Libya

Libya (corresponding to the Hebrew Put or Phut) in the Old Testament denotes the North African territory west of Egypt, populated by descendants of Ham through Put (Gen. 10:6). Libyan troops served as mercenaries in Egyptian armies and are mentioned among Shishak's forces who invaded Judah (2 Chr. 12:3) and among the allied nations in Ezekiel's Gog and Magog oracle (Ezek. 38:5). In the New Testament, Cyrene was the principal city of the region; Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus' cross (Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26) came from this part of Libya, and men from Libya were present at Pentecost (Acts 2:10).