Libanon
Beskrywing
[= wit], 'n magtige bergreeks wat strek vanaf die Litani-rivier [of Lita] naby Tirus noordwaarts tot by die El-Kebir-rivier [in die oudheid Eleutherus] oor 'n lengte van 170 km. Die belangrikste van die talle plato's op die Libanon-bergreeks was die sogenaamde "Libanon-seders", d.w.s. die sedergebied, wat ongeveer 100 m² beslaan op 'n hoogte van ongeveer 3000 m. Die sederbos, wat bedreig is met totale vernietiging [in 1573 was daar net 24 bome, in 1810 reeds 375 en in 1884 397], is vandag net op die westelike helling op 'n hoogte van 2000 m. Dit is omring deur 'n hoë muur om dit te beskerm teen onwettige houtkap. Die samestelling van L. is meestal kalksteen. In die hoogtes versamel reënwater, wat in die warm maande uit die Libanon se ewige sneeu vloei [Jer 18:14 ]. Daar is egter geen gletsers op Libanon nie. Talle riviertjies bevloei die Libanon-dale en maak hulle vrugbaar vir weelderige plantegroei [Hoogl 4:15; Jes 35:2 ; 60:13]. Op die westelike helling van sentrale Libanon gedy moerbeie, olywe, vyebome, okkerneute, amandelbome, perskes en appelkose. Selfs granaatjies ryp hier. Op 'n hoogte van 1000-1500 m word wyn en tabak verbou. Volgens Hoogl 4:11 en Hos 14:7 gee L. 'n spesifieke geur af, waarskynlik van die aromatiese struike en blomme wat die grond volop bedek. Van die woude waaroor ou skrywers gesing het [2Kon 19:23 ; Ps 72:16 ; Jes 2:13 ; 10:34; 40:16; 60:13; Eseg 17:3 ; 31:15n; Sag 11:1 ], is daar skaars 'n spoor oor. In die oudheid is die hout van L. egter nie net gebruik vir die bou van tempels en paleise nie, maar ook vir die maak van skeepsmaste [Esra 3:7 ; Eseg 27:5 ]. In die plek van die woude het ryk weivelde ontstaan, wat dien vir talle troppe skape en bokke. Van die wilde diere kom bere, jakkalse, hiënas, wilde varke en gazelle voor [2Kon 14:9 ; Hoogl 4:8]. In grotte is oorblyfsels van mense sowel as takbokke, gemsbokke, reeën en grotleesleeus gevind. L. was 'n natuurlike skuilplek weens sy ontoeganklikheid.
Daar word vertel dat Salomo - net soos ander oosterse heersers in verskillende tye - sederhout van L. laat afvoer het vir die bou van die tempel in Jerusalem [1Kon 5:6 ]. Dit lyk egter of hy hier ook geboue opgerig het [1Kon 9:19 ], moontlik selfs yster gedelf het en meer.
Parallel aan L. loop vanaf die Hermonberg die sogenaamde Antilibanon, geskei van L. deur die Bika-vallei, wat 8-14 km breed is. Deur hierdie vallei vloei die Nahr-el-Litani na die suide en die Orontes na die noorde. Die lengte van die vallei is 120 km. Die middelste deel daarvan is baie vrugbaar.
L. het die noordwestelike grens van die beloofde land gevorm [Deut 1:7 ; 11:24; Jos 1:4 ; 11:17; 12:7; 13:5].
Bybelse Woordeboek van Adolf Novotný
skakels
Street View
Kaart
inligting uit woordeboek
Lebanon
white, "the white mountain of Syria," is the loftiest and most celebrated mountain range in Syria. It is a branch running southward from the Caucasus, and at its lower end forking into two parallel ranges, the eastern or Anti-Lebanon, and the western or Lebanon proper. They enclose a long valley (Josh 11:17) of from 5 to 8 miles in width, called by Roman writers Coele-Syria, now called el-Buka'a, "the valley," a prolongation of the valley of the Jordan.
Lebanon proper, Jebel es-Sharki, commences at its southern extremity in the gorge of the Leontes, the ancient Litany, and extends north-east, parallel to the Mediterranean coast, as far as the river Eleutherus, at the plain of Emesa, "the entering of Hamath" (Num 34:8 ; 1Kings 8:65), in all about 90 geographical miles in extent. The average height of this range is from 6,000 to 8,000 feet; the peak of Jebel Mukhmel is about 10,200 feet, and the Sannin about 9,000. The highest peaks are covered with perpetual snow and ice. In the recesses of the range wild beasts as of old still abound (2Kings 14:9; Cant 4:8). The scenes of the Lebanon are remarkable for their grandeur and beauty, and supplied the sacred writers with many expressive similes (Ps 29:5 ; 29:6; 72:16; 104:16-18; Cant 4:15; Isa 2:13; 35:2; 60:13; Hos 14:5 ). It is famous for its cedars (Cant 5:15), its wines (Hos 14:7 ), and its cool waters (Jer 18:14 ). The ancient inhabitants were Giblites and Hivites (Josh 13:5; Judg 3:3). It was part of the Phoenician kingdom (1Kings 5:2-6).
The eastern range, or Anti-Lebanon, or "Lebanon towards the sunrising," runs nearly parallel with the western from the plain of Emesa till it connects with the hills of Galilee in the south. The height of this range is about 5,000 feet. Its highest peak is Hermon (q.v.), from which a number of lesser ranges radiate.
Lebanon is first mentioned in the description of the boundary of Palestine (Deut 1:7 ; 11:24). It was assigned to Israel, but was never conquered (Josh 13:2-6; Judg 3:1-3).
The Lebanon range is now inhabited by a population of about 300,000 Christians, Maronites, and Druses, and is ruled by a Christian governor. The Anti-Lebanon is inhabited by Mohammedans, and is under a Turkish ruler.
EBD - Easton's Bible Dictionary