LEBANON (16b7a-non), (Heb. leb-atu nohn', white from the snow on its peaks), a famous mountain in the south of Syria, and north of Canaan. When taken at large, it is about three hundred miles in circumference, and consists of two large mountains, Lebanon or Libanus, and Antilibanus. Hills of less elevation run from it in every direction (Hos. xiv :5). Its streams ren dered the ridi soil of the valleys extremely pro ductive. The lower zone was covered with vines (verses 6, 7), but the mountains were most noted for their forests of gigantic cedars. Fir trees or cypresses also abounded (I Kings v :6-1o; 2 Kings xix :23 ; Is. xl :16 ; lx :13 ; Zech. xi 2). Lions and leopards roamed in the woods (2 Kings xiv :9; Cant. iv :8).
Lebanon is remarkable for the grandeur and beauty of its scenery, and supplied the sacred writers with many expressive figures (Ps. lxxii : 16; civ :16-18; Cant. iv:15; Is. ii:13 ; xxxv:2; lx: 13; Hos. xiv :5). (See LIBANus.) FiguratiVe. Lebanon is used to symbolize that which is strong, great and beautifu/. (1) Jesus Christ, and his church, are likened to Lebanon, for their spiritual comeliness and per petual flourish, and for their fragrancy and fruit fulness (Cant. v :t5 ; Ps. lxxii :16; Is. xxxv :2 and
lx :13; Hos. xiv :5-7). (2) Jerusalem, and the temple thereof, are called Lebanon, because much built of the cedars of Lebanon; and the houses of Jerusalem were so many and high as to re semble the forest of Lebanon (Hab. ii:z7; Zech. xi:t ; Ezek. xvii :3; Jer. xxii:23). (3) Sennache rib's army, and the Assyrian empire, are called Lebanon. How great was once their glory and strength ! but how cut down at last by the axe of God's judgments! (Is. x:34; Ezek. xxxi :3, is, 16). (4) "Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be esteemed a forest." The Gentile nations shall become a flourishing church, and the Jews shall be cast out, and live without God, and without Christ, and without hope in the world (Is. xxix:t7 and xxxii:15). (5) To go up to Lebanon and Ilashan, or Mount Gilead, and cry, signifies, that the Jews would have none to help them (Jer. xxii :23).
LEBAOTH (1613'a-eth), (Heb.
lions), a place which formed one of the last groups of southern cities possessed by the tribe of Judah (Josh. xv:32); probably the same as BETH LEBAOTH XIX:6).