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libnah Summary and Overview

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libnah in Easton's Bible Dictionary

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 (Josh. 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 (2 Kings 19:8; Isa. 37:8). It was the native place of Hamutal, the queen of Josiah (2 Kings 23:31). It stood near Lachish, and has been identified with the modern Arak el-Menshiyeh.

libnah in Smith's Bible Dictionary

(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. #Jos 21:13; 1Ch 6:57| In the reign of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat it "revolted" form Judah at the same time with Edom. #2Ki 8:22; 2Ch 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. #Nu 33:20,21|

libnah in Schaff's Bible Dictionary

LIB'NAH (whiteness). 1. The fifth station at which Israel encamped on their journey from Sinai; situated between Rimmon-parez and Rissah, Num 33:20-21, but not yet identified. 2. A city of Canaan, in the lowland of Judah, was taken by Joshua, Josh 10:29-32,Gen 36:39; Jud 12:15, and assigned to the priests. Josh 15:42; Josh 21:13; 1 Chr 6:57; revolted against Joram, 2 Kgs 8:22; 2 Chr 21:10; was besieged by Sennacherib, 2 Kgs 19:8; Isa 37:8; and has been identified by some with Arak-el-Menshiyeh, and by others with Tell-es-Safieh.

libnah in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

("whiteness".) 1. The Blanche Garde of the crusaders (Stanley). A city in the shephelah or low hills S.W. of Israel, taken by Joshua, though not one of the leagued cities, because he would not leave so strong a city unsubdued in his rear, after destroying Makkedah on his way to Lachish. A priests' city with its "suburbs" (Joshua 10:29-30; Joshua 10:32-39; Joshua 12:15; Joshua 15:42; Joshua 21:13). It revolted from Judah at the same time as Edom, in the reign of Jehoram, Jehoshaphat's son, "because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers" (2 Kings 8:22; 2 Chronicles 21:10-11). Its remoteness from the capital, which Jehoram had corrupted into idolatry, and the presence of the sacred ministers in it, made its people desire separation from the idolaters; hence its revolt, as the scripture quoted implies. The explanation of the revolt, though satisfactory, is one inferred from comparing independent scriptures (2 Chronicles 21:10; 2 Kings 8:18; Joshua 15:42; Joshua 21:13), an undesigned propriety confirming the truth. After Lachish Sennacherib besieged Libnah, and there heard of what alarmed him, Tirhakah's advance (2 Kings 19:8; Isaiah 37:8). Rabshakeh joined him there, and probably brought with him the portion of the Assyrian army which had been before Jerusalem. At Libnah near Egypt G. Rawlinson thinks the miraculous destruction of the Assyrian army took place: not at Jerusalem; so Jehovah's promise (Isaiah 37:33), "Sennacherib shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields "; then verse 36 will mean, "when they (Sennacherib and the surviving Assyrians) arose early in the morning, behold they (the smitten Assyrians) were all dead corpses." Herodotus (ii. 141) gives the Egyptian story, that Sennacherib retreated from Pelusium, the Egyptian gods having sent field mice which gnawed their bowstrings and shield straps, a corruption of Jehovah's promise above. Hamutal, Josiah's queen, mother of Jehoahaz and Zedekiah, was of Libnah (2 Kings 23:31; 2 Kings 24:18.) E. Wilton identifies Libnah with Lebben, five miles S. of Gaza, near the northern bank of wady Sheriah, a good point from which Sennacherib could watch Tirhakah's advance from the Egyptian quarter. The smallness of the remains is due to the buildings having been of large sun-dried bricks, soon disintegrating, not stone. Condor (Israel Exploration, July, 1875) identifies it with Belt Jibrin. Warren (Israel Exploration, July, 1875) identifies Libnah with Ibna, a ruin on a hill at the sea coast, between Jaffa and Ashdod, and identical with Jabneel or Jabnab. As Libnah was a priests' town, so Jamnia became latterly the seat of the Sanhedrin and head quarters of Hebrew learning. Libnah (whiteness) perhaps is named from some natural feature, as white poplars; as Rithmah is from retem "the juniper." El Benawy is mentioned for it in Israel Exploration Quarterly Statement, January, 1878, p. 19. 2. A station of Israel between Sinai and Kadesh, the fifth after Sinai. The Laban of Deuteronomy 1:1, near the Arabah and Elanitic gulf. Now el Beyaneh ("the distinct.," Arabic), part of the mountain plateau and valley W. of the Arabah.