Bible Dictionaries
Libnah

Holman Bible Dictionary

(lihb' nuh) Place name meaning “white” or “storax tree.” 1. Wilderness station east of the Jordan (Numbers 33:20 ). Its location is not known; Umm Leben 66 miles south of Haradah has been suggested. See Joshua 10:29-30 ). Joshua allotted it to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:42 ) and separated it as a city for the Levites (Joshua 21:13 ). It illustrated western border rebellion against King Joram of Judah (853-841 B.C.) just as Edom represented rebellion in the east (2 Kings 8:22 ). It lay on the invasion route to Jerusalem followed by Sennacherib about 701 B.C. (2 Kings 19:8 ). The mother of Kings Jehoahaz (609 B.C.) and Zedekiah (597-586 B.C.) came from Libnah (2 Kings 23:31; 2 Kings 24:18 ). Debate rages concerning Libnah's location: tell es-Safi at the head of the Elah Valley appears too far north; tell Bornat just west of Lachish; tell el-Judeideh, usually identified as Moresheth-gath. Tell Bornat is the most popular candidate but far from certain.