Canaan
CANAAN
Name of Phoenicia-Palestine before the coming of the Hebrews, who, led by Abraham around 1790 b.c.e., saw this as the land promised to them by God. The name Canaan comes from the word kinahu, which means a region where the population has mastered the technique of purple dyeing. According to Biblical tradition, the Israelites established themselves in the land of Canaan after leaving Egypt twice: the first time led by Abraham, around 1800 b.c.e., the second by Moses, five hundred years later. From this later date, the Hebrews lived there in stable settlements until the breakup of the Kingdom of Judah. Many cities were built in the natural highlands of the country, including Megiddo, Hebron, Sh'khem (Nablus), Gezer, and Salem (Jerusalem, Urusalimu). Although they had sworn loyalty to the religion of Moses, some Hebrews borrowed religious customs from the Canaanites, even worshipping their gods, such as Baal and Astarte. Toward the year 1004 b.c.e., David conquered the city of Salem, inhabited by the Jebuseans, and under the name of Jerusalem made it the capital of the kingdom of Israel. The reign of Solomon (968–928 b.c.e.) marked the apogee of Israelite royalty, exemplified by the construction of the Temple, which housed the Ark of the Covenant. According to the Bible, Canaan was the son of Shem and the eponymous ancestor of the Canaanites.
SEE ALSO Abraham;Baal;Bible;Hebrews;Hebron;Israelite;Jerusalem;Moses.