What was Canaan in the Bible?

A region conquered by Israel

Canaan, according to the Bible, is a significant region and people group mentioned throughout the Old and New Testaments. The term Canaan can refer to both the land of Canaan and the Canaanite people who inhabited that land. Canaan was not a defined nation, but a collection of various tribes and autonomous rulers. In Genesis 9:18 Canaan is noted as one of the sons of Ham, who was one of Noah’s sons. Canaan was the ancestor of the tribes of Canaan, including Sidon, Heth, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. The Israelites were commanded to drive out the Canaanites from the land when they entered it (Exodus 23:23).