Introduction:
Chebar is a significant river mentioned in the Old Testament, particularly in the Book of Ezekiel. It holds historical and theological importance as the location where the prophet Ezekiel received visions from God during the Babylonian exile.

Biblical References:
The Chebar River is primarily referenced in the Book of Ezekiel. The prophet Ezekiel, a priest and a prophet, was among the Jewish exiles taken to Babylon. It is by the Chebar that Ezekiel received his divine visions. The Berean Standard Bible provides several references to this location:

· Ezekiel 1:1 : "In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the River Chebar, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God."
· Ezekiel 3:15 : "Then I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who lived by the River Chebar. And I sat there among them for seven days, overwhelmed."

Historical Context:
The Chebar River is believed to be a canal or tributary of the Euphrates River, located in the region of ancient Babylonia. This area was part of the Babylonian Empire, which conquered Jerusalem and led many Israelites into captivity around 597 BC. The river served as a geographical marker for the Jewish exiles, who settled in communities along its banks.

Theological Significance:
The Chebar River is more than a geographical location; it is a place of profound spiritual revelation. It is here that Ezekiel experienced theophanies, or appearances of God, which are foundational to his prophetic ministry. The visions received by the river include the famous vision of the "wheel within a wheel" and the appearance of the glory of the Lord (Ezekiel 1:4-28). These visions conveyed messages of judgment and hope, emphasizing God's sovereignty even in exile.

Ezekiel's Ministry:
Ezekiel's prophetic ministry began by the Chebar River, where he was called to be a "watchman" for the house of Israel (Ezekiel 3:17). His messages were directed towards the exiles, offering both warnings of impending judgment and promises of future restoration. The Chebar thus serves as a backdrop for Ezekiel's role as a mediator between God and His people during a time of national crisis.

Symbolism and Imagery:
The visions at the Chebar are rich in symbolism, reflecting the complex relationship between God and His people. The imagery of the divine chariot, the living creatures, and the wheels signifies God's omnipresence and omnipotence. These visions reassured the exiles of God's continued presence and involvement in their lives, despite their physical separation from the land of Israel.

Conclusion:
The Chebar River, while a physical location in ancient Babylonia, represents a spiritual landmark in the biblical narrative. It is a place where divine revelation intersected with human history, offering insights into God's character and His plans for His people. Through Ezekiel's experiences by the Chebar, the exiles were reminded of God's enduring faithfulness and the hope of eventual redemption.Chebar

force or strength

Chebar

(length), a river in the "land of the Chaldeans." (Ezekiel 1:3; 3:15,23) etc. It is commonly regarded as identical with the Habor, (2 Kings 17:6) and perhaps the Royal Canal of Nebuchadnezzar, --the greatest of all the cuttings in Mesopotamia.

Chebar

A river which rises in the northern part of Mesopotamia, and flows first southeast, then south and southwest, into the Euphrates. It was called Chaboras by the Greeks; now Khabour. On its fertile banks Nebuchadnezzar located a part of the captive Jews, and here the sublime visions of Ezekiel took place, Ezekiel 1:3; 3:15; 10:15; 43:3.

Length, a river in the "land of the Chaldeans" (Ezek. 1:3), on the banks of which were located some of the Jews of the Captivity (Ezek. 1:1; 3:15, 23; 10:15, 20, 22). It has been supposed to be identical with the river Habor, the Chaboras, or modern Khabour, which falls into the Euphrates at Circesium. To the banks of this river some of the Israelites were removed by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:6). An opinion that has much to support it is that the "Chebar" was the royal canal of Nebuchadnezzar, the Nahr Malcha, the greatest in Mesopotamia, which connected the Tigris with the Euphrates, in the excavation of which the Jewish captives were probably employed. CHEBAR

ke'-bar (kebhar, "joining" (Young), "length" (Strong); Chobar): 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: chabhor could not be derived from kebhar. One of the great Babylonian canals is doubtless intended. Hilprecht found mention made of (naru) 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. shaTT en-Nil, in which probably we should recognize the ancient Chebar.

W. Ewing

3529. Kebar -- a river of Bab.
... Transliteration: Kebar Phonetic Spelling: (keb-awr') Short Definition: Chebar. Word
Origin from kabar Definition a river of Bab. NASB Word Usage Chebar (8). ...
/hebrew/3529.htm - 6k

Ezekiel's vision (Preached Before the Queen at Windsor, June 16 ...
... EZEKIEL i.1, 26. Now it came to pass, as I was among the captives by the river of
Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. ...
/.../the water of life and other sermons/sermon ix ezekiels vision preached.htm

Ezekiel and Daniel.
... BC597. He had a home on the river Chebar where the Elders of Judah were accustomed
to meet. His wife died in the ninth year of his captivity. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter xvii ezekiel and daniel.htm

The Four Gospels.
... The cherubic figures which the prophet saw in his exile on the banks of the Chebar,
symbolize the divine attributes of majesty and strength reflected in the ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 78 the four gospels.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... Bel-Merodach to spread throughout the country, the Bel of Nippur became known as
the "older Bel." Nippur was watered by the canal Kabaru, the Chebar of Ezekiel ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

And V the Kingdom Undivided and the Kingdom Divided
... Draw map, showing the two kingdoms and their capitals, also the regions of Assyria
and Babylon. Let the map include the Tigris, Euphrates and Chebar Rivers. ...
/.../palmer/a birds-eye view of the bible/iv and v the kingdom.htm

The Captivity of Judah.
... by many canals. It was on the river, or canal, Chebar (Ez.1:1.3; 3:15,
etc.) which ran southeast from Babylon to Nippur. It was ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xv the captivity of.htm

The Spokesman of God.
... And young Isaiah that morning in the temple, and Ezekiel in the colony of exiles
on the Chebar, and Daniel by the Tigris at the close of his three weeks' fast ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/the spokesman of god.htm

Light through Darkness
... Through Jeremiah in Jerusalem, through Daniel in the court of Babylon, through Ezekiel
on the banks of the Chebar, the Lord in mercy made clear His eternal ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 38 light through darkness.htm

A Common Mistake and Lame Excuse
... Human nature was very much the same in the exiles that listened to Ezekiel
on the banks of the Chebar and in Manchester to-day. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/a common mistake and lame.htm

Letter Xlvi. Paula and Eustochium to Marcella.
... the waves of this world, and to ford its rivers; those by which the saints sat down
and wept when they remembered Zion, [943] and Chebar's flood, whence ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xlvi paula and eustochium.htm

Chebar (8 Occurrences)
... banks of this river some of the Israelites were removed by the Assyrians (2 Kings
17:6). An opinion that has much to support it is that the "Chebar" was the ...
/c/chebar.htm - 10k

Tel-abib (1 Occurrence)
... Telabib, Tel-abib. Telah . Easton's Bible Dictionary Hill of corn, a place
on the river Chebar, the residence of Ezekiel (Ezek. 3:15). The site is unknown. ...
/t/tel-abib.htm - 8k

Telabib (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Hill of corn, a place on the river Chebar, the
residence of Ezekiel (Ezek. 3:15). The site is unknown. Int. ...
/t/telabib.htm - 8k

Cherubims (19 Occurrences)
... (KJV). Ezekiel 10:15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living
creature that I saw by the river of Chebar. (KJV). Ezekiel ...
/c/cherubims.htm - 11k

Appearances (10 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 10:22 As for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I saw
by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves; they went every one ...
/a/appearances.htm - 9k

Facedown (20 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 3:23 And I rise and go forth unto the valley, and lo, there the honour of
Jehovah is standing as the honour that I had seen by the river Chebar, and I ...
/f/facedown.htm - 12k

Visions (43 Occurrences)
... 1:1 Now it happened in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day
of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the ...
/v/visions.htm - 20k

Beings (42 Occurrences)
... (BBE NAS). Ezekiel 10:15 And the winged ones went up on high: this is the
living being which I saw by the river Chebar. (See NAS). ...
/b/beings.htm - 18k

Exiles (46 Occurrences)
... 1:1 Now it happened in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day
of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the ...
/e/exiles.htm - 20k

Check (9 Occurrences)

/c/check.htm - 11k

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