Lexical Summary Libnah: Libnah Original Word: לִבְנָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Libnah The same as libneh; Libnah, a place in the Desert and one in Palestine -- Libnah. see HEBREW libneh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom laben Definition a city in S.W. Judah, also a place in the wilderness NASB Translation Libnah (18). Brown-Driver-Briggs לִבְנָה proper name, of a location 1. city in southwest Judah, exact site unknown, captured by Joshua, according to D, Joshua 10:29 (twice in verse); Joshua 10:31,32,39; Joshua 12:15 (all D), Joshua 15:42 (P); Levitical city Joshua 21:13 (P) = 1 Chronicles 6:42; further 2 Kings 8:22 2Chronicles 21:10; 2 Kings 19:8 = Isaiah 37:8; 2 Kings 23:31; 2 Kings 24:18 = Jeremiah 52:1; ᵐ5 Λεβνα. See LagOnom. 274, 135, 26; 2nd ed. 273 Λεβνα; BuhlGeogr. 193. 2 station of Israel in wilderness, between רִמֹּן מָּ֑רֶץ and רִסָּה Numbers 33:20,21 (perhaps = לָבָן Deuteronomy 1:1); ᵐ5 Λεμωνα, A ᵐ5L Λεβωνα. Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Libnah appears as a town in the low hill country of Judah (Joshua 15:42), situated between Lachish and Makkedah. Archaeological proposals place it at modern-day Tel Burna or Tell el-Judeideh, on the western approach to the Judean highlands. Its position made it a strategic frontier fortress, commanding the ascent from the Philistine plain into Judah. Role in Israel’s Wilderness Journey The name is first recorded as a wilderness campsite when Israel departed “from Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah” (Numbers 33:20). The brief mention marks the steady progress of the redeemed nation toward Canaan and preserves Libnah’s association with God’s faithfulness in leading His people. Conquest under Joshua Libnah was the third city targeted in Joshua’s southern campaign immediately after Makkedah (Joshua 10:29-32). “Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah. And the LORD also delivered it and its king into the hand of Israel…Joshua left no survivors.” (Joshua 10:29-30) The complete defeat of Libnah’s king testified to the LORD’s sovereign judgment on Canaanite idolatry and His covenant loyalty to Israel (cf. Joshua 12:15). Subsequent references (Joshua 10:39; 10:32) treat Libnah as a benchmark for total victory: what God did at Jericho, He repeated at Libnah and beyond. Levitical and Priestly Association Following the conquest, Libnah became one of the thirteen priestly cities granted to the sons of Aaron (Joshua 21:13; 1 Chronicles 6:57). Its elevation from a condemned Canaanite stronghold to a sanctuary for temple ministers illustrates God’s redemptive purpose: places once devoted to darkness are reclaimed for holy service. Political Rebellion in the Divided Kingdom During the reign of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, “Libnah also revolted at the same time” that Edom threw off Judah’s control (2 Kings 8:22; 2 Chronicles 21:10). Scripture attributes the uprising to Jehoram’s apostasy, underscoring how national unfaithfulness invites unrest even within covenant territory. Assyrian Campaigns When Sennacherib pressed into Judah (701 BC), his forces shifted from Lachish to Libnah before confronting Jerusalem: “When the Rab-shakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish, he withdrew and found the king fighting against Libnah” (2 Kings 19:8; Isaiah 37:8). Libnah thus served as a staging ground for Assyria’s last push—soon halted by the LORD’s miraculous deliverance (2 Kings 19:35-37). Maternal City of Judah’s Last Kings Hamutal, mother of both Jehoahaz and Zedekiah, was “the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah” (2 Kings 23:31; 24:18; Jeremiah 52:1). The repeated notice roots the final monarchs of Judah in this priestly town, suggesting continuity with the Levitical heritage even as the kingdom hastened toward exile. Prophetic and Symbolic Overtones Though the text does not expound the meaning of the name in each context, Libnah (“whiteness”) evokes ideas of purity and light. Ironically, its history oscillates between divine favor (Levitical service, ancestral home of royal mothers) and divine judgment (Canaanite destruction, rebellion under Jehoram). The name therefore becomes a silent commentary on the nation itself: called to holiness, liable to defection, and ultimately sustained by the LORD who can “wash” and restore (Isaiah 1:18). Ministry Reflections 1. God reclaims territory: Libnah’s transformation from enemy city to priestly haven encourages believers to expect divine renewal in formerly hostile spaces. Key References Numbers 33:20-21; Joshua 10:29-32, 39; Joshua 12:15; Joshua 15:42; Joshua 21:13; 2 Kings 8:22; 2 Kings 19:8; 2 Kings 23:31; 2 Kings 24:18; 2 Chronicles 21:10; Isaiah 37:8; Jeremiah 52:1 Forms and Transliterations בְּלִבְנָֽה׃ בלבנה׃ לְלִבְנָ֖ה לְלִבְנָֽה׃ לִבְנָ֑ה לִבְנָ֖ה לִבְנָ֛ה לִבְנָ֥ה לִבְנָֽה׃ לִבְנָה֙ לבנה לבנה׃ ללבנה ללבנה׃ מִלִּבְנָ֑ה מִלִּבְנָ֖ה מִלִּבְנָֽה׃ מלבנה מלבנה׃ bə·liḇ·nāh bəliḇnāh belivNah lə·liḇ·nāh ləliḇnāh lelivNah liḇ·nāh liḇnāh livNah mil·liḇ·nāh milliḇnāh millivNahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 33:20 HEB: פָּ֑רֶץ וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּלִבְנָֽה׃ NAS: and camped at Libnah. KJV: and pitched in Libnah. INT: Rimmon-perez and camped Libnah Numbers 33:21 Joshua 10:29 Joshua 10:29 Joshua 10:31 Joshua 10:32 Joshua 10:39 Joshua 12:15 Joshua 15:42 Joshua 21:13 2 Kings 8:22 2 Kings 19:8 2 Kings 23:31 2 Kings 24:18 1 Chronicles 6:57 2 Chronicles 21:10 Isaiah 37:8 Jeremiah 52:1 18 Occurrences |
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