Kanah
“Reed, or place of reeds”
Summary
The name of both a stream forming the boundary between Ephraim and Manasseh, and a town in the territory of Asher in northern Palestine.
☩The Brook Kanah
The brook (or wady) Kanah served as part of the boundary between the tribal territories of Ephraim and Manasseh. The border of Ephraim went westward from Tappuah to the brook Kanah, ending at the Mediterranean Sea, while Manasseh's border ran southward of the brook. The name means "reeds" or "place of reeds," aptly describing a stream with sedgy banks. Modern scholars generally identify it with Wady Kanah, which originates southwest of Shechem and flows westward through Wady Ishkar, eventually joining the Aujeh and reaching the sea not far north of Jaffa. The stream lay within Manasseh's territory, though the towns on its southern bank were assigned to Ephraim.
☩The Town of Kanah
A separate location named Kanah was a town in the northern part of the territory assigned to the tribe of Asher, mentioned in connection with Hammon and Zidon. This town has been identified with the modern village of Kana (or Qana), located about seven miles southeast of Tyre. Near the village are very ancient ruins, some of colossal proportions, and in the side of a nearby ravine are some singular figures of men, women, and children cut on the face of a cliff, believed to be Phoenician in origin. This Kanah should not be confused with Cana of Galilee, where Jesus performed his first miracle.
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Kanah," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Kanah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Kanah," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Kanah," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).