Kanah
Ka'nah
(Heb. Kanah', קָנָהֹ, reedy; Sept. Κανά v. r. Κανθάν), the name of two places in Palestine.
1. A stream (נִחִל, torrent or wady, q. d. "the brook of reeds," as in the marg.) that formed the boundary between Ephraim and Manasseh, from the Mediterranean eastward to the vicinity of Tappuah (Jos 16:8); lying properly within the territory of Manasseh, although the towns on its southern bank were assigned to the tribe of Ephraim (Jos 17:9; see Keil, Comment. ad loc. prior.). SEE TRIBE. Schwarz says it is to be still found in the equivalent Arabic name Wady al-Kazah (valley of reeds), that rises in a spring of the same name, Ain al-Kazah, one mile west of Shechem, and, after flowing westerly, acquiring a considerable breadth, and irrigating fields on its way, finally falls into the Mediterranean south of Caesarea (Palestine, p. 51). Other travellers, however, do not speak of such a stream unless it be the Nahr el-Kezib (river of reeds) .spoken of in the Life of Saladin (p. 191, 193) as existing between Caesarea and Arroplo (Arsuf), and supposed to be represented by the Nahr-Arsuf (otherwise el- Kassah) which enters the Mediterranean due west of Sebustieh (Samaria). Dr. Robinson, in his last visit to Palestine, discovered a Wady Kanah, south-west of Shechem, which he describes as originating in a spring of the same name in the; plain el-Mukhna (south of Nablus), and running between deep and rugged banks westerly to the plain bordering the Mediterranean, near Hableh, where it is wide. and cultivated, and bears a different name (Researches, new edit., 3:135); from which it appears that it joins the Nahr el-Aujeh, as laid down on his map. This however, is too southern a position for the stream in question; for it would wholly cut off Ephraim from the sea-coast, and confine its territory within very narrow limits (Thomson,
Land and Book, ii, 259). In the absence of more specific information respecting this region, we may conclude that the name ".Brook of Reeds" is a designation of the sedgy streams that constitute the Nahr Falaik (comp. the Arundinetis, between Casarea and Apollonia, spoken of by Schultens, Vita Saladini, p. 191, 193), perhaps including its middle branch, called Wady Mussin or Sileh (on Van de Velde's Map). Dr. Thomson (ut sp.) thinks it is the present Abu Zabura; but this, again, seems rather too far north.
2. A town in the northern part of Asher, not very far from its eastern border, mentioned in connection with Hammon and Zidon (Jos 19:22). Dr. Robinson identifies it with Kana, a large village on the brow of a valley not far south-east of the site of Tyre (Researches, 3:384). So also Schwarz (Palest. p. 192), Van de Velde (Memoir, p. 327), and Porter (Handbook for Palestine, p. 325, 442). About a mile north of the place is a very ancient site, strewn with ruins, some of them of colossal proportions; and in: the side of a ravine not very far distant are some singular figures of men, women, and children cut on the face of a cliff (Thomson, Land and Book, i, 298). Tristram (Land of Israel, p. 58) regards them as Phoenician. SEE INSCRIPTIONS.
