Canaan: 1. The fourth son of Ham
(Genesis 10:6) His descendants were under a
curse in consequence of the transgression of his father(Genesis 9:22-27) His eldest son, Zidon, was the father of the
Sidonians and Phoenicians. He had eleven sons, who were the
founders of as many tribes
(Genesis 10:15-18)
2. The country which derived its name from the preceding. The name
as first used by the Phoenicians denoted only the maritime plain
on which Sidon was built. But in the time of Moses and Joshua it
denoted the whole country to the west of the Jordan and the Dead
Sea
(Deuteronomy 11:30). In
(Joshua 5:12) the LXX. read, "land of the
Phoenicians," instead of "land of Canaan." The name signifies
"the lowlands," as distinguished from the land of Gilead on the
east of Jordan, which was a mountainous district. The extent and
boundaries of Canaan are fully set forth in different parts of
Scripture
(Genesis 10:19; 17:8; Numbers 13:29; 34:8)
(See CANAANITES)
(See PALESTINE)
