form of the seven spheres. Nebo's sphere has the blue sacred to him. But "Nebo stoopeth," i.e. is prostrate, "a burden to the weary beast" of the conqueror who carried the idol away; so far was Nebo from saving Babylon (Isa 46:1; 1Sa 5:3-4; Ps 20:8).
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Smith
Ne'bo.
1. A town of Reuben on the east side of Jordan.
In the remarkable prophecy adopted by Isaiah,
and Jeremiah,
concerning Moab, Nebo is mentioned in the same connection as before, but in the hands of Moab. Eusebius and Jerome identify it with Nobah or Kerrath, and place it eight miles South of Heshbon, where the ruins of el-Habis appear to stand at present. (Prof. Paine identifies it with some ruins on Mount Nebo, a mile south of its summit, and Dr. Robinson seems to agree with this. --ED.)
2. The children of Nebo returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel.
The name occurs between Bethel and Ai and Lydda, which implies that it was situated in the territory of Benjamin to the northwest of Jerusalem. This is possibly the modern Beit-Nubah, about 12 miles northwest by west of Jerusalem, 8 from Lydda.
3. Nebo, which occurs both in Isaiah,
and Jeremiah,
as the name of a Chaldean god, is a well known deity of the Babylonians and Assyrians. He was the god who presided over learning and letters. His general character corresponds to that of the Egyptian Thoth the Greek Hermes and the Latin Mercury. Astronomically he is identified with the planet nearest the sun. In Babylonia Nebo held a prominent place from an early time. The ancient town of Borsippa was especially under his protection, and the great temple here, the modern Birs-Nimrud, was dedicated to him from a very remote age. He was the tutelar god of the most important Babylonian kings, in whose names the word Nabu or Nebo appears as an element.