Bible Dictionary
Parbar
Parbar was a place or open colonnade connected with the temple precincts, probably on the west side. It appears in the assignments of the temple gatekeepers.
Definition
Parbar was a place connected with the temple precincts, apparently an open apartment, colonnade, or portico exposed to the light. It may also have been a space between the temple wall and the court wall, with chambers opening into it.
Biblical Usage
Parbar is mentioned in the assignment of the temple gatekeepers, with four appointed at the causeway and two at Parbar. The related plural term is used for a location connected with the house of Nathan-melech.
Historical Background
Parbar was probably situated on the west side of the temple enclosure, possibly in the suburb or deep valley separating the western temple wall from the city.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1 Chr. 26:18), a place apparently connected with the temple, probably a “suburb” (q.v.), as the word is rendered in 2 Kings 23:11; a space between the temple wall and the wall of the court; an open portico into which the chambers of the official persons opened (1 Chr. 26:18).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(open apartment), a word occurring in Hebrew and Authorized Version only in (1 Chronicles 26:18) It would seem that Parbar was some place on the west side of the temple enclosure, probably the suburb mentioned by Josephus as lying in the deep valley which separated the west wall of the temple from the city opposite it.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>par'-bar (parbar (1Ch 26:18), and parwarim, translated "precincts" (the King James Version "suburbs" in 2Ki 23:11); Septuagint pharoureim): In 1Ch 26:18 reference is made to the position of the gatekeepers, "for Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar." The word is supposed to be of Persian origin, connected with Parwar, meaning "possessing light," and hence, the meaning has been suggested of "colonnade" or "portico," some place open to the light. In the plural form (2Ki 23:11) the situation of the house of "Nathan-melech" is described, and the translation, "in the colonnades," should, if the above origin is accepted, be more correct than English Versions of the Bible. It is difficult to understand the occurrence of a Persian word at this time, and it has been suggested (EB, col 3585) that the word is a description of the office of Nathan-melech, ba-parwarim being a misreading for ba-peradhim, meaning "who was over the mules."</p><p>E. W. G. Masterman</p>