Page 308 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

IDUMEA - ILLUMINATION

gain the god’s favor and to avoid bad luck. “The cries of Tammuz (Eze. 8:14). The myth of Tammuz was
the children were drowned in the noise of flutes and popular among ancient nations. It had many varieties,
kettle-drums. Mothers stood by without tears, because if and the gods and goddesses went by a variety of names
they wept or sobbed they lost the honor of the act, and (Osiris, Adonis, Ishtar, Isis, Aphrodite, Venus). According
their children were sacrificed anyway.” Child sacrifice is to this myth, the god was killed and mourned by his
mentioned frequently in the Old Testament (De. 18:10; goddess wife, who descended into the underworld to
2 Ki. 16:3; 17:17; 21:6; 23:10; 2 Ch. 33:6; Je. 32:35; raise him from the dead. Afterwards he produced a son.
Eze. 16:21; 20:26, 31). Women celebrated this myth with mourning and with
Nebo (Is. 15:2; 46:1; 48:1). Also spelled Nabo or immoral acts. The supposed resurrection was a demonic
Nabu. Nebo was worshipped by the Babylonians and attack on the uniqueness of the resurrection of Jesus
Assyrians, Nebo was the god of speech, learning, and Christ.
writing. He supposedly kept the Tablets of Destiny, in Tartak (2 Ki. 17:31). A pagan idol introduced into
which was recorded the fate of every person as dictated Samaria after the overthrow of the kingdom of Israel. It
by the gods. In astrology, Nebo was associated with the was called the “prince of darkness.” Its image was a
planet Mercury. He was supposed to be the son of donkey.
Marduk, and on New Year the idol was carried from its Teraphim (Ju. 17:5). Household gods. They were
temple in Borsippa to Babylon so it could visit Marduk. consulted as oracles and used in occultic rituals.
Nebo’s emblems included the writing tablet and the Unknown God (Ac. 17:23). The Greeks inscribed an
writing stylus that was used to impress letters into clay idol with the name “the Unknown God.” Perhaps they
tablets. Some of the Babylonian kings were named for were admitting that they were unable to find God.
this god, including Nebuchadnezzar, which means
IDUMEA (territory of Edom). The Greek form of the
“Nebo protect the crown.” name of Edom, the “field of Edom,” or Mount Seir
Nehushtan. The brazen serpent of Numbers 21:8 was (“rugged”) whose original inhabitants were called
later set up as an idol by the Israelites. When king Horites from Hori the grandson of Seir, also because
Hezekiah destroyed it, he called it “Nehushtan,” a word Hori was descriptive of their name as troglodites or
word of contempt that means “a piece of brass” (2 Ki. dwellers in caves (Is. 34:5-6; Eze. 35:15; 36:5; Mk. 3:8).
18:4). [See Edom.]
Nergal (2 Ki. 17:30). An Assyrian and Babylonian IF SO BE. If (Jos. 14:12; 1 Co. 15:15).
god supposed to preside over the fortunes of war and
hunting. He was represented as part lion and part IGAL (deliverer). Nu. 13:7.
human. IGEAL (deliverer). 1 Ch. 3:22.
Nibhaz (2 Ki. 17:31). One of the idols introduced IGDALIAH (God is magnificent). Je. 35:4.
into Samaria after the deportation of the ten northern IGNOMINY. Shame; confusion (Pr. 18:3).
tribes. It was worshiped under the image of a dog. IGNORANCE. Unknowing; unaware; unwitting;
Nisroch. An eagle-headed god that was depicted in destitute of knowledge (Le. 4:2; Nu. 15:24; Ac. 17:30;
the Assyrian palaces. Sennacherib was worshiping this Ep. 4:18; 1 Pe. 1:14; 2:15).
idol when he was slain by two of his sons (2 Ki. 19:37; IIM (circles, heaps). Nu. 33:45.
Is. 37:38). IJEABARIM (the heaps of Mount Abarim). Nu.
Queen of Heaven (Je. 7:18; 44:17-19, 25). Astarte the 21:11; 33:44.
moon goddess. Several of the ancient goddesses, IJON (heap). 1 Ki. 15:20.
including Venus and Ishtar, were called the Queen of IKKESH (twisted, perverse) 2 Sa. 23:26.
Heaven. The Roman Catholic Church converted this
idolatry into veneration of Mary and the infant Jesus. ILAI (the shade of the Lord, elevated). 1 Ch. 11:29.
Remphan (Ac. 7:43). An astrological god associated ILL. (1) Imperfect; sickly (Ge. 41:20; De. 15:21). (2)
with Moloch. It was possibly the planet Saturn. It is Hurt; injury (Ps. 106:32; Ro. 13:10). (3) Stink (Joel
called Chiun in Amos 5:26. 2:20). [See Healing, Suffering, Trials.]
Rimmon (2 Ki. 5:18). A Syrian god associated with ILL FAVOURED. Imperfect; sickly; bad looking (Ge.
Baal. It was also called Hadad Rimmon, Hadad being 41:3, 4, 19, 20).
another name for Baal. ILLUMINATION. To enlighten; infusion of
Succothbenoth (2 Ki. 17:30). A Babylonian goddess intellectual light; an enlightening of the understanding
worshiped by “sacred prostitution.” Succothbenoth by knowledge, or the mind by spiritual light; the special
means “tents of daughters.” communication of knowledge to the mind by [God]
(Webster). It refers to the enablement God gives men so

308 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity