Reference: Lehabim

See LIBYA.

Or "the Lubim", western neighbours to the Egyptians (Ge 10:13); the Rebu or Lebu of the monuments; the Libyans in Roman phrase. They served in the Egyptian armies (2Ch 12:3; 16:8; Na 3:9; Da 11:43). The modern Tuariks and Berbers, aborigines of N. Africa, dwelling in the desert and sides of Atlas.

LEHABIM, occurring only in Ge 10:18 (= 1Ch 1:11), are descendants of Mizraim, the Egyptian eponym. The general opinion is that they are the same as the Lubim (wh. see), whether the word is an alternative traditional pronunciation of the name of this people, or whether, as is more probable, the form here given is due to textual corruption. The fact that Lubim or Libyans is a fairly common word, and that it is not found in the ethnological list of Ge 10, where it would naturally appear in the place of Lehabim, adds something to the evidence of identity. Perhaps Ludim (wh. see) in the same verse is another variant.

J. F. M'Curdt.

Leha'bim

Son of Mizraim. Ge 10:13; 1Ch 1:11. Probably the founder of the Lubim. See LIBYA.

Le'habim

(fiery, flaming), occurring only in

Ge 10:13

the name of a Mizraite people or tribe. There can be no doubt that they are the same as the Rebu or Lebu of the Egyptian inscriptions,a nd that from them Libya and the Libyans derived their name. These primitive Libyans appear to have inhabited the northern part of Africa to the west of Egypt, though latterly driven from the coast by the Greek colonists of the Cyrenaica.