In biblical times, the name Lebanon was applied to a mountain range in Syria and loosely to the adjoining regions (Joshua 13:5). The name is also that of a modern republic.
The Lebanon range is a ridge almost 160 kilometers long, following the southwest to northeast trend of the Phoenician coast from behind Sidon north. Lebanon was above all famous for its former dense forest cover. The coastland and lower mountain-slopes support garden-cultivation, olive groves, vineyards, fruit-orchards (mulberries, figs, apples, apricots, walnuts) and small cornfields. Higher still rises the forest-cover of myrtles and conifers, culminating in the groves of mighty cedars, of which, alas, only one or two isolated groves survive (because of excessive deforestation).
Lebanon's cedars [2 Nephi 12:13] and conifers (firs, cypresses, etc.) furnished the finest building timber in the ancient East, sought by the rulers of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Syria-Palestine alike. The mighty cedars were apt symbols of majesty and strength in biblical imagery; cf. Judges 9:15; 1 Kings 4:33; 2 Kings 14:9; Psalms 92:12; Isaiah 35:2; 60:13. They were also symbols of earthly pride subject to divine wrath; cf. Psalms 29:5-6; Isaiah 2:13; 10:34; Jeremiah 22:6. [Tyndale House, The Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Vol. 2, p. 891-893] [See 2 Nephi 24:8]
2 Nephi 12:13 Cedars of Lebanon ([Illustration]): (1) The Lebanon range of mountains. (2) Snow-capped mountain ridges in Lebanon with cedars at Kadesh. (3) Cedar trees in the Lebanon hills. [Tyndale House, The Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Vol. 2, pp. 892-893]
2 Nephi 12:13 The Cedars of Lebanon ([Illustration]): A stand of cedars of Lebanon, east of Byblos. Mature cedars of Lebanon have large trunks and branches that spread out horizontally. In biblical times abundant forests of cedars flourished in the mountains of Lebanon, but now they are sparse. Multiple ancient Near Eastern kingdoms imported cedars of Lebanon to use in many of their fine buildings. Hiram, king of Tyre, through an agreement with King Solomon, transported cedars to Jerusalem for Solomon's temple. Kings David and Solomon each used cedar in the construction of their personal residences. Photograph by Arnold H. Green. [Donald W. Parry, Visualizing Isaiah, p. 121]
1 Nephi 12:13 Cedars of Lebanon: ([Illustration]) Snow-capped Mountain ridges in the lebanon with cedars at Kadesh. (MephA)
1 Nephi 12:13 Cedars of Lebanon ([Illustration]) Cedar trees in the Lebanon Hills.