The Canaan area is frequently referenced in historical and biblical literature, primarily focusing on Palestine. The original inhabitants were known as the Canaanites. The terms "Canaan" and "Canaanite" appear in cuneiform, Egyptian, and Phoenician writings dating back to around the 15th century BCE, as well as in the Old Testament. In these texts, "Canaan" refers to a region that encompasses all of Palestine and Syria. At times, it specifically denotes the land west of the Jordan River or a narrow coastal strip extending from Acre (ʿAkko) southward.d.
