Bible Meaning: Whiteness, white mountain
Strong's Concordance #H3844
Lebanon was the name of a mountain range, north of Israel, which separated Phoenicia (Tyre, Sidon, etc.) from Syria. The range and its sister range, the Anti-Lebanon mountains, run parallel to the Mediterranean coast. The land between these ranges was known as "the valley of Lebanon" (Joshua 12:7).
Near the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon range lies Mount Hermon (Jabal ash-Shaykh) which rises 9,232 feet (2,814 meters) above sea level. Hermon denoted the northern most point, east of the Jordan River, that God gave the tribe of Manasseh as a Promised Land inheritance (Deuteronomy 1:7, Joshua 12:1, 1Chronicles 5:23).
The general area of Lebanon, at the time of Joshua, was populated with Hivites and Giblites (Judges 3:3, Joshua 13:5 - 6). Although the Israelites took Mount Hermon (Joshua 11:16 - 17) they were unable to conquer other northern areas including Tyre and Sidon (Judges 3:1 - 3).
Beautiful and lush
Moses pleaded with God to allow him to enter the Promised Land and view the spectacular Lebanon mountains. His request was denied, however, and he was only allowed to view Israel's inheritance from east of the Jordan (Deuteronomy 3:23 - 27).
King Solomon purchased cedar trees from Lebanon for Jerusalem's temple (1Kings 5). The timbers from this area were so beautiful that after the king finished the temple he built a magnificent royal building using them known as "the house of the forest of Lebanon" (1Kings 7:2).
When the temple was rebuilt, at the time of Ezra, cedars from Lebanon were again used in the construction (Ezra 3:7).
The area around these mountains were well known for their lush forests of fir, pine and tall cedar trees (Isaiah 2:13, 37:24, 60:13). The location was also known for its fragrant wine (Hoshea 14:7).
Important verses
Deuteronomy 1:7
Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.
Deuteronomy 3:23, 25
And I (Moses) besought the LORD at that time, saying . . . I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.
Deuteronomy 11:24
Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.
Joshua 13:6
All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.
1Kings 5:6
Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon: and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.
1Kings 7:2
He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon: the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.
Psalm 29:6
He maketh them also to skip like a calf: Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
Psalm 92:12
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Isaiah 60:13
The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary: and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
Hosea 14:6
His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.