The closing words of the Prophets are full of interest and instruction, bringing to a focus the goal and purpose of the age. The last verse of Zechariah is no exception. After describing the holiness of the people of Israel in the day of their restoration, the prophet adds:

“And in that day there shall no more be the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of Hosts” (Zech. 14: 21).

In the Revelation the sin and sorrow of Gen. 3 and the overthrowing deluge of Gen. 1: 2 are seen to pass away:

“I saw a new heaven and a new earth … and there was no more sea” (Rev. 21:1, cf. Gen. 1:2).

“There shall be no more death, sorrow, crying, pain.” “There shall be no more curse” (Rev. 21:4; 22:3, cf. Gen. 3).

Zechariah however speaks of certain nations that shall “no more” be “in the house of the Lord.” Are we to look upon these Canaanites as being in the same category with the “deep” of Gen. 1: 2, and the curse of sin, death, and sorrow of Gen. 3? The only way to obtain an answer to this question is to “search and see” what the Scriptures teach us.

The Canaanites take their name from Canaan, the son of Ham. As a result of his father's action, Canaan is cursed by Noah. “Cursed be Canaan” (Gen. 9: 25). It is important to notice those that are cursed in Scripture, and their relation one to the other:

• The Serpent. “Thou are cursed above all cattle” (Gen. 3: 14).
• The Ground. “Cursed is the ground for thy sake” (Gen. 3: 17).
• Cain. “Thou art cursed from the earth” (Gen. 4: 11).
• Canaan. “Cursed be Canaan” (Gen. 9: 25).

Contrary to common belief neither Adam nor Eve themselves were cursed in Genesis 3. It was sorrow and toil that however would go on until death, thus motivating them with the hope of the promised seed. These with the pledge of the cherubim guarding the way of the “Tree of life” are all the result of Adam's sin. The curse principally falls upon the Serpent and upon the ground.

The first man to be cursed is Cain, and though the first son of Adam and Eve had become “of that wicked one” (I John 3: 12). The second man to be cursed is Cain, and through him the Canaanites.

The “land of Canaan” was inhabited in earlier days by races of giants called Anakim, Avim, Emims, Horim, Rephaim, Suzim and Zamzammim, but these earlier races were supplanted by the Canaanites. The Canaanites who then dominated the ‘promised land of Canaan’ likewise appear to be closely connected with “that wicked one.”

The first mention of the land of Canaan in the Bible appears in Gen. 11: 31 “Terah took Abram … to go into the land of Canaan. This land had long been a stronghold of Satan using his minions but Israel will ultimately possess this land.