The feudal system lasted in the Lebanon far into the present century. In consequence of the massacres of 1860 the government of the mountains was reorganized, with a Christian governor under the general protection of the Powers. The popula- tion is about half a million, and eclattes the following sects, which are given as nearly as pos- sible in the order of their numbers, the most numerous being first :—
Maronites.
Greek Orthodox. Druzes.
Papal Greeks. Mutawileh. Mohammedans. Protestants.
Syriac and Armenian.
In general the Druzes are to be found south of the Beyrout river, while the stronghold of the Maronites is to the north. (lor details as to the Maronites, see PEF St, 1892, Bliss). Owing to recent efforts of missionaries, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, the number of schools is very large. The natural abilities of the Lebanese are decidedly above those of the rest of the peasantry in Syria and Palestine.
The Buka’.— The Lebanon is divided from the Anti-Libanus by a broad valley known in its southern part as the Buka' e/-Aziz, and in its northern part as Sall-Ba'albek. It is drained by two rivers, the Litdny (Leontes), which rises in the neighbourhood of Baalbek and flows south, and by the ‘Asi (Orontes), which rises a short distance farther north, and flows northward. The watershed is almost imperceptible. The Buka' proper is very fertile, and supports a large popula-
LEBBAEUS
tion in the villages scattered over it, and especially in the valleys along its sides. The northern end is much less fertile. (For the splendid ruins of Baalbek see ret. at end of this article). At its southern end the plain suddenly contracts into a narrow gorge, through which the Litany flows. Both the plain and Anti-Libanus are subject to the Governor of Damascus.
Anti-Libanus, Jth 17 only (᾿Αντιλίβανος. In Dt 17 3” 11% and Jos 14 9! the Heb. ¥23) is rendered by *Avri\lSavos).—The southern limit of Anti-Libanus may be conveniently placed at the Barada river and Damascus, leaving the mountains to the south to be considered xs part of the system of Mount Hermon. It runsroughly parallel to the Lebanon for 65 miles, terminating rather abruptly at the plain of Hums. The main ridge is separated from the plain of Ceele-Syria by a small plain and ridge at the north end; by a rough mass of low ridges, called Jebel Kusha'a, in the central part ; and by the plain of Zebedani with ridge in the southern
art. At the north the main ridge is narrow, but
roken by a series of prominent peaks ; the central mass is Δα ες higher, and rougher; while the southern part is diversified by long wadis leading off to the east, with a single wady (Hariri) leading to the south. To the east of the main ridge there is a descending series of plateaux, gradually dropping to the level of the plain of Damascus, and separated by five ridges which spread out somewhat like a fan, and which, if produced, would meet in the main mass of Hermon.
The highest plateau (alt. 5255 ft.), which is called “Asal el-Ward, drains northward, past the towns Yabrad and Nebk, and is watered by a num- ber of fine fountains. The principal peaks of the Anti-Libanus are: Halimat Kdbu (8250), Halimat Kérah (8150), and Halimat Kurrais (8150) at the northern end; 1 ἀἰα αἱ Mésa (8755) in the central mass; Abu el-Hin (8135) and the Bliddn ridge (S090) farther south. The only considerable streams of Anti-Libanus are the Yahfufah, empty- ing into the Litany ; Helbun, flowing eastward to the Damascus plain; and the Barada (Abana of Scripture). This important river has its main mney source in the south end of the plain of Zebedani, in a beautiful pool fed by many springs, but drains the whole of that plain; the volume of water is much more than doubled by the fountain of ‘Ain Fijeh, which joins it less than half-way to Damascus.
LITERATURE.—The geographical and geological descriptions are condensed from unpublished notes made by Professor West and Professor Day respectively, both of the Syrian Protestant College, Beyrout. The table of population is taken from the Book of Statistics of the Lebanon, published in Arabic, 1505, The reader may refer further to such works as Robinson, BR P2ii, 435 ff., 498; G. A. Smith, HGHL 458. ; Buhl, GAP 110; Burton and Drake, Unexplored Syria; de Saulcy, Journey round the Dead Sea, etc., ii. 558 ff. (especially on the ruins of Baalbek). F. J. Buiss.
LEBAOTH (nix3) perhaps ‘lionesses’).—A city in S. Judah, Jos 15%, Site unknown. It is called in Jos 19° Beth-lebaoth, and in 1 Ch 431 (perhaps by textual error) Beth-biri (wh. see).
C. R. CONDER.
LEBBAEUS (Λεββαῖος) is the name given to one of the Twelve in AV of Mt 10%, but rejected by RV as without sufficient authority. The reading and the meaning of the name will be fully discussec in art. THADDAUS. See also WH2, Notes, pp. 11, 24, 144, and Dalman, Worte Jesu, p.40. The greatest obscurity prevails regarding him, but the view which identifies him with the Thaddeus of Mk 318 and Mt 10°(RV), the Judas of James of Lk 61° and Ac 118, and the Judas, not Iscariot, of Jn 14%, may be accepted without serious hesitation. There are no refer- ences to him in NT except those in the lists of the Twelve and the question recorded by St. John, wh«