Libnah

In Bible versions:

Libnah: NET AVS NIV NRSV NASB TEV

a place where Israel encamped
a town in the western foothills of Judah 12 km SE of Gath & 23 km NE of Hebron

---

white; whiteness ( --> same as Libni)

Google Maps: Libnah (1) (31° 33´, 34° 50´); Libnah (2) (31° 48´, 34° 56´)

Hebrew

Strongs #03841: hnbl Libnah

Libnah = "pavement"

1) a royal city of the Canaanites in the southwest captured by
Joshua; allocated to Judah and made a Levitical city; site unknown
2) a station between Sinai and Kadesh of Israel during their wilderness
wanderings

3841 Libnah lib-naw'

the same as 3839; Libnah, a place in the Desert and one in
Palestine:-Libnah.
see HEBREW for 03839

Libnah [EBD]

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 [NAVE]

LIBNAH
1. A station of the Israelites in the desert, Num. 33:20.
2. A city of Judah, captured by Joshua, Josh. 10:29-32, 39; 12:15.
Allotted to the priests, Josh. 21:13; 1 Chr. 6:57.
Seacherib besieged; his army defeated near, 2 Kin. 19:8, 35; Isa. 37:8-36.

LIBNAH [SMITH]

(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)

LIBNAH [ISBE]

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 (Dt 1:1).

See WANDERINGS OF ISRAEL.

(2) A town in the Shephelah of Judah (Josh 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" (Josh 10:29-31; 12:15). It was one of the cities given to the "children of Aaron" (Josh 21:13; 1 Ch 6:57). In the reign of Joram, Libnah joined the Edomites in a revolt against the king of Judah (2 Ki 8:22; 2 Ch 21:10). In the reign of Hezekiah, Libnah was besieged by Sennacherib (2 Ki 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 (2 Ki 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.

E. W. G. Masterman