The Canaanites, an ancient people inhabiting the land of Canaan, are frequently mentioned throughout the Old Testament as the original inhabitants of the Promised Land. By the time of our Lord Jesus Christ, the descendants of the Canaanites had largely assimilated into the broader cultural and ethnic landscape of the region, yet their legacy persisted in various forms.

Historical Background

The Canaanites were descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham, as recorded in Genesis 10:15-18: "Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites." These tribes occupied the land that God promised to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:5-7).

Canaanites in the Old Testament

The Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, were commanded to conquer the land of Canaan and drive out its inhabitants (Deuteronomy 7:1-2). However, the complete expulsion of the Canaanites was not achieved, and remnants of these peoples continued to live among the Israelites, often leading them into idolatry and sin (Judges 1:27-33).

Canaanites in the New Testament Era

By the time of Jesus, the term "Canaanite" was not commonly used to describe a distinct ethnic group. However, the cultural and religious influences of the Canaanites persisted in the region. The Syrophoenician woman mentioned in Mark 7:26 is often identified as a descendant of the Canaanites. The Berean Standard Bible states, "The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She kept asking Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter." This encounter highlights the continued presence and influence of Canaanite-descended peoples in the areas surrounding Israel.

Cultural and Religious Influence

The Canaanites were known for their polytheistic religion, which included the worship of Baal and Asherah. These practices were a constant temptation for the Israelites, leading to repeated cycles of apostasy and repentance throughout the Old Testament. The influence of Canaanite religion can be seen in the syncretistic practices that persisted among some Jewish communities even into the New Testament period.

Geographical Presence

In the time of Jesus, the regions historically associated with the Canaanites, such as Tyre and Sidon, were part of the Roman province of Syria. These areas were known for their diverse populations, including descendants of the Canaanites, Greeks, and other groups. Jesus Himself visited these regions, as recorded in Matthew 15:21: "Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon."

Legacy

The legacy of the Canaanites in the time of our Lord is seen in the cultural and religious diversity of the region. While the distinct identity of the Canaanites had largely faded, their historical and spiritual impact continued to shape the interactions and challenges faced by Jesus and His followers. The presence of Canaanite-descended peoples in the Gospels serves as a reminder of the enduring complexity of the land's history and the inclusive nature of Jesus' ministry, which reached beyond ethnic and cultural boundaries.Matthew 15:22
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried to him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, you son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Mark 7:26
The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she sought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Healing a Phoenician Woman's Daughter.
... It was some twenty-eight miles long with an average ... The Canaanites founded Sidon
(Genesis 10:19), and the Phoenicians were their descendants.] And she ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxvii healing a phoenician womans.htm

The Census of Israel
... every saint here may be succeeded by his own descendants! ... was more able than Moses
to fight the Canaanites and conquer ... They lived on, some of them, for all the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the census of israel.htm

Conclusion
... The Canaanites had a will when they determined to prevent ... to be His mouthpiece in
calling some of His ... sparing a remnant all of Adam's descendants had perished ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the sovereignty of god/conclusion.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Reprobation
... if there were some of Adam's descendants to whom ... not Jehovah command Israel to teach
the Canaanites His laws ... reasons are given why God makes some "vessels unto ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter five the sovereignty of.htm

Questions.
... 10. By what names were the descendants of Esau called? ... 8. Who were the chief gods
of the Canaanites? ... Mention some of the martyrs of the Diocletian persecution. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/questions.htm

Chapter xxxviii
... At least some such reason for his going "away ... or whether easygoing friendship with
Canaanites lay at ... for the definite information of the descendants of Shelah ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxviii.htm

The Universality of Actual Grace
... wicked and impenitent of nations, the Canaanites, as a ... ruin which it entailed upon
his descendants are attributable ... only refuse to believe that some men are by ...
/.../pohle/grace actual and habitual/section 3 the universality of.htm

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs.
... for the guidance of their descendants, forecasts of ... is supposed to embrace some chief
topic ... The Canaanites, Philistines (Kappadokes), and Hittites shall perish ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the testaments of the twelve.htm

Chapter xxii
... upon the child sacrifices of the Canaanites or upon ... on the father's part causes some
restraint between ... shall bless themselves by thy descendants, because thou ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxii.htm

The Incarnation and Birth of Christ
... so completely, that we are willing, as their descendants, to take ... Some have doubted
its being consistent with the free ... was about to drive out the Canaanites, lo ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the incarnation and birth of.htm

Why did God condone such terrible violence in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org

How is the Islamic idea of jihad different from the violence in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of the land of Canaan in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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