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
(Joshua 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"
(Numbers 34:8)
(1 Kings 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
(2 Kings 14:9; The Song of Solomon 4:8) The scenes
of the Lebanon are remarkable for their grandeur and beauty, and
supplied the sacred writers with many expressive similes
(Psalms 29:5,6)
(Psalms 72:16; 104:16-18; The Song of Solomon 4:15)
(Isaiah 2:13; 35:2; 60:13; Hosea 14:5) It is
famous for its cedars
(The Song of Solomon 5:15) its wines
(Hosea 14:7) and its cool
waters
(Jeremiah 18:14) The ancient inhabitants were Giblites and
Hivites
(Joshua 13:5; Judges 3:3) It was part of the Phoenician kingdom
(1 Kings 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
(Deuteronomy 1:7)
(Deuteronomy 11:24) It was assigned to Israel, but was never conquered
(Joshua 13:2-6; Judges 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
Muslims, and is under a Turkish ruler.
