Etymology and Meaning:
The name "Kanah" is derived from the Hebrew word "קָנֶה" (qaneh), which means "reed" or "stalk." This etymology suggests a connection to a watercourse or a place where reeds grow, which is consistent with its geographical context in the biblical narrative.

Biblical References:
Kanah is mentioned in the Old Testament as a significant geographical landmark within the tribal allotments of the Promised Land. It appears in the context of the territorial boundaries of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.

1. Joshua 16:8 : "From Tappuah, the border went westward to the Brook of Kanah and ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, according to their clans."

2. Joshua 17:9 : "Then the border went down to the Brook of Kanah. South of the brook, these cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh. The border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook and ended at the sea."

Geographical Significance:
Kanah is identified as a brook or stream that served as a boundary marker between the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh. The brook flows westward, eventually reaching the Mediterranean Sea. Its mention in the delineation of tribal borders underscores its importance as a natural landmark in the ancient landscape of Canaan.

Historical and Theological Context:
The division of the land among the tribes of Israel, as described in the Book of Joshua, reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham regarding the inheritance of the land (Genesis 15:18-21). The precise delineation of borders, including natural features like the Brook of Kanah, highlights the ordered and divinely sanctioned distribution of the land. This allocation was not only a matter of practical governance but also a testament to God's faithfulness and the establishment of Israel as a nation under His covenant.

Cultural and Symbolic Aspects:
In the biblical narrative, watercourses such as the Brook of Kanah often symbolize life, sustenance, and boundaries. The presence of reeds and the flowing water would have been vital for agriculture and daily life in the region. Symbolically, the brook represents the division and unity of the tribes, as it served both as a boundary and a shared resource.

Archaeological Insights:
While the exact identification of the Brook of Kanah remains uncertain, it is generally associated with the Wadi Qana, a valley in the modern-day West Bank. Archaeological surveys in the region have uncovered evidence of ancient settlements and agricultural activity, supporting the biblical depiction of the area as a fertile and inhabited land.

Conclusion:
Kanah, as a geographical and symbolic feature in the biblical narrative, serves as a testament to the historical and theological themes of land, promise, and divine providence. Its mention in the context of tribal boundaries underscores the importance of natural landmarks in the ancient Near Eastern understanding of territory and inheritance.Kanah

of reeds

Kanah

(a place of reeds).

1. One of the places which formed the landmarks of the boundary of Asher; apparently next to Zidon-rabbah, or "great Zidon." (Joshua 19:28)
2. The river, a stream falling into the Mediterranean, which formed the division between the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh, the former on the sought, the latter on the north. (Joshua 16:8; 17:9)

Kanah

1. A brook which separated Ephraim and Manasseh, and fell into the Mediterranean north of Joppa, Joshua 16:8 17:9.

2. A town in the tribe of Asher, Joshua 19:24,28. See CANA.

Reedy; brook of reeds.

(1.) A stream forming the boundary between Ephraim and Manasseh, from the Mediterranean eastward to Tappuah (Joshua 16:8). It has been identified with the sedgy streams that constitute the Wady Talaik, which enters the sea between Joppa and Caesarea. Others identify it with the river' Aujeh.

(2.) A town in the north of Asher (Joshua 19:28). It has been identified with `Ain-Kana, a village on the brow of a valley some 7 miles south-east of Tyre. About a mile north of this place are many colossal ruins strown about. And in the side of a neighbouring ravine are figures of men, women, and children cut in the face of the rock. These are supposed to be of Phoenician origin.

KANAH

ka'-na (qanah, "reeds"):

(1) The name of a "brook," i.e. wady, or "torrent bed," which formed part of the boundary between Ephraim and Manasseh (Joshua 16:8; Joshua 17:9). The border of Ephraim went out westward from Tappuah to the brook Kanah, ending at the sea; the border of Manasseh from Tappuah, which belonged to Ephraim, "went down unto the brook of Kanah, southward of the brook." There seems no good reason to doubt the identification of "the brook Kanah" with the modern Wady Kanah. The transition from the heavy "q" to the lighter "k" is easy, so the phonetic difficulty is not serious. The stream rises in the Southwest of Shechem, flows through Wady Ishkar, and, joining the `Aujeh, reaches the sea not far to the North of Jaffa. Guerin, influenced, apparently, by the masses of reeds of various kinds which fill the river, argues in favor of Nahr el-Fallq, to the North of Arsuf. He identifies it with Nahr el-Kasab, "river of reeds," mentioned by Beha ed-Din, the Moslem historian. But this last must be identified with Nahr el-Mafjir, 13 miles farther North, too far North for "the brook Kanah."

(2) A town on the northern boundary of Asher (Joshua 19:28), probably identical with the village of Qana, about 7 miles Southeast of Tyre (SWP, I, 51, 64, Sh I).

W. Ewing

3655. kanah -- to title, give an epithet
... 3654, 3655. kanah. 3656 . to title, give an epithet. Transliteration: kanah
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-naw') Short Definition: flatter. ... kanah. 3656 . ...
/hebrew/3655.htm - 6k

7071. Qanah -- a wadi between Ephraim and Manasseh, also a city in ...
... Qanah. 7072 . a wadi between Ephraim and Manasseh, also a city in Asher.
Transliteration: Qanah Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-naw') Short Definition: Kanah. ... Kanah. ...
/hebrew/7071.htm - 6k

3674. kenath -- associate, colleague
... companion. From kanah; a colleague (as having the same title) -- companion. see
HEBREW kanah. 3673, 3674. kenath. 3675 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/3674.htm - 6k

3656. Kanneh -- probably a place in Babylon
... Word Origin from kanah Definition probably a place in Bab. NASB Word Usage Canneh
(1). Canneh. For Kalneh; Canneh, a place in Assyria -- Canneh. ...
/hebrew/3656.htm - 6k

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... of Machir and Jair migrated one after the other to the east of the Lake of Gennesaret,
while that of Nobah proceeded as far as the brook of Kanah, and thus ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Kanah (3 Occurrences)
... face of the rock. These are supposed to be of Phoenician origin. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. KANAH. ka'-na (qanah, "reeds"): (1 ...
/k/kanah.htm - 9k

Outgoings (21 Occurrences)
... Joshua 16:8 From Tappuah the border goeth westward unto the brook of Kanah, and
its outgoings have been at the sea: this 'is' the inheritance of the tribe of ...
/o/outgoings.htm - 12k

Tappuah (8 Occurrences)
... neighboring spring. Tappuah was to the South of Michmethath, and the border
ran from here westward to the brook Kanah. Some would ...
/t/tappuah.htm - 11k

Torrent (49 Occurrences)
... and its coast. (DBY). Joshua 16:8 From Tappuah the border went westwards
to the torrent Kanah, and ended at the sea. This is the ...
/t/torrent.htm - 22k

Ravine (26 Occurrences)
... by Medeba; (DBY). Joshua 16:8 From Tappuah the border went along westward
to the brook of Kanah; and ended at the sea. This is the ...
/r/ravine.htm - 14k

Ending (22 Occurrences)
... the Jordan. (See RSV). Joshua 16:8 From Tappuah the line goes on to the
west to the river of Kanah; ending at the sea. This is the ...
/e/ending.htm - 13k

Hammon (2 Occurrences)
... ham'-on (chammon, "glowing"): (1) A place on the seaward frontier of Asher, named
with Rehob and Kanah (Joshua 19:28), to be sought, therefore, not far from ...
/h/hammon.htm - 8k

Goings (42 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV YLT). Joshua 16:8 The border went out from Tappuah westward unto
the river Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. ...
/g/goings.htm - 22k

Limits (69 Occurrences)
... sea. (WBS). Joshua 16:8 The border went out from Tappuah westward to the
river Kanah; and the limits of it were at the sea. This ...
/l/limits.htm - 27k

Ephraim (168 Occurrences)
... Beth-horon and Gezer toward the sea (16:3; in verse 5 it stops at upper Beth-horon);
it turned northward to the southern bank of the brook Kanah (Wady Kanah...
/e/ephraim.htm - 56k

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