Lebanon

Today, our journey through biblical locations brings us to Le•va•non, Lebanon. Although not a part of Israel, Lebanon is mentioned 71 times in the Bible. Several times it is a reference to the region located north of Israel that was ruled by the Sidonians. Lebanon was not a name of a country during the biblical era, just a geographical region. Interestingly, many times Lebanon is used in the Bible as a metaphor to glory, beauty, strength, and excellence. Here is an example of Lebanon as a region in the words of Moses to God:

“I beg you, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that goodly mountain region, and Lebanon”

The most ‘prestigious’ trees in the Bible are ‘the cedars of Lebanon.’

“The righteous flourish like the palm tree; they grow like a cedar in Lebanon”

Another example of Lebanon as glory:

“The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the maple, and the box tree, together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious”

Here’s an example of vitality:

“I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall flower like the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon”

The next verse is an example of pleasure:

“His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like the Lebanon”

and the next is example of excellence:

“Those who dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive like the grain, and blossom like the vine; their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon”

Lebanon is a metaphor for wonderful scent:

“Your lips, O my bride, distil like the honeycomb; honey and milk are under your tongue; and the scent of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon”

Lebanon as beauty:

“His legs are like pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold; his countenance is like Lebanon, excellent like the cedars”

Lebanon as state-of-the art quality:

“And all the drinking utensils of King Solomon were of gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver; silver was counted as nothing in the days of Solomon”

It seems that Lebanon represents the best attributes in the Bible. No wonder that from all biblical names, Lebanon has the highest number of locations in North America. You’ll find Lebanon in: Connecticut, Tennessee, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, Maine, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oregon, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Virginia, and Wisconsin (two towns).