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•LEBONAH frankincense, a town near Shiloh, on the north side of Bethel (Judges 21:19). It has been identified with el-Lubban, to the south of Nablus.‌‌‌

•LEEK (Hebrews hatsir; the Allium porrum), rendered “grass” in 1 Kings 18:5, 2 Kings 19:26, Job 40:15, etc.; “herb” in Job 8:12; “hay” in Proverbs 27:25, and Isaiah 15:6; “leeks” only in Numbers 11:5. This Hebrew word seems to denote in this last passage simply herbs, such as lettuce or savoury herbs cooked as kitchen vegetables, and not necessarily what are now called leeks. The leek was a favourite vegetable in Egypt, and is still largely cultivated there and in Palestine.

•LEES (Hebrews shemarim), from a word meaning to keep or preserve. It was applied to “lees” from the custom of allowing wine to stand on the lees that it might thereby be better preserved (Isaiah 25:6). “Men settled on their lees” (Zephaniah 1:12) are men “hardened or crusted.” The image is derived from the crust formed at the bottom of wines long left undisturbed (Jeremiah 48:11). The effect of wealthy undisturbed ease on the ungodly is hardening. They become stupidly secure (comp. Psalm 55:19; Amos 6:1). To drink the lees (Psalm 75:8) denotes severe suffering.

•LEFT HAND among the Hebrews, denoted the north (Job 23:9; Genesis 14:15), the face of the person being supposed to be toward the east.

•LEFT-HANDED (Judges 3:15; 20:16), one unable to use the right hand skilfully, and who therefore uses the left; and also one who uses the left as well as the right, ambidexter. Such a condition of the hands is due to physical causes. This quality was common apparently in the tribe of Benjamin.

•LEGION a regiment of the Roman army, the number of men composing which differed at different times. It originally consisted of three thousand men, but in the time of Christ consisted of six thousand, exclusive of

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