Parbar
Parbar is a structure mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Jerusalem. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
The Parbar is a somewhat mysterious structure mentioned in 1 Chronicles 26:18 in connection with the organization of the Levitical gatekeepers during David's preparations for the temple. The text states that at the Parbar on the west side, there were four gatekeepers at the road and two at the Parbar itself. The Hebrew word parbar (or parwar) appears to denote a colonnade, annex, or open court on the western side of the temple precinct. Some scholars connect it to the Persian word meaning "having light" or "open area," suggesting it may have been a portico or forecourt exposed to the elements. The term also appears in 2 Kings 23:11, where some translations render it as "precincts" in describing the location where horses dedicated to the sun were kept before Josiah's reforms. The Parbar's inclusion in David's careful organization of temple service demonstrates the meticulous planning that went into every aspect of Israel's worship, even the gatekeeping duties at secondary structures surrounding the main sanctuary complex.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
The exact nature and location of the Parbar remain uncertain, as the term occurs only in these limited biblical contexts. Since it was situated on the western side of the temple complex, it would have been located somewhere along the western wall of the Temple Mount platform in Jerusalem. No structure has been positively identified archaeologically as the Parbar, partly because the western side of the Temple Mount has seen continuous monumental construction from the First Temple through the Herodian period and beyond. The Septuagint transliterates rather than translates the term, suggesting the Greek translators were uncertain of its meaning. Some scholars compare it to similar structures found at other ancient Near Eastern temples, where subsidiary courts or colonnades served administrative and ceremonial functions.
Verse Appearances (1)
1Chr
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →