Bible Dictionaries
Lebo-Hamath

Holman Bible Dictionary

(lee' boh-hay' math) Place name meaning “entrance to or to come to Hamath.” KJV, RSV translate; other modern translations transliterate the Hebrew name. Many modern interpreters think Lebo-hamath was an independent city in the city-state dominated by Hamath in Syria. It could be Lebwe north of Baalbek or Labau east of the Jordan. If a definite city is not meant, Lebo-hamath would represent the territory bordering the northwestern part of the Orontes River. Lebwe is close to the Litani River about 43 miles north of Damascus. Whatever its precise location, Lebo-hamath represented the northern boundary of Canaan promised to Israel (Numbers 13:21; compare Ezekiel 48:1 ), not conquered by Joshua (Joshua 13:5; Judges 3:3 ), controlled by David (1 Chronicles 13:5 ) and Solomon (1 Kings 8:65 ), and restored to Israel by Jeroboam II about 793-753 B.C. (2 Kings 14:25; compare 2 Kings 13:25 ). Amos predicted complete defeat for Israel starting at Lebo-hamath (2 Kings 6:14 ).