Labaya

Lab'aia ( Labaya, Labayu or Lib'ayu ) is called in the Amarna letters ruler of Shechem in the Middle Bronze Age. He lived partly simultaneously with Pharaoh Akhenaten. He himself wrote several letters to the Pharaoh (EA 252-254 ). The Amarna tablets are so far the only evidence for these rulers in Canaan.

According to Egyptian sources Lab'aia tried constantly to move into the lowlands and expand his territory in all directions. So he threatened Gezer and Jerusalem, and also tried to extend his rule in the Jezreel Valley and to annex the surrounding city-states such as Megiddo, Jerusalem, Gaza and Acre.

Finally, other Canaanite vassals of Egypt participated under the leadership of men of Gila caught him and killed him at the behest of Pharaoh. However, put the sons of Labaia, among them Mutbaal, the fight against the neighboring states continued. The passages prove that the northern hill country of Ephraim, in the Middle Bronze Age had a significant military and economic potential.

Various authors attempt was made Labaia to identify with biblical figures, such as with Abimelech ben Gideon, even with Saul. In the latter with complete displacement of the biblical chronology ( as David Rohl ), which was hardly accepted by other authors.