Nergal-Sharezer
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Nergal-sharezer, also known as Neriglissar, is a historical figure mentioned in the Bible, specifically in the context of the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem. He is identified as one of the high-ranking officials in the Babylonian army during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II.

Biblical References:

Nergal-sharezer is mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah, which provides an account of the Babylonian siege and eventual destruction of Jerusalem. In Jeremiah 39:3 , it is recorded: "Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-sarsekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon."

This passage highlights Nergal-sharezer's presence during a significant moment in biblical history—the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The mention of his title, "Rab-mag," suggests a high-ranking position, possibly as a chief magician or a high official in the Babylonian court.

Historical Context:

Nergal-sharezer's historical identity is often associated with Neriglissar, who later became king of Babylon after the death of Nebuchadnezzar II. His reign is dated from approximately 560 to 556 BC. As a king, Neriglissar is known for his military campaigns and building projects, continuing the legacy of Babylonian strength and architectural achievement.

Role in the Babylonian Conquest:

The presence of Nergal-sharezer during the siege of Jerusalem underscores the organized and formidable nature of the Babylonian military. His role, along with other officials, was crucial in executing the strategies that led to the capture of the city, the destruction of the Temple, and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people to Babylon—a pivotal event in Jewish history known as the Babylonian Captivity.

Theological Significance:

From a theological perspective, the mention of Nergal-sharezer and the Babylonian officials in the biblical narrative serves as a testament to the fulfillment of prophetic warnings given by prophets like Jeremiah. The fall of Jerusalem is seen as a divine judgment upon the people of Judah for their persistent idolatry and disobedience to God's covenant. Nergal-sharezer's involvement in this event highlights the use of foreign nations as instruments of God's judgment, a recurring theme in the Old Testament.

Cultural and Religious Influence:

Nergal-sharezer's Babylonian background is rooted in a culture rich with religious and mythological traditions. The name "Nergal" itself is derived from a Babylonian deity associated with war and the underworld, reflecting the syncretic nature of Babylonian religion. This cultural backdrop provides insight into the religious and political environment of the time, which often stood in contrast to the monotheistic faith of the Israelites.

In summary, Nergal-sharezer is a significant figure in the biblical account of the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem, representing the might and influence of the Babylonian Empire during a critical period in biblical history. His role as a high-ranking official underscores the fulfillment of prophetic judgment and the complex interplay between divine sovereignty and human agency in the biblical narrative.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Nergal-Sharezer

treasurer of Nergal

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Nergal, protect the king!

(1.) One of the "princes of the king of Babylon who accompanied him in his last expedition against Jerusalem" (Jeremiah 39:3, 13).

(2.) Another of the "princes," who bore the title of "Rabmag." He was one of those who were sent to release Jeremiah from prison (Jeremiah 39:13) by "the captain of the guard." He was a Babylonian grandee of high rank. From profane history and the inscriptions, we are led to conclude that he was the Neriglissar who murdered Evil-merodach, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, and succeeded him on the throne of Babylon (B.C. 559-556). He was married to a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar. The ruins of a palace, the only one on the right bank of the Euphrates, bear inscriptions denoting that it was built by this king. He was succeeded by his son, a mere boy, who was murdered after a reign of some nine months by a conspiracy of the nobles, one of whom, Nabonadius, ascended the vacant throne, and reigned for a period of seventeen years (B.C. 555-538), at the close of which period Babylon was taken by Cyrus. Belshazzar, who comes into notice in connection with the taking of Babylon, was by some supposed to have been the same as Nabonadius, who was called Nebuchadnezzar's son (Dan. 5:11, 18, 22), because he had married his daughter. But it is known from the inscriptions that Nabonadius had a son called Belshazzar, who may have been his father's associate on the throne at the time of the fall of Babylon, and who therefore would be the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. The Jews had only one word, usually rendered "father," to represent also such a relationship as that of "grandfather" or "great-grandfather."

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
NERGAL-SHAREZER

nur-gal-sha-re'-zar (nereghal-shar'etser, Hebrew form of Assyrian Nergal-sar-usur, "O Nergal, defend the prince"): A Babylonian officer, the "Rab-mag," associated with Nebushazban in the care of Jeremiah after the fall of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 39:3, 13). According to Hommel (article "Babylon," Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible (five volumes)) and Sayce (Hastings Dictionary of the Bible, under the word), Nergal-sharezer is to be identified with Neriglissar who succeeded Evil-merodach on the throne of Babylon (compare Cheyne and Johns, Encyclopedia Biblica, under the word).

Strong's Hebrew
5371. Nergal Sharetser -- a Bab. court official
... Nergal-sharezer. From Nergal and Shar'etser; Nergal-Sharetser, the name of two
Babylonians -- Nergal-sharezer. see HEBREW Nergal. see HEBREW Shar'etser. ...
/hebrew/5371.htm - 6k
Library

The Last Agony
... day of the month, the city was broken up.3. And all the princes of the king of Babylon
came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the last agony.htm

How the King of Babylon Took Jerusalem and Burnt the Temple and ...
... The names of these generals who ravaged and subdued Jerusalem, if any one desire
to know them, were these: Nergal Sharezer, Samgar Nebo, Rabsaris, Sorsechim ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 how the king.htm

Appendices
... 648 Nabopolassar 626 Nabu-kudurri-uzur (Nebuchadrezzar II.), his son 605 Amil-Marduk
(Evil-Merodach), his son 662 Nergal-sarra-uzur (Nergal-sharezer) 560 Labasi ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... Then the throne was usurped by Nergal-sharezer, who had married a daughter
of Nebuchadrezzar, and was in high favour with the priests. ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

Thesaurus
Nergal-sharezer (2 Occurrences)
... Nergalsharezer, Nergal-sharezer. Ner'gal-share'zer . Easton's Bible Dictionary ...
Nergalsharezer, Nergal-sharezer. Ner'gal-share'zer . Reference Bible.
/n/nergal-sharezer.htm - 9k

Nergalsharezer (2 Occurrences)
... Dictionary of the Bible (five volumes)) and Sayce (Hastings Dictionary of the Bible,
under the word), Nergal-sharezer is to be ...Nergalsharezer (2 Occurrences). ...
/n/nergalsharezer.htm - 9k

Rabmag (2 Occurrences)
... It is, therefore, a title and not a name, and is accordingly put in appositive
relations to the proper name just preceding, as "Nergal-sharezer, the Rab-mag ...
/r/rabmag.htm - 9k

Rab-mag (2 Occurrences)
... It is, therefore, a title and not a name, and is accordingly put in appositive
relations to the proper name just preceding, as "Nergal-sharezer, the Rab-mag ...
/r/rab-mag.htm - 8k

Samgar-nebo (1 Occurrence)
... Be gracious, O Nebo! or a cup-bearer of Nebo, probably the title of
Nergal-sharezer, one of the princes of Babylon (Jeremiah 39:3). Int. ...
/s/samgar-nebo.htm - 8k

Samgarnebo (1 Occurrence)
... Be gracious, O Nebo! or a cup-bearer of Nebo, probably the title of
Nergal-sharezer, one of the princes of Babylon (Jeremiah 39:3). Int. ...
/s/samgarnebo.htm - 8k

Nergal-sar-ezer (2 Occurrences)
... the eunuchs, and Nergal-Sharezer, chief of the Mages, and all the chiefs of the
king of Babylon; (See NAS). Nergal-sarezer, Nergal-sar-ezer. Nergalsharezer > ...
/n/nergal-sar-ezer.htm - 7k

Ner'gal-share'zer (2 Occurrences)
Ner'gal-share'zer. Nergal-sharezer, Ner'gal-share'zer. Nergal-shar-ezer . ...
Nergal-sharezer, Ner'gal-share'zer. Nergal-shar-ezer . Reference Bible.
/n/ner'gal-share'zer.htm - 7k

Sharezer (5 Occurrences)
... Hitzig, (Kritik, 194;), following Abydenus, as quoted by Eusebius, completed the
name of Sennacherib's son, so as to read Nergal-sharezer = Nergal-shar-ucur ...
/s/sharezer.htm - 10k

Nergal-sarezer (2 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 39:3 that all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the
middle gate, to wit , Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris ...
/n/nergal-sarezer.htm - 7k

Resources
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Concordance
Nergal-sharezer (2 Occurrences)

Jeremiah 39:3
that all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, 'to wit', Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.
(ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

Jeremiah 39:13
So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushazban, Rab-saris, and Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon;
(ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

Subtopics

Nergal-Sharezer

Nergal-Sharezer: The Name of a Senior officer With Nebuchadnezzars Army

Related Terms

Nergal-sharezer (2 Occurrences)

Nergal-shar-ezer (2 Occurrences)

Nergalsharezer
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