Lubims
Summary
An ancient North African people dwelling west of Egypt, also known as Libyans, who contributed soldiers to Egyptian armies and eventually founded a dynasty under Shishak in the tenth century BC.
☩Identity and Location
The Lubim were a people inhabiting North Africa, west of Egypt, in the region later known as Libya. Their territory possibly extended far beyond Cyrenaica along the African coast. On Egyptian monuments, representations of a people called Rebu or Lebu correspond to the Lubim, confirming their location on the African coast westward of Egypt. The name itself may mean 'dwellers in a thirsty land,' reflecting the arid nature of their homeland. In the New Testament period, this region was referred to as 'the parts of Libya about Cyrene.'
☩Military Alliances with Egypt
The Lubim are mentioned in Scripture primarily as military allies of Egypt. They contributed soldiers, along with Cushites (Ethiopians) and Sukkiim, to Pharaoh Shishak's army when he invaded Judah during the reign of Rehoboam. This force of twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen plundered Jerusalem and the fortified cities of Judah. Later, the Lubim apparently formed, with the Cushites, the bulk of Zerah the Ethiopian's massive army of a million men and three hundred chariots that marched against King Asa of Judah.
☩Alliance with Thebes
The prophet Nahum, when pronouncing judgment on Nineveh, reminded Assyria of the fate of No-amon (Thebes), which had Ethiopia and Egypt as its strength, with Put and Lubim as its helpers. Despite these powerful allies, Thebes fell to Assyria, demonstrating that no alliance could stand against God's purposes. This passage groups the Lubim with Phut (Put), both being North African peoples allied with Egypt and Ethiopia.
☩The Libyan Dynasty
On three different occasions the Libyans invaded Egypt, and at length, in the tenth century BC, they succeeded in founding an Egyptian dynasty. This dynasty was established under Shishak, the same pharaoh who later invaded Judah and plundered Jerusalem's temple treasures during Rehoboam's reign. The Lubim thus transitioned from being mercenaries and allies of Egypt to becoming its rulers for a period.
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Lubim," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Lubim," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).