LEBNA (Hebr. Libhnáh; Greek Λεχνά, Λοχνά). — A city of Palestine situated between Maceda and Lachis (Ios. 10:29–31). Captured by Joshua (Ios. 10:30, 39; 12:15), it was assigned to the Levites (Ios. 21:13; I Par. 6:57). It became independent by revolting against Judah under Ioram (II Reg. 8:22; II Par. 21:10). It seems to have had a fortress which Sennacherib, while fighting against Ezechia, captured on his return from Lachis (II Reg. 19:8; Is. 37:8). It was the birthplace of the mother of Ioachaz and of Sedecia, kings of Judah (II Reg. 23:31; 24:18).
According to the Onom. (120, 25), the city seems to have been called Lobna in the Byzantine period. Its identification is disputed: some locate it at Tell es-Sāfijeh, called Alba specula by the Crusaders because of the concept of “whiteness” expressed by the name L., and where excavations have revealed remains dating from 1700 to the Seleucid period; others prefer to locate L. at Tell Bornāt, 9 km farther south than the preceding site, where remains from the Bronze III or Iron I periods have been found.