Reference: Libnah
American
A city in the western part of Judah, not far from Lachish, conquered by Joshua from the Canaanites, and assigned to the priests, Jos 10:29-30; 15:42; 21:13; 1Ch 6:57. Its inhabitants revolted against the idolatrous and cruel Jehoram, 2Ch 21:10. It was a strongly fortified place, and under its walls the Assyrian army was miraculously cut off, 2Ki 19:8-9,35.
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Easton
transparency; whiteness. (1.) One of the stations of the Israelites in the wilderness (Nu 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 (Jos 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.
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Fausets
("whiteness".)
1. The Blanche Garde of the crusaders (Stanley). A city in the shephelah or low hills S.W. of Palestine, 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" (Jos 10:29-30,32-39; 12:15; 15:42; 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" (2Ki 8:22; 2Ch 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 (2Ch 21:10; 2Ki 8:18; Jos 15:42; 21:13), an undesigned propriety confirming the truth.
After Lachish Sennacherib besieged Libnah, and there heard of what alarmed him, Tirhakah's advance (2Ki 19:8; Isa 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 (Isa 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 (2Ki 23:31; 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 (Palestine Exploration, July, 1875) identifies it with Belt Jibrin. Warren (Palestine 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 Palestine Exploration Quarterly Statement, January, 1878, p. 19.
2. A station of Israel between Sinai and Kadesh, the fifth after Sinai. The Laban of De 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.
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Hastings
1. An unidentified station in the desert wanderings (Nu 33:20). 2. A Canaanite city taken by Joshua after Makkedah and before Lachish (Jos 10:29 etc.), named between Arad and Adullam (Jos 12:16), and between Makkedah and Ether in the Sheph
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Morish
Lib'nah
1. One of the stations at which the Israelites encamped. Nu 33:20-21.
2. City in the south-west taken by Joshua and its inhabitants totally destroyed. It was allotted to Judah and was afterwards given to the priests. It revolted from Jehoram. Afterwards it was besieged by Sennacherib, but apparently was not taken. Jos 10:29-39; 21:13; 1Ch 6:57; 2Ch 21:10; Isa 37:8; Jer 52:1. Not identified.
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Smith
Lib'nah
(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.
In the reign of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat it "revolted" form Judah at the same time with Edom.
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.
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Watsons
LIBNAH, a city in the southern part of the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:42, of which a cession was made to the priests for their habitation, and which was declared a city of refuge, 1Ch 6:57.