Libanus

Lib’anus. See Lebanon.

LIBANUS.—The (Greek) form of the (Heb.) name Lebanon (wh. see), 1Es 4:48; 1Es 5:65, 2Es 15:20, Jdt 1:7, Sir 24:13; Sir 50:12 [all].

(Semitic root, laban)

Mountain, Syria, so called from the snow which covers the highest peaks during almost the entire year, or from the limestone which glistens white in the distance. It is the center of the great mountain range of central Syria, which is about 95 miles long, and consists of two parallel mountain chains of the same formation; the western, or Lebanon proper, and the eastern, or Antilibanus. In the latter, Mount Hermon reaches the height of 9300 feet Lebanon is often mentioned poetically in the Old Testament (Osee 14; Nahum 1), and is noted for its abundance of wood, especially the cedar (Zachariah 11; 1 Esdras 3), which was used by Solomon in building the Temple (3 Kings 5).

lib´a-nus. See LEBANON.