Lebonah
Lebonah is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Samaria in modern-day Israel. Known today as Khan el Lubban. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Lebonah appears in Judges 21:19, where it serves as a geographical reference point in one of the most unusual episodes in the book of Judges. Following the near-annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin in civil war, the remaining Israelites devised a plan to provide wives for the surviving Benjamite men. The elders directed the Benjamites to hide in the vineyards near Shiloh, where 'the yearly feast of the Lord' was held, and seize dancing women as wives. The text locates this event with unusual precision: 'Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah' (Judges 21:19). Lebonah's inclusion as a directional marker suggests it was a well-known settlement. The town lay along the important north-south route through the central hill country connecting Jerusalem to Shechem. While Lebonah plays no active role in the narrative, its use as a landmark connects it to this pivotal moment when Israel sought to preserve the twelve-tribe structure despite catastrophic internal conflict.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Lebonah is confidently identified with Khan el-Lubban (also called Lubban esh-Sharqiya), a village in the central hill country of Samaria, approximately five kilometers northwest of Shiloh. The ancient name is well preserved in the Arabic toponym. The site sits along the historic road from Jerusalem to Shechem, matching the biblical description perfectly. Archaeological surveys have found pottery from multiple periods including the Iron Age, confirming habitation during the period of the Judges. The village overlooks a fertile valley with terraced hillsides still used for agriculture, particularly olive cultivation. The proximity to Shiloh, Israel's central sanctuary during the pre-monarchic period, made Lebonah a natural landmark for describing the location of the annual festival.
Verse Appearances (1)
Judg
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →