Easton's Bible Dictionary

(Kiana) #1

  • CAMPHIRE (Hebrews copher), mentioned in Cant. 1:14 (R.V.,
    “henna-flowers”); 4:13 (R.V., “henna”), is the al-henna of the Arabs, a
    native of Egypt, producing clusters of small white and yellow odoriferous
    flowers, whence is made the Oleum Cyprineum. From its leaves is made
    the peculiar auburn dye with which Eastern women stain their nails and
    the palms of their hands. It is found only at Engedi, on the shore of the
    Dead Sea. It is known to botanists by the name Lawsonia alba or inermis, a
    kind of privet, which grows 6 or 8 feet high. The margin of the Authorized
    Version of the passages above referred to has “or cypress,” not with
    reference to the conifer so called, but to the circumstance that one of the
    most highly appreciated species of this plant grew in the island of Cyprus.

  • CANA reedy, a town of Galilee, near Capernaum. Here our Lord wrought
    his first miracle, the turning of water into wine (John 2:1-11; 4:46). It is
    also mentioned as the birth-place of Nathanael (21:2). It is not mentioned
    in the Old Testament. It has been identified with the modern Kana el-Jelil,
    also called Khurbet Kana, a place 8 or 9 miles north of Nazareth. Others
    have identified it with Kefr Kenna, which lies on the direct road to the Sea
    of Galilee, about 5 miles north-east of Nazareth, and 12 in a direct course
    from Tiberias. It is called “Cana of Galilee,” to distinguish it from Cana of
    Asher (Joshua 19:28).

  • CANAAN (1.) The fourth son of Ham (Genesis 10:6). His descendants
    were under a curse in consequence of the transgression of his father
    (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
    (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,
PALESTINE.)

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