Dictionaries :: Libnah

Libnah:

transparency; whiteness. (1.) One of the stations of the Israelites in the wilderness (Num 33:20,21).

(2.) One of the royal cities of the Canaanites taken by Joshua (Jos 10:29-32; 12:15). It became one of the Levitical towns in the tribe of Judah (21:13), and was strongly fortified. Sennacherib laid siege to it (2Ki 19:8; Isa 37:8). It was the native place of Hamutal, the queen of Josiah (2Ki 23:31). It stood near Lachish, and has been identified with the modern Arak el-Menshiyeh.

Libnah:

white; whiteness

Libnah:

lib'-na (libhnah "whiteness," "transparency," "pavement" (compare Ex 24:10 where libhnath, is translated "paved work" or a "compact foundation"); Lebna):

(1) A desert camp of the Israelites between Rimmon-perez and Rissah (Nu 33:20,21). Probably the same as Laban (De 1:1).

See WANDERINGS OF ISRAEL.

(2) A town in the Shephelah of Judah (Jos 15:42). "Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah: and Yahweh delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel..... And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it" (Jos 10:29-31; 12:15). It was one of the cities given to the "children of Aaron" (Jos 21:13; 1Ch 6:57). In the reign of Joram, Libnah joined the Edomites in a revolt against the king of Judah (2Ki 8:22; 2Ch 21:10). In the reign of Hezekiah, Libnah was besieged by Sennacherib (2Ki 19:8; Isa 37:8). The wife of King Josiah was "Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah," she was the mother of Jehoahaz and Zedekiah (2Ki 23:31; 24:18; Jer 52:1).

The site of this important stronghold remains unknown. In the Eusebius, Onomasticon it is described, under the name Lobana or Lobna, as near Eleutheropolis (Beit Jebrin). All the indications point to a site in the Southwest of the Shephelah, not very far from Lachish. The Palestine Exploration Fund surveyors suggested (PEF, III, 259) the commanding site ‘Arak el Menshiyeh, or rather the white chalky mound 250 ft. high to the North of this village, and Stanley proposed Tell es Cafi. (Both these identifications are due to the interpretation of Libnah as meaning "whiteness.") In the PEFS (1897, Sh XX) Conder suggests a ruin called el Benawy, 10 miles Southeast of Lachish.

Written by E. W. G. Masterman

Libnah: 1. A Station of the Israelites in the Desert

Num 33:20

Libnah: 2. A City of the Tribe of Judah

Captured by Joshua,

Jos 10:29-32, 39; 12:15.

Allotted to the priests,

Jos 21:13; 1Ch 6:57.

Sennacherib besieged; his army defeated near,

2Ki 19:8, 35; Isa 37:8-36.

Libnah:

(whiteness).

(1.) A royal city of the Canaanites which lay in the southwest part of the Holy Land, taken by Joshua immediately after the rout of Beth‐horon. It was near Lachish, west of Makkedah. It was appropriated with its "suburbs" to the priests (Joshua 21:13; 1 Chronicles 6:57). In the reign of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat it "revolted" form Judah at the same time with Edom (2 Kings 8:22; 2 Chronicles 21:10). Probably the modern Ayak el‐Menshiyeh.

(2.) One of the stations at which the Israelites encamped on their journey between the wilderness of Sinai and Kadesh (Numbers 33:20-21).