Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

LIBYA

(Gk. Libýē; Egyp. Libu)

The land and people occupying the area west of Egypt and Ethiopia. The Greeks used the name to designate the entire continent of Africa. Under the Romans, Libya was divided into two parts: Marmarica (east) and Cyrenaica (west). In 67 b.c.e. Cyrenaica (Libya superior) combined with Crete to form a province with its capital in Cyrene.

The progenitor of the Libyans is either Put (Gen. 10:6; 1 Chr. 1:8) or Lehabim (Heb. lĕhāḇîm; Gen. 10:13; 1 Chr. 1:11). The earliest history of Libya is provided by Egyptian sources from the Old Kingdom, in which we find references to the Tjehenu and Tjemehu. The dominant tribe in the New Kingdom were the Rbw (Libu). The Tjemehu and the Libu had several conflicts with Egypt during the reigns of Thutmose II, Sethi I, and Rameses III. Following this period, many Libyans served as mercenaries in the Egyptian army (cf. Dan. 11:43; Nah. 3:9). One of them, Shishak, rose to the rank of general and eventually seized the Egyptian throne, thus initiating the 22nd (Libyan) Dynasty. During the fifth year of Rehoboam, Shishak invaded Palestine and was successful in gaining temporary control over Judah and parts of Israel (1 Kgs. 14:25-26; 2 Chr. 12:3). Those Libyans who fought alongside Zerah and the Ethiopians were not as successful and were defeated by King Asa (2 Chr. 16:8).

Libyans in the NT include Simon of Cyrene (Matt. 27:32 par.), worshippers on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:10), persecutors of Stephen (6:9), and members of the church in Antioch (11:20; 13:1).

Keith A. Burton

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

LIBYA

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)