Libnah

Libnah was a city mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). It is generally identified as an Israelite city in the Shephelah region, assigned to the tribe of Judah, and later designated as a Levitical city belonging to the Kohathites.

Biblical Significance:

• Conquest: Libnah was one of the cities conquered by Joshua and the Israelites during their invasion of Canaan (Joshua 10:29-30). The text describes its inhabitants as being completely devoted to destruction, similar to Jericho and Lachish.

• Rebellion: During the reign of King Jehoram of Judah, Libnah revolted (2 Kings 8:22, 2 Chronicles 21:10). The reason for this rebellion is stated to be because Jehoram had forsaken the Lord, the God of his ancestors.

• Royal Marriage: Hamutal, the mother of King Jehoahaz and King Zedekiah of Judah, was from Libnah (2 Kings 23:31, 24:18, Jeremiah 52:1). This highlights Libnah's position as a place of some prominence.

• Assyrian Threat: During the reign of King Sennacherib of Assyria, Libnah was among the cities besieged by the Assyrian army (2 Kings 19:8, Isaiah 37:8). Sennacherib left Lachish to fight against Libnah.

Location:

The precise location of ancient Libnah remains uncertain, but it is generally placed in the northern part of the Shephelah region, based on its proximity to other cities mentioned in the biblical narratives, such as Lachish and Makkedah. Tell Bornat is a leading candidate for the site of Libnah.

Possible Meanings:

The name "Libnah" is thought to be derived from a Semitic root meaning "whiteness" or "pavement."