Bible Encyclopedias
Chebar

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kē´bar ( כּבר , kebhār , "joining" (Young), "length" (Strong); Χοβάρ , Chobár ): The river by the side of which his first vision was vouchsafed to Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:1 ). It is described as in "the land of the Chaldeans," and is not, therefore, to be sought in northern Mesopotamia. This rules out the Habor, the modern Chabour, with which it is often identified. The two names are radically distinct: חבור , ḥābhōr could not be derived from כּבר , kebhār ̌ . One of the great Babylonian canals is doubtless intended. Hilprext found mention made of (nāru ) kabaru , one of these canals large enough to be navigable, to the East of Nippur, "in the land of the Chaldeans." This "great canal" he identifies with the rood. shaṭṭ en -Nı̄l , in which probably we should recognize the ancient Chebar.