Tag: Canaanites

It wasn’t Canaanite Land

Posted on by jovial_cynic

Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanites were in the land at that time.
Genesis 12:6 (NASB)

The rabbis note that this mention of the Canaanites in Genesis 12 is meant to tell you about their incursion into the land, not their habitation of it.

How do we know this?

Because in two chapters, we’ll meet the King of Salem, or Jerusalem, priest of God Most High. This land is his.

And Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.
Genesis 14:18 (NASB)

If the Canaanites are now in the land that belongs to Melchizedek, we are being told that they are the invaders.

But this isn’t just a story about land. It’s our hearts. This describes the human condition.

The Sons of Canaan are Everywhere

Posted on by jovial_cynic
In the previous chapter, we were told that the Canaanites were in the land. This time, it’s the Canaanites AND the Perizzites.

For historical context: the Canaanites lived in cities. “Perizzites” refers to rural villagers, who did not live in cities.

Perhaps the Canaanites represent the sin in our hearts, and this tells us that this sin doesn’t merely present itself in the obvious big ways, but also in the small ways. The less obvious ways.

And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.
Genesis 13:7 (NKJV)