עזרא, פרק ב׳, פסוק כ״ט

The historical record of the return from the Babylonian exile carefully counts the people making the journey back to their homeland. Among these groups is a specific gathering of fifty-two individuals associated with Nebo.

The exact identity of Nebo can be understood in two distinct ways [אבן עזרא]. One approach suggests that Nebo is the name of a family patriarch. In this view, the fifty-two individuals are his direct descendants, grouped together by their shared ancestry. This mirrors the way other returning families are identified by their ancestral heads, such as Magbish, Elam, and Harim.

Alternatively, Nebo could refer to a physical place, specifically the city of Nebo, which is known for its proximity to Baal Meon. According to this perspective, the people are grouped by their city of origin rather than a shared ancestor. This aligns with other groups of returnees who are categorized by the towns they came from, such as Lod, Hadid, and Ono.